Restructer Revolution

Two out of three parts done... now for the finale... wait till the holidays.

XX: Ally Salvo

Previously:

"The headquarters!"

"Interesting!" Doflamingo cackled from way behind, dodging more and more vines. "Straw Hat... you just got more interesting!"

"The power of the ancients will not be forgotten." With a final beat, the large wings heralded it, Marine and pirate alike staring as the symbol of justice of this world, the sanctuary of absolute justice, began to crumble and shake to the ground. "Plain Black."

As Ace looked back to the crumbling Marineford, he could only murmur a single sentence that many marines wholeheartedly agreed with. "What the hell did my brother invite onto his crew...?"

All over the world, people in all four Blues and the Grand Line watched the crumbling of the Navy Headquarters in open-mouthed horror, no words in any language possible to describe the maelstrom of feeling that coursed through them then.

"T- The Navy HQ has...?"

"How...?"

"This guy... what is he?"

"Marineford... the entire headquarters...?"

"Destroyed..."

In Marineford itself, everyone watched the helmeted man with the dragon beside him, driving the motorcycle surrounded by monsters ever forward towards the execution platform.

"The Pacifista have come in," Yusei listened to the babbling DenDen Mushi. "However, every action shall have to be restricted... on the Navy's part, that is." The Go leapt onto the surrounding rubble, quickly climbing a way towards the execution platform.

"Tsuru!" Sengoku yelled.

"With the DenDen Mushi unable to stop transmitting, there is no way we can unleash the full might of the Pacifista upon the pirates without turning world opinion against us," Vice Admiral, 'Great Tactician' Tsuru growled. "We were... completely and utterly checkmated... But... how...?"

"We must win at all costs!" Sengoku roared. "Tsuru!"

"Someone... against all odds... they formed a counter-plan..." the Vice Admiral hissed. "Against all odds, they... formed a strategy capable of defeating our plan...!"

"What?" the Fleet Admiral was taken aback.

"In this plaza..." the elderly woman hissed. "There is a security leak! That is the only possibility I can think of!"

"Squardo... you're alright?" Whitebeard rumbled.

"Yeah, I survived, somehow," the pirate Squardo growled in reply.

"I see. I tried contacting you earlier... how are things going at the shore?"

"Many of our allies are falling," Squardo promptly replied. "I managed to slip through the enemy forces and make it here. We'll show no mercy to Sengoku. We'll crush all his forces. Old man, did you realise what the Navy was planning?"

"Sengoku and I go way back..." Whitebeard murmured after a moment of silence.

"Forty-three ships are here to back you up, all of us owe you a huge debt," Squardo continued to prattle as he began to unsheathe his sword. "We'll gladly lay down our lives for the Whitebeard Pirates!" With a cry, he revealed the rest of the sharp blade and thrust it.

The blade landed into soft vine and flesh, and a pair of strong blue-skinned arms with the texture of sandpaper made its way around Squardo.

"Fishman Karate..." Jimbe whispered threateningly, trapping the pirate with long pink hair in a full nelson. "Sorry, old man, for being late."

"Nothing about it," Whitebeard growled, half the sword still stuck into him, though thankfully less serious. "How...?"

"We flew on the ride of a witch," Jimbe glanced up to the skies, the black dragon suspended from the masts by thorny vines purring in the hand of its indulgent red-haired mistress. In the hands of the monster's controller laid an active DenDen Mushi bearing the Navy's insignia, recording everything it saw for broadcast throughout the world.

At ground level, the fighting had ceased as everyone watched the scene in shock or in cool observation. Yusei himself was murmuring invectives. "The man couldn't have...?"

The rest of the world was having a similar reaction.

"L- Look! Whitebeard's been..."

"Whitebeard's been..."

"Whitebeard's been impaled!"

Back in Marineford, even the Go had stopped, both its riders staring into the distance in shock.

"Old man..." Luffy breathed.

"Who's done it?"

"I think it's..."

"Well, the one who attacked him was a captain from Whitebeard's alliance... one of the New World Pirates, Whirl Spider..."

"Squardo!" Marco, blue flames raging off his body, dove from the skies onto him. "Why would you do such a thing? Answer me, Squardo!"

"S-Shut up!" the pirate retorted. "You're the ones who forced my hand!"

"What? Do you have any idea what you've-"

"You shouldn't move," Izayoi Aki landed lightly, moving towards the wounded old man who had fallen to one knee. "That blow could have pierced right through, only narrowly missing your heart."

"Old man!" Marco stood. "If you keep pushing your body like this-"

"Old man!" the cry was heard amidst a volley of Pacifista blasts.

"Drop the charade already, Whitebeard!" Squardo yelled, trapped in Jimbe's hold. "You made a deal with the Navy, didn't you? A deal to ensure that Ace and your Whitebeard pirates would get out of this alive!"

"What's Squardo talking about? What's going on?"

"Listen up, everyone!" Squardo yelled in an accusatory tone. "He's lured us all into a trap!"

Jimbe shot a look at Aki, who shook her head before producing a roll of bandages and disinfectant. "I'm a doctor."

Whitebeard groaned.

"I had no idea..." Squardo continued. "That Ace was the son of Gold Roger!"he paused to catch his breath as if it were physically taxing him to talk. "I was all alone when you found me... I'm sure you know why I was all alone... It was because my cherished comrades, who I'd fought beside for so long... were all killed by Roger! I'm sure you know my hatred for Roger! You could have at least told me that Ace was Roger's son...! Told me of your plans to make Ace the next Pirate King!"

"Ignore the Whitebeard Pirates!" a cry was being called amongst the Marines. "Keep moving, pull back to the plaza!"

"Luffy San..." Yusei murmured uneasily. "I think we should..."

"The old man wants to make Ace the Pirate King?" Luffy breathed.

"Even then, you had already betrayed me!" Squardo continued to rant. "You let me become his friend, never knowing how you were mocking me! And then your golden child Ace was captured! The Whitebeard Pirates are within the bay, while we allied crews are out here, along the shore... you traded away the lives of the forty-three captains of your alliance in exchange for Ace's life! The allied crews will be executed, while Ace and the Whitebeard Pirates are spared! You and Sengoku have already agreed on that, right?"

"Seen like that, it does seem like that," Aki considered.

"You too?" Jimbe growled.

"You and I have seen evidence that proves contrary," Aki responded. "This is his viewpoint."

"And what do you know?" Squardo continued on his roll. "We came here for Ace's sake, for Whitebeard's sake, to lay down our lives, unaware of the deception! Look for yourself!" He pointed just as the next Pacifista blast caused an explosion. "Just as he said, we're the only ones the navy is attacking! Those monsters are coming in from behind, and the left and right walls are blocked by ice walls, meaning there's no escape!"

"Old man! Is it true?"

"Please say it's a lie, Old man!"

"..." Whitebeard kept his silence all the while.

"It's practically a miracle that I hit you even once," Squardo continued, posture relaxed as he held out his arms. "I'm ready. Kill me!"

All the while, the explosions sounded.

"The ice walls are blocking our way! There's nowhere to run!"

"Is this the end for us?"

"You know, we do seem to be their only targets!"

"Run!"

"Slow countdown begin," Aki instructed into a smaller, terrified DenDen Mushi.

"Old Man! Did you really sell us out..."

"...in exchange for Ace's life?"

"Say something! Old man!"

"Old Man! Old Man!"

"Don't make noise!" Aki growled. "That cut clipped his windpipe, it's a miracle he's still breathing!"

"I didn't want to believe it... I doubted my own eyes!" Squardo continued talking. "How could you betray us, Old Man!"

"You idiot!" Marco grabbed him by the lapels of his shirt. "He was the one who took you in, Squardo! Why don't you ave faith in the Old Man?"

"You've no right to say that, Marco!" Squardo retorted. "You're the Commander of the First Division! I refuse to hear you say that you didn't know... about Ace or about the deal with the Navy!"

"It's true that Ace is Roger's son..." Whitebeard finally began. "So they found out the man who'd be the most hurt to hear that, and turned him against us. Their plan was one step ahead of my own."

"Enough of this," Sengoku muttered. "Aokiji!"

One DenDen Mushi was easily frozen over... at the same time six different broadcasts started worldwide.

"What's going on?"

"No idea, but this is the best view in ages!"

"What is going on?" Sengoku raged.

"S-Sir! It seems like the broadcast is continuing from six different DenDen Mushi stationed throughout Marineford... none of them are Marine broadcasts, yet the signals are exactly the same!"

"Mobilise the walls!" Sengoku ordered. "If we can't destroy them the easy way, we'll just trap them to pick off at leisure!"

"Yes!"

"You're a disgrace, Whitebeard!" Crocodile was yelling. "I didn't know I'd lost to such a weak man!"

"Yeah, it's true..." Squardo panted. "in the past, you've always been able to dodge attacks like that... even injured or exhausted, or if the attack came from one of your own, you've never been hit by an attack like this, and that's what's bothering me!"

"Ten," Aki noted.

"Your health is deteriorating," Squardo accused.

The blunt end of the bisento clanked on the ground as its owner righted himself and glared down at Squardo. One hand raised, palm open.

"You realise what you've done, don't you..." the old man rumbled. "Squardo?"

"Nine."

The hardened pirate sweated nervously.

"You've turned your blade against your own father... You foolish son!" Whitebeard shouted.

"Seven."

Jimbe quickly let go and dodged as the hand came down, and, to the shock of the field and the world, Whitebeard pulled the man who stabbed him into a one-armed hug.

"Five."

"Though you're a fool, I still love you, my son," the veteran pirate muttered.

"Don't... try to trick me..." the words were muffled. "You... sold out our..."

"Who has dragged your pure, loyal heart into such darkness?" the drawl continued.

"A Navy insurgent." came the muffled reply. "he said he'd save the allied pirates if I killed you..."

"So that's what Akainu said..." Whitebeard growled. "I'm painfully aware of how you hate Roger. But Squardo... It's wrong to resent a child for the sins of his father. What did Ace ever do to you? Together, you and Ace have been through pain, joy and difficulty, rising above it every time, with your friends beside you. It doesn't matter who Ace's parents were. We got a chance to meet on this big, wide ocean. Not only you two. All of you are my sons. So, Squardo, try to get along. Don't think that Ace is a special case. You are all my family."

"It seems like the Navy's plans backfired," Aki remarked loudly, drawing attention to herself as Whitebeard let go of a Squardo with tears in his eyes. "The plan was originally to use that guy to kill Whitebeard, and thus divide the pirates here and pick them off one by one."

"So I gathered," Whitebeard growled. "That man of yours... did he anticipate this?"

"Listen to this," Aki produced a Tone Dial, clicking. The sounds that poured out of it was amplified such that, even from the plaza, even the Marines on the execution platform could hear it.

"I'm afraid of dying! When I think of my family, I can't even move! Please! I'm begging you! Please!"

"We marines... fight against pirates and carry the justice of our world on our backs." Even from a Tone Dial, there was no mistaking Akainu's voice. "Someone who runs away and lets the enemy sees his back... has no right to call himself a marine! Someone like that is mere... trash!"

The sound of bubbling and hissing could be heard. "If you truly cared for your family, you wouldn't have disgraced them like this!"

"Uh, huh, eh, ah! AAAAHHHHHH!"

"If you were to turn your back on the enemy and run, then your family would be shamed by your cowardice!" More screams.

Aki clicked off the Tone Dial. "Having now known, that Admiral Akainu would kill his own allies to follow Absolute Justice, do you really think that he is such a reliable source?"

Her eyes sharpened further as they glanced at Squardo. "Are you really that much of an idiot? Or, do you really have that little faith in your comrades? What does Portgas D. Ace's heritage has to do with your own feelings for Ace? I have no idea about your own past, or your feelings concerning Gold Roger, but, you are pitiful. You have been masterfully played by the Navy. The arrangement... the coincidental fact that the allied crews seem to be the only target... It was a trap... for you. And you fell into it."

"The broadcasts are still running..." Tsuru realised.

"They are," Sengoku groused. "We were supposed to turn them off already..."

"No!" the lashing of the Great Tactician had the Fleet Admiral taken aback. "The broadcasts are still running! That means... those words... Akainu's words were heard by the entire world!" Tsuru gritted her teeth. "Akainu... now that the world knows... whether we win or lose... the Marines are finished..."

"That Tone Dial... destroy it," Sengoku murmured. "If the evidence is gone, with no one to support it-"

"No!" Tsuru growled. "That DenDen Mushi was on! It was broadcast to the entire world! There's no way to retrieve it now! Even if you kill everyone here, there is no way for the Buster Call to destroy every single island in the world! We lost here, on every front! It shall be years before the Navy can raise its head proudly once more!"

"Still..." Whitebeard drawled as he plodded to face the plaza. "You really... haven't changed, Sengoku. You sure had him duped." His weapon clashed against the ground as he set it down forcefully. "Me, sell out my own sons' lives? Pirates have more loyalty to their nakama than the Marines have for their subordinates, apparently!"

Tremors shook the air itself as Aki stumbled, holding onto the mast of the Moby Dick as the tremors shook hard enough to shatter the giant ice walls into so much ice.

"So he's given the pirates an escape route..." Sengoku murmured, his tone monotonous. "I shouldn't have taken him so lightly."

Murmurs began amongst the pirates once more. "The wall of ice is gone..."

"We can commandeer the warships!"

"Now we can escape whenever we want!"

"If you're pirates, then decide for yourselves what to believe!" Whitebeard roared. Squardo chose that moment to break down and cry, his sobs very much resembling those of a beached whale.

"Ignore him," Aki told the reluctant Jimbe. "The flames of battle has been extinguished from his mind. Now, it is up to him."

"It was a lie after all! The Navy planned this whole thing!"

"Dammit! They conned us all!"

"There's no way the Old Man would betray us!"

"Forgive me! I'll never doubt you again, Old Man!"

"Me too, Old Man! Please forgive me!"

"Old Man! I'll follow you till the end!"

"Old Man!"

"A weak man, you say?" Whitebeard murmured in Crocodile's direction. "Give me a break, Alligator-kid! I'm only one man, with one heart. They may call me a demon or a monster or whatever, but I won't be the strongest forever. If I can help just one young life rise to the future, then it'll be enough for me."

His eyes widened as he bellowed. "Those willing to come with me, follow me even if it costs you your lives!"

"YEAH!" The Whitebeard Pirates and allies roared together.

"Dammit-!" Aki cursed as Whitebeard took a running jump off the Moby Dick. "He's still injured!"

"Attack!" Sengoku bellowed. "He's on the move! The strongest man in the world!"

"Let's go!"

"Yeah!"

Back in Sabaody, Eustass 'Captain' Kidd was laughing maniacally. "This is the best show of the decade! Someone bring some popcorn!"

"That... doesn't seem like a Navy broadcast..." Drake stared.

"Someone actually did the impossible...!" Kidd burst out laughing again, his chuckles echoing throughout the clearing where the screens were set up. "Someone's actually done it! The pair!"

"Looks like the Navy's been exposed for what it is," Law remarked as the Heart Pirates set out. "Whitebeard selling his comrades out? Like hell. He's a legend because he never does anything like that. Time to set sail, Bepo."

"Aye aye, captain!"

"Come with me, Jean Bart!" Law grinned. "We'll be paying your fallen star a visit, and hopefully repay the favour owed."

Yusei started back into reality as a cannon mounted on the bay exploded. "Luffy San, hold on!"

"Wha-!" the words were forced back down a rubber throat as the Yusei Go sped up, already zooming along the soon-to-be only path up to the platform, past hordes of armed and deadly Marines out for their blood. Already, Yusei had to dodge twice from a giant's stomp, because as great as Ancient Fairy Dragon's defence was, Yusei was not in the mood to have her crushed underfoot, literally speaking.

"Luffy San, do you trust me?" Yusei questioned.

"Yeah," Luffy grinned.

"Good, because I have a plan," Yusei hurriedly turned, executing a sharp turn that was definitely not taught in any sane driving class in the opposite direction.

"Oi, Yusei, you're going the wrong way-"

An explosion sounded as both of them took a moment to stare.

"That old man's amazing... even with that wound..." Luffy remarked as they drove closer to the plaza edge.

A while later, it was Yusei who began to talk as the ground beneath them trembled. "Oh."

"The sea..." Luffy stared.

"The proof of human strength, beat that, Thor," Yusei mumbled under his breath as the Go skidded to a stop... on the opposite end of the plaza, away from the execution platform.

"Trust me!" Yusei swerved to park the Go to a stop, estimating the one chance they had coolly. "Can you see your brother?"

"Yeah! He's right ahead!"

For the first time since that fateful mark had disappeared, Yusei prayed for a miracle. For the Straw Hats... Luffy San's sake... because no one is born to be cursed by sins they do not know. "Draw!"

The Yusei Go gave a low, almost continuous whine as the card was drawn.

"Clear Mind." Yusei intoned. "Hold on tight."

"Eh- AAAAAHHHHH!"

The island tilting did not seem to register to the Go as it shot forward like a bullet exiting the chamber, red energy burning at its wheels as if a pair of wings themselves had formed to let it fly. The Marines scattered quickly when faced with the quick vehicle, unwilling to be run over.

"I tune, Flamvell Guard to Ancient Fairy Dragon!" Yusei roared as they were halfway through. "Clustering wishes will become a new shining star! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! Take flight, Stardust Dragon!"

Of course, a stray ice blast impacted upon the master DenDen Mushi, causing all of the snails' broadcasts to freeze up long after it should have. Nevertheless, the Go gamely sped onwards with the glittering blue and white dragon hovering over it.

"Boy, it's your time!" Kizaru easily flashed beside the Go. "A-"

"Stardust!" Yusei growled. A flick of the claw later, Kizaru crashed into a horde of Marines armed with a net of Sea Stone, tangled within the lethal ropes.

"It's time!" he slapped the card down upon the field.

"Change of Heart executed," the DenDen Mushi in Aki's hand read. "Operation: ten minutes."

"Trust that guy to find a way to hack in anyway," Aki smirked from her place in the skies with the Black Rose Dragon. "Pacifistas, destroy each other. Black Rose, let's go. Phase two is completed, phase three begins shortly."

"And the weapons?" Jimbe questioned.

"The monsters are..."

"They're destroying each other!"

"Oi, Fleet Admiral!" Sentomaru's angry voice cut in over the radio DenDen Mushi. "What the hell? Someone took over control of the DenDen Mushi!"

Sengoku could only stare, jaw touching the ground. "The Pacifistas... all of them..."

"The monsters are attacking each other!" the yell echoed amongst the pirates.

"Why? What the hell-?"

"Don't tell me... the Navy lost control of them?"

"That was your work again, Izayoi Aki?" Whitebeard rumbled, tackling on skilled Marines left right and centre.

"That was the work of the man I truly follow," Aki called in reply as the black dragon landed, not far from the man who was the epicentre of the battle itself. "I am going to summon something to protect everyone from the incoming attack, so I'd appreciate some protection."

"Men! Surround her! She's our backup!" Whitebeard ordered.

A group of armed pirates immediately surrounded her, backs in to fight. "You do your magic!" their leader shouted. "Men, stay on guard!"

"Witch of the Black Rose, summon!" Aki commanded as the tiny spell-caster appeared. "Ivy Wall! Dark Verger is then special summoned! I tune Witch of the Black Rose, Dark Verger and Ivy Wall together! Darkened gales, become the wings that soar from resolved hope! Synchro Summon! Soar, Black Feather Dragon!"

"Another dragon has come!" someone screamed as white wings streaked with red, a gold beak and a bird-like head appeared, roaring.

"AGAIN?" Sengoku raged.

"Ah," Kizaru lightly sighed as the three Admirals blocked the assault of Whitebeard and allies. "It seems like the boy brought reinforcements..."

"Your court-martial is in a week," Akainu growled. "Is there anything else you purposely left out, Borsalino?"

The iron enclosing walls rose slowly from the ground, breaking the ice walls as they trapped the pirates, the only walls not risen trapped under the fallen Oz Junior.

"Dammit! So the walls they were talking about where these huge defensive walls?"

"Oars!"

"They may not be trapped in," Sengoku considered. "But, proceed with the operation, Akainu!"

The Red Admiral stepped up, red hot magma flowing from his arms as his power activated.

"Garp!" Sengoku began to glow a bright gold colour that blinded half the people present. "It seems... like we have to take the field! Our plan backfired... but we have to succeed regardless of the cost!"

"Look! Fleet Admiral Sengoku is using his ability!"

"This is the first time I've seen it!"

"We didn't account for the dragons..." Sengoku seethed. "No matter... let us see! No matter what, Straw Hat Luffy will not make it! This is my will as Fleet Admiral! Begin-"

"They're speeding ahead!" A Marine screamed as a red blur streaked across the plaza., engines roaring.

"WHAT?" All of them screamed.

"Is he an idiot!"

"The Fleet Admiral's going to total him!"

"Ryuusei Kazan!"

"Magma," Aki looked up as the flares of melted rock shot to the skies. "A rain of magma meteors... that might kill everyone...!"

"We're not letting you get away!" Sengoku growled, now Buddha-fied. "Melt the ice, and take away their footing!"

"Do you really think..." Aki growled, hair flying. "That I'll allow such a thing? Trap card, Nature's Reflection! All of these, you can have them back!" Most of the magma rain bounced off an invisible barrier of light, away from the pirates, and back towards the Admirals.

"Ah, yes," Kizaru commented before the magma rain impacted. "Some of them can do that."

As the trap's effect ceased, Aki stopped, looking only at her right arm where the brief flash of red showed the outline of a claw before it disappeared. "This mark..."

"Yes, lady?" the pirate guards all looked at her, ready to charge into the plaza as Whitebeard chopped up a path through the ice.

"A miracle..." Aki was nearly crying. "A miracle is coming...!"

"I summon Saviour Dragon!" Yusei roared as the tiny, almost bulbous dragon appeared next to him in a flash. "Tuning, level one, Saviour Dragon, level one, Cosmic Compass, level eight, Stardust Dragon, for eight levels of Synchro!"

The tiny red dragon seemed to grow larger, almost superimposed over the other monsters as Stardust gave an answering roar.

"Yusei!" Luffy screamed as red light burned on Yusei's back, a single red outline almost stencilled on the Duellist's back. "Your back-!"

"The shine of clustering stars will illuminate a new miracle! Become the path where its light shines upon! Synchro Summon!" Yusei's booms echoed throughout the plaza as the Yusei Go made a run straight for the platform, stars gleaming from the very heart of the red dragon. "Arrive in light, Saviour Star Dragon!"

A single pillar of light enveloped the stars, before a large slender figure of a dragon, winged and agile and glowing and partly bulbous flew out, straight into the darkened skies to execute a perfect loop over the entire field, even the executioners on the platform stopping to look up at the heavenly sight that so resembled hope.

The glowing Buddha figure that was Sengoku even stepped back. "That's-"

"What the hell?" one of the pirates screamed.

"COOL!" Luffy screamed as the Go tore up asphalt.

"It's... beautiful..."

"It's flying back!"

"Saviour Star Dragon's ability activates!" Yusei bellowed. "I can choose one target, and that target loses all special abilities, and if that ability can be activated, it activates as Saviour Star Dragon's effect! I choose... you!" An accusing finger was pointed at the golden Buddha figure of Sengoku. "Sublimation Drain!"

Sengoku cringed in shock as he shrunk, the large dragon instead taking on the golden glow and increase in size that characterised Sengoku the Buddha as it continued on its path to the plaza behind the red blur.

"It's..."

"It's...!" Garp stared, jaw dropping.

"IT'S TAKING ON THE FLEET ADMIRAL'S ABILITY!" The Marines screamed.

"THE DRAGON'S BECOME BUDDHA!" The pirates followed.

That really did convince all fighting to stop as everyone stared, and the paddle ship charged forward towards Oz.

"Battle!" Yusei bellowed as the Go did a running jump, riding on the back of Saviour Star Dragon before making a straight throw for the execution platform, right before the Fleet Admiral's eyes. "If that was your will to stop us, then this is my will to overcome those obstacles! Shooting Blaster Sonic!"

As Oz Junior rammed a ship full of people through the opening in the defensive walls created by his fall, the entire scene whited out as the dragon struck the execution platform with a single blast of starlight.

As First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, Marco had seen many things that would never cause his face to deviate from the lazy expression it often found itself in. Today, Marco's jaw swept the floor, which, combined with still-flaming wings, made for a ridiculous sight. "He... ran..."

"Straight into his own blast..." Jimbe rumbled, mouth agape.

"Strawhat-boy!" Ivankov had his entire face frozen in an expression of epic shock. "Yusei-boy...!"

"Oi!" one pirate turned to Aki, who had landed still riding on the Bloody Kiss, Black Feather Dragon following with black stains upon its wings as Akainu continued attempting to rain fire and brimstone upon them. "What's the meaning of this-?"

"A miracle," Aki leaned against her dragon for support. "A miracle is coming...!"

"AAAAACCCCCCEEEE!" Luffy's bellow could be heard all the way from the ground in the middle of the blinding light. "Ace!"

"L- Luffy!"

"T- Thank god for my candle power, or I'd be dead..."

"Luffy! W- We're still stuck here!" At least this Ace had common sense, Yusei thought as he picked the locks quickly.

"Ah! Right! Yusei, the key... is right here?"

"Done."

"WHAT'S THE POINT OF GETTING THE KEYS IF YOU'RE GONNA PICK THE LOCK ANYWAY?" Both brothers screamed at him as metal clinks signalled the dropping of a pair of cuffs and shackles over the platform.

"What kinda person did you bring onto your crew, Luffy...?" Ace added, turning on Luffy.

"I'm Fudo Yusei," the voice was calm in its reply. "Handyman of the Straw Hat Pirates."

"POKER FACE!" Three voices crowed at him.

"Still, you never change, Luffy," the light began to fade as orange flames shot high up to the skies. "Never listening to a single word I say... always doing the dumbest things...! And this time... this time... you actually have someone to make this half-baked goal reality...!"

As Ace was yelling at the younger D, Yusei squatted down to examine the greying old man lying beside the execution platform.

"Nice to meet you," Yusei murmured low. "Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp. If it hurts to fight your grandson, that decision is no longer in your hands. Don't worry, Jii San."

Saying so, he got up to get back to the D-Wheel. "Hmm... you are?"

The man named Galdino, a.k.a. Mr 3, looked at him in confusion.

"He's nakama!" Luffy grinned.

"I see," Yusei replied blankly. "Then, I shall have to plan how are we..." he trailed off, considering. "Luffy San, you're rubber, right?"

"Yeah!" Luffy grinned.

"You jump down with Ace San first, then provide cushioning for the Go." Yusei began to mentally calculate how to get them out of there. "I shall follow with your... friend soon after."

"Got it!" Luffy posed, preparing to swan-dive.

Ace paled. "You're going to- AAAAAHHHH!"

Luffy had grabbed his hand, dragging the older brother along as both dived off the execution platform towards what seemed to be a very quick death by asphalt, if not for Ace bursting into flame in time to slow their descent.

"Dammit Luffy! Listen to the end next time!" Ace growled as they landed on their feet.

Luffy grinning, taking a deep breath. "Gomu Gomu no Fuusen!"

The red Go landed, bouncing on the ballooned Luffy before landing safely on the ground, Mr 3 crawling off the Go soon after landing. "Never again..." the whimpers could be heard very distinctly.

"Oi, are you listening to me, Luffy?" Ace continued as Luffy began to dig a finger into one nostril. "Just because you're rubber doesn't mean you're indestructible, Luffy!"

"That's not the time!" Yusei interrupted, pointing to the hordes of stunned Marines. His words galvanised the soldiers to get ready for blood, most likely his own blood.

"Ace.. is free!" the pirates, former inmates and general criminals cheered.

"Alright, you did it, Strawhat!"

Jimbe stared. "He did it..." This time, the Fishman's jaw really did touch the ground.

"Oi, oi," Aokiji's eyes were wide open. "First they injure Kizaru, then they ram a dragon straight into the Fleet Admiral, Sengoku the Buddha, and the veteran Garp the Hero... then they pick open a pair of the strongest Sea Stone cuffs in the Navy in under thirty seconds... then they actually did what no one else has managed...!" His hands balled into fists. "Straw Hat Luffy alone is scary... but combined with that man...!"

"The boy with the dragon," Kizaru commented, now serious. "I'm the one who will cart him here in chains, Kuzan. Don't get in my way."

"This way is blocked too!" someone was yelling.

"Ace San! Luffy Kun!" Jimbe called.

"Luffy! Yusei!" Aki followed behind the large Fishman on Bloody Kiss.

"I'd never ever dreamed that this day would come," Ace was commenting. "When I would get saved by you. Thanks, Luffy!"

"It's all because that old Whitebeard guy and his men helped me out," Luffy giggled. "Yusei helped a lot too! Oi, Yusei, is your nakama done yet?"

"End Phase, Saviour Star Dragon returns to the extra deck, and Stardust returns to my side," Yusei spoke. "One card... set. Return in light, Stardust Dragon!"

"That's your nakama?" Ace looked up towards the giant dragon glowing like all the constellations in the night skies. "Where the hell d'you get a friggin' dragon to sign up?"

"Don't think you're safe just yet!" the Marines prepared to fire. "This is your execution stand!"

"Aki!" Yusei bellowed.

"As if! Black Feather Dragon!" Over the heads of the Marines, the legless dragon soared on black-wings. "Black Burst!"

Black wings glowed pure white once more as a storm of black feathers shot out in all directions towards the Marines.

"Careful about those feathers!" Kizaru was using light-fast reflexes to dodge. "I don't exactly know what they do, but they can hurt even Logia types!"

"Warn us earlier!" Aokiji was forming a shield of ice against the bombardment of black feathers even as he made for the epicentre of the whole conflict. "Are there anything else to look out for, Borsalino? Don't forget your court-martial is next week!"

"Pacifista override, code double-zero," Yusei instructed the DenDen Mushi radio. "Password: Change of Heart. Battle phase ends, commencing main phase two. Activate, Dark Hole."

"Yusei, what'cha talking about?" Luffy innocently asked.

"Our way out." Yusei motioned to his bike and Bloody Kiss. "...Luffy San, ride with Aki. I'll take your brother out."

"Pacifistas!" Sentomaru ordered amongst the giant behemoths back at the bay. When there was not a single movement, Sentomaru looked back. "Pacifistas..."

A mass of explosions sounded.

"Dark Hole, success," Aki relayed via DenDen Mushi as Luffy climbed behind her. "We really should have brought along the Compulsory Evacuation Devices..."

"This fighting would likely continue," Yusei shook his head as he gunned the Yusei Go across, more Marines chasing behind as the newest passenger clung onto leather upholstery for dear life by the skin of his fingers. "We need to make our escape clear. Head for the ship."

"Hiiken!" Ace aimed behind, shooting at the Marines with the flaming fist. "Whoever you are, I don't know you!"

"I don't need to know you to free you!" Yusei retorted, drawing a card. "I'm Fudo Yusei, handyman of the Straw Hat Pirates!"

Ace smirked. "...what... a reliable... man. I'm so glad Luffy's in your hands. But, as skilled as you are, I don't think that-"

"I don't care what you think!" The raging battle was getting to the dragon as well, as it roared at the terrified Marines obviously pissing their pants as owner and dragon almost flew across the Oris Plaza, Marines scattering in their wake. "Even Whitebeard's opinions don't matter! As long as I have my nakama, as long as we're together and here, I can still fight for my nakama! Watch me! I'll create a miracle!"

On the execution platform, the decorated Marine hero, the war veteran Monkey D. Garp, watched the red blurs tear across the plaza. Liquid streamed down his face and nostrils, which he sniffed, ignoring everything else.

"Thank you, Kami Sama..." he was crying. "Thank you, Kami Sama..."

There's something I need to tell you, Jii Chan.

Yeah, what is it?

I'm not going to be some pirate!

So you finally came to your senses!

Yeah, I'm not going to be just some pirate... I'm going to be the Pirate King!

…

Luffy... You probably hate me for being such a strict grand-dad... but, Luffy... the reason why I put you through this harsh training... and want you to become a Marine... is because I don't want you to go down the wrong path. That is my wish...

Luffy, I have a treat for you today! The Navy left us plenty of food. You can eat as much of your favourite meat as you want today! Hahaha!

Jii... Chan...

"There is no guard against a fist of love..." the war veteran was crying. "But, when it hits, the puncher feels the same pain as well... in the end... I couldn't do it... forgive this grand-dad, Luffy... thank you, Kami Sama...

Nice to meet you, Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp. If it hurts to fight your grandson, that decision is no longer in your hands. Don't worry, Jii San.

"A shooting star heard my wish..." Garp cried. "That fallen star... thank you..."

It was a foolhardy plan. Aki already knew that. It was a plan that tested both their abilities to the limit, Yusei's own mechanical skill and her psychic power. The results were well worth it, as the presence of both brothers proved, but their escape plan was hampered pretty much by the one Admiral, no, two, in their way.

"Well, looks like I still need to protect you for the time being," Ace got off the Yusei Go.

"You'll surpass him some day..." Admiral Kuzan, codename Aokiji, remarked. "How could you, when there's no tomorrow for you? There's no way you'll ever escape from here, is there?"

"Admiral Kuzan!"

"Ice Block!"

"You're not going anyway, sonny," Kizaru lazily sighed to Yusei, right beside Aokiji. "I need you at my court-martial as a witness."

Yusei blinked. "I don't get you."

"Yusei, what's he talking about?" Luffy frowned, perched behind the Bloody Kiss with Aki.

"If it's proven that somehow, I was manipulated into murder by you... I'll get off free," Kizaru slowly explained.

"Not that," Yusei shook his head, his expression calm. "I mean, I'm a pirate, so which judge in this world would take my testimony? Isn't it obvious? You're being set up to die. If I survive Impel Down, if I get to my execution, my testimony will still mean nothing." His expression sharpened. "Face it, Admiral Kizaru. You've been stabbed in the back."

"Pheasant Beak!"

"Kyoukaen!"

Both of them ignored the clash of fire and ice.

"I don't want to die," the Yellow Admiral whispered. "If you could take the Marines' side, I could lessen the inevitable. You could join as a Shichibukai, and I could continue my life. Both of us could win."

"The feeling of being utterly alone in the world... I don't want to experience it again," Yusei replied. "Stardust."

Kizaru began to glow with light as he raised both hands. "Then, you, and the girl, and your captain, and the man you worked so hard to save... will die. Yasakani no Magatama!"

Aki screamed. "Yusei!"

"Yusei!" Luffy called.

"Yusei-boy!" Iva cried.

"The miracle-man!"

"You!" Ace bellowed as fire and ice melted into steam and water.

"Stardust," Yusei stated calmly in the face of the deadly torrent of light. "Victim Sanctuary."

"It's Kizaru! Watch out for the bolts!" the cry went up amongst the pirates.

"Kizaru San! You can't kill off Marines as well!"

"Kizaru's gone berserk!"

Then someone looked up. "Look!"

"That dragon!"

"What a bright light!" a Marine screamed.

"That light..."

Indeed, dust that glittered in the light fell from the crying dragon as it spread its wings for the requiem of salvation.

"The attacks are stopping!" the pirates exclaimed as the yellow bolts of light slowed to hang in mid-air.

"The attacks stopped in the air!"

"That dragon..." Whitebeard looked up. "It's sacrificing itself...?"

"For... our sakes?" Jimbe finished, amazed.

"A star in the skies that flares for a last time, a star of hope to pull us through the destruction," Aki glanced up. "All the stars' dust to fall from the heavens... and save us..."

"The attacks...!"

"They're going straight back!"

The other two Admirals watched in stunned disbelief as the stardust and the yellow bolts homed back into the Yellow Admiral, crashing into him with a satisfying boom.

"...THAT WAS SO COOL!" Luffy yelled. "Do that again!"

"Trap card, Zero Force!" Yusei quickly ordered, rings of pink energy lashing out to bind around the remaining Marines trying to prevent their escape. "Let's go, Luffy San!"

"Stop them!" Sengoku continued to howl.

"But, sir!" the DenDen Mushi babbled. "Most of us have already retreated-"

"These..." Sengoku seethed. "These... pirates!"

"Don't lose focus!" Admiral Sakazuki, codename Akainu, bellowed despite being trapped in the Zero Force ring. "I will not let them get away from here!"

"De-Synchro!" Aki dissolved the Black Feather Dragon back to its original materials. "Yusei, we have to use that!"

"Isn't that overkill?" Yusei called back as they dodged a swarm of Marines.

"We can't run around the plaza forever!"

Yusei's jaw set. "That... The ruler's heartbeats will now file through here! Take witness to its creation-shaking power!"

"What's that?" Kuzan started to back away.

"Another?" Marines began to back away.

"Again?" The pirates yelled.

"Synchro Summon!" Yusei called out as red light shone from the air, and as Stardust burst back into the fray, a red arm, glowing with eldritch energy, followed it to herald the appearance of another large dragon. "The king's soul, Red Demon's Dragon!"

"IT'S HUGE!" Even the giant Marines exclaimed as the red dragon of burning souls roared its challenge to the skies.

"Huge!" Luffy stared.

Ace himself was almost bent over backwards to stare at the red and black malevolent entity. "Red... Demon... Dragon..."

"Heaven, or hell..." Whitebeard reminiscenced. "Where did this fallen one come from? To fight so hard..."

"Battle!" Yusei called. "Absolute Power Force!"

"Run!" the Marines tried to escape as a single ball of reddish fire built up in its fist and it let it loose.

"To the defending soldiers... defeat them!" Yusei pointed. "Demon Meteor!"

Whitebeard stopped Squardo from the latter's attempted kamikaze charge at the same time as the plaza completely emptied of Marines and hell-fire burnt and charred the stones all the way to before the pedestal bearing the Ox Bell.

The Marines stared. "With just one arm... he stopped the whole ship!"

"Forget about that! The dragon just wiped out fifty thousand Marines!"

"Don't you realise how painful it is for a father to see his own child die before him?" Whitebeard roared. "Don't you, Squardo?"

The bisento crashed into the ground as Whitebeard stood. "Don't get ahead of yourself now! I'm not so weak as to die from your stab! But everyone dies someday!"

The elderly pirate took a deep breath. "We've completed our objective here. We no longer have any business here!"

At the same time, the red dragon roared to the shining one, before fading off as both D-Wheels with their pillion riders crashed down towards the Whitebeard Pirates.

"Listen close, Whitebeard Pirates!" he roared. "The order I am about to give, will be my final captain's order!"

"Final? Wait, old man, I don't want to hear anything so ominous! I don't wanna hear that!"

"We're going back to the New World together, aren't we?"

"Old man!" Ace all but leapt out as the Go parked itself a distance right in front of Whitebeard.

"You and I will be parting here!" Whitebeard glared at all of them. Only Yusei glared back. "All of you, make sure you survive, and reunite with each other in the New World!"

"There's a hole in his chest!" Aki gasped as she parked next to the Yusei Go. "How is he still moving?"

"O- Old man!" one of the allied pirates yelled. "Do you plan to die here?"

"If you are truly a star of hope..." Whitebeard spoke, low enough such that only the rider of the Yusei Go could hear him, even Ace struggled to make out the words. "My wish... is to see my sons live... especially the hothead..."

Whitebeard flexed one arm, ready to battle as his great muscle mass bulged out. "I am the one at the top of this era... there is no ship to carry me in this new era!"

The tremors shook Marineford and the ruins of the Marine headquarters further, beyond everything. "Go, my men!"

"Whitebeard!" Sengoku,now not Buddha-fied, growled.

"No way, old man!"

"It's the captain's orders! Get going!"

"Ossan!" Luffy gasped.

"Old man!" Ace yelled, trying to run up to Whitebeard but failing due to the tremors.

Don't turn back... the voice echoed in the winds as both D-Wheels started. The era is changing!

"I don't want to leave the old man behind! Let's go back together!"

"Old Man!"

"Let go!" Ace pounded against the large green warrior flying beside the Yusei Go. "Why... my fire..."

"Nitro Warrior is impervious to fire," Yusei told him. "Stardust!"

"For a dragon, you're pretty obedient," Whitebeard muttered as the shining dragon landed behind Whitebeard, roaring at the surviving Whitebeard Pirates.

"That dragon...!"

"It's chasing us away!"

"It'll protect the old man?"

"No idea..."

"Can you really bear to leave the Old Man here alone?"

"He's not alone! That miracle dragon... it'll save the old man!"

"No." Aki shrugged, the rest of the Whitebeard Pirates stopping to turn to her. "Stardust Dragon cannot stop the Admirals, or the cannons, or the bullets, without permission from Whitebeard himself."

"W- What?"

"How can that-?"

"The old man's wish is to protect all of you, to reunite together someday," Aki looked up at the Stardust Dragon, as glitter fell off its maw. "Look, Stardust is crying... Whitebeard is beyond her ability to save. That's why, Stardust is here, to give us a chance, to not let Whitebeard die alone, and to help fulfil the wish of the man who courageously came prepared to die."

"So that's why," Whitebeard rumbled. "You have a good master."

The dragon growled.

"I see," Whitebeard chuckled. "I'll be counting on you then."

"Old Man...!" With tears in their eyes, they ran.

"Get ready to cast off! Quickly!"

"Aki..." Luffy moaned, slipping. "I... can't... feel..."

"What?" Aki grasped at the stretching limb, stopping the Bloody Kiss. "At this crucial moment-!"

"Strawhat-boy has reached his limit!" Iva appeared. "My Homu Homu power should have worn off long before, for him to last this long-! What a guy!"

"He's heavily injured...!" Aki realised as she examined closer. "We need to get out, quickly! I'm a doctor, but it'll take a miracle I don't have to help him! This...!"

Luffy slipped out of the Bloody Kiss, sprawled out on the cobblestones as a piece of paper fell out of his straw hat.

"Don't let the pirates escape! Shoot down as many as you can!"

"Your opponent is me and only me!" Whitebeard roared as Stardust reared overhead, flapping its wings to drive the cannonballs back.

"I know!" Ace roared at Yusei. "It's...!"

"I see," Yusei suddenly decided, his tone unusually solemn. "I have no problem if you are to pay your respects one last time. Hurry up. Nitro Warrior."

"You..." Ace stared at him as the flame-man was set down onto his feet. "Thanks... get out of the way, all of you!"

The fireball flung Marines out of the way, merry flames burning all around as Portgas D. Ace knelt down and paid his last respects to the man he called father.

"Just answer one last question for me, Ace..." then old man rumbled as Stardust took to the skies. "Was I a good father?"

"Kk..." the black-haired head bowed lower. "Of course you were!"

It could probably be said, that Whitebeard died with a smile on his face, unflinching, and with his back untarnished by a single wound of retreat in his entire life.

"Old Man!" Jimbe was crying, Ace and Luffy opting to run instead of taking the metal speed death-traps known as D-Wheels as they thought it was. At least, Luffy had to ride due to injuries, but he chose to ride the Bloody Kiss. Personally, Yusei was rather miffed, but kept his thoughts to himself.

"We've stolen a warship!" someone yelled. "Get aboard!"

"Do you really think I'll let you escape?" Akainu growled. "How optimistic..."

"Admiral Sakazuki!"

"Step aside, men." Akainu launched a burning assault.

"You two, keep running to the ship!" Jimbe yelled. "Aki San, Yusei Kun, make sure they make it!"

"So you think you can free Fire Fist Ace and simply retreat in safety?" Akainu continued. "What a bunch of imbeciles you Whitebeard Pirates are!"

"What?"

"He's just trying to provoke us! It's obvious he wants us to stop!"

"Well, I suppose it's no surprise, your captain being who he is," Akainu continued to casually insult. "After all, Whitebeard is nothing but a loser from a dead era!"

"Crap," Yusei stopped the Go just as Ace stopped.

"Ace!" Luffy called weakly.

"A loser?" Ace muttered as he turned back, fists aflame. "Take back what you just said!"

"Calm down!" Yusei called. "Your pride's going to get you killed!"

"Don't do it, Ace! Keep running!"

"Just let him blubber on!"

"He bad-mouthed the Old Man!" Ace was already beginning to heat up.

"Ace!" Luffy screamed.

"Take it back, you said?" Akainu casually remarked. "I have absolutely no intention of doing so. Why would I? Your father, Gold Roger, conquered the entire Grand Line. He gave his life to open the door to a new era, the Grand Age of Pirates. A Navy man like me shouldn't say this, but that man truly deserved the title of 'Pirate King'. What is Whitebeard, compared to that? Did he ever have the guts to fight Roger? All he's ever done is hide himself in some safe corner of the world and keep himself out of trouble, right? These days, some fools claim that Whitebeard's name alone upholds peace on various islands. But as far as I'm concerned, he just intimidates the small fry and believes himself a hero for it. Ridiculous! Roger maintained his honour as long as he lived, and even dead, his fellow pirates hailed him as a king. In other words, Whitebeard is an eternal loser, who will never surpass Roger! That's all he is. Everything I've said is the truth."

"Yusei..." Luffy stared wearily, eyelids slowly closing. "I'm... at... limit..."

"The Old Man... gave us a place where we belonged!" Ace growled. "What do you know about the old man's greatness?"

"If man does not live righteously, then he does not deserve to live at all!" Akainu rebutted. "You rogue pirates don't deserve a place to belong!"

"If you have to compare Whitebeard and Roger," Yusei's voice was cold, so cold that even Ace froze in his tracks and Akainu stared. "Then what about yourself? Caught up in the pursuit of a truly flawed justice, you can no longer differentiate for yourself what is the morally right thing to do. In the end, between a Navy man like you, and a pirate, the pirate proves to have more humanity than you! A man who twists the truth for his own purposes, a man who relies on the principle that might makes right... the true monster here is you! Gold Roger might be a name that people respect today... but he's dead. The living were never meant to surpass the dead in the first place! The living are supposed to continue living, carving their own place in this world! Whitebeard might not have found One Piece... he might not have conquered this ocean... but, people here will remember him for who he truly is, instead of his actions! All the wealth, fame and glory didn't help Roger who died alone in the end! Roger is dead, and Whitebeard is in the present! Stop comparing the living and the dead!"

Akainu and Ace traded punches, their fists meeting to burn the area around them until Ace buckled, thrown back by the power of Akainu's magma.

"You are merely fire," Akainu looked down at the pirate. "I am magma, which will burn even flames! There is an enormous gap between your strength and mine!"

"Ace!" Luffy struggled, falling off the bloody kiss to the ground. "The Vivre card..."

"Oi, Luffy Kun!" Jimbe spoke in alarm. "You've already reached your limit!"

"Ace's Vivre card..." Luffy reached for it.

"The Pirate King, Gold Roger. The Revolutionary Dragon. The thought of these two men's sons being sworn brothers is quite a frightening thought." Akainu continued. "Your fate has been decided! Regardless of who else gets away, I swear to never let you two escape! Now, take a good look..."

"W- Wait!" Ace screamed as Akainu, magma fist glowing, made for the fallen Luffy.

"Luffy San!" Yusei called out, trapped in the Go. "Luffy!"

"Luffy!" Aki screamed.

"Luffy!"

The string of beads broke, the red gleaming treasures scattered, as if cut by some divine blade foretelling, the inevitable has come.

It was a sobering, stunning sight, as Ace stood protectively, his back to the enemy as he faced his brother, Akainu's magma fist buried right through the centre of his torso in a sobering sight as the paper began to burn up.

"That paper... represents the owner's life force..." Yusei realised, glancing at the only card he could play. "The paper... is burning up..."

"If you were to activate that card at the exact timing required, you would change the future. For better or for worse, I do not know, since I cannot see it yet. What I can tell, is that, whatever the change, you can never turn back once you have played your card. Well? Choose..."

Can I do this? He thought, eyes upon the scene. Can I violate the natural order of death and life, to restore life into a single person at my whim? I am not a god, and will never be... but, but... this pain... if I can't save anyone, then, I cannot let someone suffer right before my eyes.

No matter what, his words echoed back at him. Portgas D. Ace is going to live!

"AAAAAAAAAAACCE!" Luffy let out an anguished wail. "You're my only brother! If I can't save you... I'd rather die!"

Just as the paper crumbled into black ashes at last, Yusei did the only thing he could then.

The world whited out, as like a phoenix, from the ashes, a glimpse of white began to build.

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