Megumi sighed it was a week and a half since she had found out about Ace's capture and the newspapers had not mentioned anything about his execution date looking through again she hadn't heard anything from Ace's brother actually. Edward was sat on his mother's lap looking around the ship watching people pass, some had stopped and smiled at him whilst others grinned as they passed by. Edward slapped his hands down on the newspaper snapping his mother out of her thoughts, "What is it Eddie?" She questioned looking down at bright silver eyes. A large toothless grin shined up at her and he made a happy sound which was sort of like a giggle but Megumi wasn't too sure never being around babies until she had her own.

She smiled brightly at her son nuzzling his cheek before she heard a giant bang from her Captains quarters, Edward whimpered softly his eyes shined with tears. She swept the newspaper off her lap and onto the deck scooping the little bundle into her arm, she could heard Pops mumbling something. She cooed down at Edward running her free hand across his stomach softly, rocking him as she walked to the Captains room and pushed the door open.

Throughout her time with the crew she had never seen her Captain angry but this… was an expectation his eyebrows were knotted together and a scowl marked his face, "Pops?" She questioned.

He glanced up and sighed placing the den den down and Megumi saw the snail was asleep, "Can I help you my dear?"

"You are angry Pops, What's wrong?"

"Jimbei."

"No you aren't mad at Jimbei…." Something clicked in her mind and she looked her Captain straight in the eyes, "What have the marines done…"

"I do not wish to discuss this in front of my grandson Megumi," Her Captain stated looking at the bright red his cheeks puffed out slightly similar to what Ace did when he was annoyed, he could already see traits of the second division commander within his grandson.

"Pops, Eddie is part of this crew he should know," Megumi reasoned.

He gestured for her to take one the seats in front of him as he continued to rub his temples, the ship had been on edge for the last week and a half and it was effecting the older man the entire crew could see it yet he was trying to keep a brave face on for the crew. "The marines are trying to assemble the warlords for the war," He told her.

Megumi has met two warlords in her life one being Jimbei and the other being Crocodile, Crocodile was now locked in Impel down after his failed attempt of taking over Alabasta and Jimbei she met whilst she met the allies. She like Jimbei the man made her feel safe, he told her of the story how he first met Ace which always made the siren smile.

"It was Jimbei on the den den wasn't it?" She questioned.

"Apparently the Marines have stated to the warlords any of which do not turn up for the war will have their titles stripped from them," He told her.

Megumi paused unsure what to say, she was told one of the major reasons why Jimbei took position as a Warlord was to make sure he could keep fishman island safe. Even though it was under the protection of the Whitebeard pirates she knew Jimbei feared for his home like she had with hers.

"What is he going to do Pops?" She asked looking up at her Captain.

"He has already decided, he values Ace as a true friend and refuses to fight against us," Whitebeard stated.

Megumi was about to say something about what about fishman island when one the men out on the deck yelled, "LAND HO!"

"We will continue discussing this with the allies," He told her before standing, Megumi stood after him Edward still wrapped up in his mother's arms. Eyes were now wide in interest as he looked between his grandfather and mother not understanding what the two was saying but the baby looked slightly confused feeling the tension in the room.

Stepping out onto deck the window blew roughly sending thousands of cherry blossom petals onto the deck, Edwards eyes widened in curiosity as the pink petals danced above his head. She watched as the ship pulled up into the dock, the members moved quickly to get the ship ready for the crew to depart.

Ace glared slightly as the door to his prison opened again but this time it wasn't Teach or one of his idiotic crew members that stood in the door way it was a bunch of marines, "Careful boys," he heard Teach laugh, "This one has teeth."

Ace was too tired to struggle against the marines as they lifted him up onto his feet and walked him out the sell. He was bruised and battered, felt tired, weak, hungry he winced as the sunlight kissed his eyes he forced them shut as he continued to move across the ship. He sighed as he looked up at Marineford which loomed over him, many ships were gathered around the dock it looked like the marines were preparing themselves for war. Which he knew Pops and the others will be doing at this moment in time.

He was forced onto the dock and made to walk forward, many marines had stopped and watched silently as he was walked through Marineford towards the headquarters. The great Buddha Sengoku stood in front of him just staring at the boy, "We want to ask you a few questions before we send you to wait out your execution."

Marco stood on the left of Whitebeard whilst Megumi stood on the right, Edward was left with Matthew in their room. The second division member had become appointed whilst they were in meetings, which the man did not mind at all.

"You aren't going to leave Ace to the marines are you Pops?" Squardo asked as he took his seat, the fourty four allies were seated in the ballroom well most of them were they were just waiting on a few more. They decided to make the ballroom the war council room, there was a lot more in the ballroom than one the meeting rooms.

"Wait for the others Squardo then we will discuss this, yoi," Marco stated.

It was Whitey they were waiting on and she smiled widely at them as she took her seat next to Blondie and Squardo, "Sorry, I was distracted by Edward he is the most cutest baby I have ever seen across the six seas," The Ice Witch smiled brightly at the mother.

Whitebeard chuckled, "Yes the child did give us a bit of a shock coming into the world a month before it was meant to arrive."

"Did Ace find out before…?" Mcguy questioned but the look on the Sirens face answered the question.

"Ace was captured on the same day Edward was born," Izo answered them, "There was no way to tell him so as far as Ace knows that Edward won't be born for another two weeks."

Nods and mumurs came from the allies before Little Oars Jr who was sat at the doors of the ballroom which lead to the gardens since the giant was larger than the house mumbled, "Ace is a good man he will make an excellent father."

"Thank you Oars," Megumi smiled, "But we aren't here to discuss Eddie, we are here to discuss our rescue plan for Ace."

Whitebeard banged his weapon against the Marble floor silencing everyone, "We will be attacking the marines head on, we will not go to Impel down. For multiple reasons one being that Impel down is on the calm belt and the Moby Dick is not suited to sale through the calm belt and none of your ships are either and we all know of the powers of the man who is in control of impel down."

Everyone nodded expect Megumi who was slightly curious but at the same time knew that if she asked later on someone will tell her, "So the plan is to get Ace straight from Marineford and not break into Impel Down."

"Ace's execution hasn't been stated yet by the marines, we know they will give us enough time to get to Marineford, Sengoku will use Ace as bait to lure us to them and then he will try to destroy us there," Whitebeard stated.

"The marines can't be that stupid can they?" Blondie asked.

"Sengoku in his day was one the best tacticians the marines had and even now he still has many tricks up his sleeves," Whitebeard stated.

"We have to take them by surprise," Megumi stated and all eyes turned to her, "I know the lay out of Marineford slightly… I was going to be there after I was meant to marry Akainu I asked to see what it was like but that's not the point."

"So how do you think we will be able to take them by surprise?" Andre stated.

"Marinefords in a crescent moon shape," Megumi stated.

"So you are thinking we should go under them and appear in their dock without them noticing?" Vista questioned her.

She glanced up at Pops, "It could work butI don't think all of us can do so…"

Whitebeard stroked his moustache and glanced around the pirates, "Eyes on the allies whilst the crew sneaks right under their noses into the bay."

Ace glanced around the room he felt sick to his stomach slightly seeing the portraits of high up marines across the wall as Sengoku sat in front of him, "You don't have to worry about Garp the old man is out rounding up the rest of the marines before he comes back her."

"Don't care what gramps is doing," Ace snapped glaring at the man, "But I want to know why the hell am I here instead of on the way to Impel Down. You lot should know we don't sell out our crew."

Sengoku linked his hands together before resting his chin on them eyes locked on the younger man, "The Celestial Dragon."

Ace froze knowing of course Megumi would come into this one way or another but why suddenly now, "What about her?"

"The World Government is still refusing to strip her of her title and they will not explain why, you have been glued to the girl for the last two years we have seen the photos and have put together that the girl is rather smitten with you. I do not like you pirate scum at all but with the girl having the title of Celestial Dragon still we cannot harm here," Sengoku stated.

"So…. What am I meant to do," Ace stated, "She doesn't want the stupid title some words after her name are meaningless."

Sengoku blinked a few times noticing the defensive stance the boy was talking when speaking about her as if he was trying to protect even though he was an entire ocean away from her, "Why is the World Government allowing her to keep her title?"

Ace shrugged, "No clue maybe because she's the last one of the Akiyama family… No Clue really she doesn't discuss the past much not after the World government was going to force her to marry Akainu."

Sengoku raised an eyebrow slightly, "But you know that they are held up at the Sakura…" The look on Ace's face told him much, "You have no clue what the crew is up to do you."

Ace grinned and shrugged, "Went after Teach about six months ago have had little contact with them, seriously you think they would of told me anything just in case something like this happened… really you would have been better off trying to pick up one the division members and get as much information out of them as possible. I don't know anything that has happened on that crew since I left, well expect for the newspaper."

Sengoku was starting to lose patience with this boy, "Nothing from.."

"Nope!"

Sengoku clenched his hands together, he couldn't hurt the boy yet if he was killed before the Whitebeard pirates arrived all the planning will go down the drain. "SEND HIM AWAY!" He yelled to the marines that guarded the door.

Megumi didn't know how long they had been in the meeting room discussing the plans for the war, Whilst most things had been planned out they were discussing removing everything from the Moby Dick and the paddleboats. Pops had explained to them that they might lose the ships, no one believed that but they understood why he was worried.

This was going to be full blown war against the marines which from what Pops had told her has not happened in years, he did not want to risk them loosing so many valuable memories. A knock on the meeting room door broke them out of the argument of Squardo leading the allies since the division commanders were going to be keeping an eye on there divisions and Pops was going to be watching the battlefield from the ship and will only come into play when it is needed.

"Come in," Whitebeard stated.

It was Matthew at the door holding a fussy Edward, Megumi moved first pushing her chair back and moved towards the door, "Sorry Matthew I didn't know the meeting would run on so long," she smiled at him.

"It is not a problem Ms," Matthew smiled watching as she took the child from his arms, "He was getting a bit fussy and the raising voices I don't think was helping."

Megumi smiled widely kissing the childs temple making the boy gurgle slightly, "Hello darling, were we arguing to loud for your precious little ears."

The child hummed as he snuggled up against his mother wrapping a small hand into her shirt tugging slightly, "I will be leaving the meeting," She stated smiling at them over her shoulder, "Child comes first I'm sorry to say."

They all nodded in understanding watching as Matthew closed the door behind his stand in division commander, "She's a natural," Whitey stated as the door shut, "She seems so calm…" She looked over at Marco, "How are you holding up?"

Marco only rubbed his temples leaning back in his seat, "I would say that I am fine, yoi."

"He's keeping a brave face for our Siren," Fossa stated, "He is as worried over Ace as she is."

"If we lose Ace we are out of a division commander," Atmos stated, "Remember how long we were out of a second division commander before."

"From what I am seeing," The division commanders turned to Whitey who along with Little Oars was the closet to the Siren, "Megumi is doing a fine job as the stand in division commander, yes it's not like she has lead them into a battle situation yet but the war will be her chance to prove herself."

"The girly has come far with training, plus without her Ace would of not gotten in any of the paper work in one time," Fossa chuckled, "Like her training is…"

"You are sounding like we won't get Ace back," Haruta snapped slightly, "Megumi wouldn't want the position if we lose Ace. We can't think that way it won't help our moral or hers, we are getting Ace back and by the love of One Piece if we have to tear down Marineford to do so I do not care."

"We are getting Ace back and that's final," Izo stated.

Ace didn't make a sound as boiling hot water was dumped over him for any normal prisoner he would be screaming in agony but it did not bother Ace at all, he blinked questioningly at the blonde woman who stood with her arms crossed under her chest. Her eyes locked on his form as he shook the water out of his hair smirk gracing his lips, "Sorry taken," he laughed as he saw the woman scowl at him and turned to quickly.

The same woman had explained to him this was what was called sterilization trying to burn away the sins away, Ace chuckled slightly not like you could wash away the sins within your blood.

"Err…. Miss Domino aren't we meant to…." One the guards men started to question the woman.

"No," She stated, "He is only here until his execution why both wasteing the clothes on him."

"What level…?"

"ARE YOU IDIOTS!" The woman scolded them, Ace couldn't help but chuckle the guards looked about five seconds away from pissing their pants, "You do know who this man is don't you!"

"Portgas D. Ace… errr…. Ms…" one of them was actually brave enough to speak up, though the man did look around two seconds away from tears.

"And what crew is he from?" She questioned leaning into the man slightly, scowl etched into her features.

"Whitebeard… errr… Pirates…"

"Captain?"

"Edward Newgate."

"What is he?"

"A Yonko."

"What Position does this scum hold?"

"Second division commander."

"SO WHAT LEVEL WILL HE BE PLACED IN THEN!"

"Sixth…?"

"Are you questioning that or telling me?"

Ace could not believe this the man shook violently under the Vice Header Jailors eyes, "Telling… Ms…"

"I am surrounded by idiots," She muttered and clicked her fingers catching all the guards attention, "Yes well done, now take him down to the sixth level and place in him the only empty cage we have don't want him to escape now… not like it's possible."

Ace knew the woman was right Impel Down was built under the sea, mainly for prisoners like him.

He sighed as the woman placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a push forward towards the elevator, he watched closely seeing many of the jailors taking step backs slightly worried that Ace would try to bite their heads off. Which is Ace was a cannibal he might attempt it but he didn't really have the stomach for it… unlike a handful of tribes they had come across during their adventures they had come across a few which normally lead to a giant chase across the island.

He watched the bars of the elevator come down trapping him within the room, he watched as each level went past ever so slowly snow, lava, desert, each level was different from the last. Before they reached level six which was known as Eternal Hell.

Ace rolled his eyes thinking that marines really should start coming up with more creative names, the woman watched him with a close eye as he was lead into his cell and forced to sit down. With his legs and arms secured to the floor and wall with seastone cuffs and chains Ace could now only play the waiting game.

Shouts interrupted from down stairs made Megumi jump and drop the brush onto the floor, it was so sudden it scared the living day out of her. Marco turned from the sink toothbrush still in mouth looking at her, he couldn't hear the shouting down stairs but he guessed she heard something.

"You alright love, yoi?" He asked removing the brush from his mouth.

"Something is going on down stairs… someone is coming towards the door," She stated as she grabbed the brush off the floor and moved into the bedroom, she opened the bedroom door before the person could slam there hand down and wake up Edward, "For the love of god… Squardo?"

The Whirl Spider Captain looked distressed, he shoved the newspaper in her hand before stating, "Boss wants to see both of you as soon as possible."

"Tell him we will be down in a minute," She answered not looking down at the paper but closing the door, she dropped the paper on the bed as she grabbed a ribbon putting her hair back, "Pops wants to see us," She stated to Marco her back turned to him as she got dressed.

"Did you look at the paper?" Marco asked spotting it on the bed before moving over to Edwards grib, Edward just like his father loved his sleep and was curled around a teddy of a white dog called Steffon.

"No I didn't," She answered as she slipped the purple miniskirt up her legs, sticking with the white blouse with a black over bust corset and black knee high boots, "Can't go see pops in my pyjamas now can I."

Marco reached into the grib and gently picked Edward up with his blanket, the babies hold of the soft toy was strong as he brought it up with him before shifting into the warmth of his father, Megumi stepped back towards the bed and picked up the newspaper her eyes scanned the front page before she dropped the paper eyes wide. "Oh no…" She whispered.

Marco turned confused look etched his features before his eyes landed on the paper, a picture of Ace was on the front cover beaten and bruised. The title was in bold above the picture, 'Execution of Portgas D. Ace scheduled in one week from today.'

"You go," Marco told her, "I stayed for the rest of yesterdays meeting you stay for this one, yoi."

Megumi blinked a few times, "But you are…"

"Go," Marco instructed watching as she took off out the room and could hear the heels of her boots thudding across the corridor.

Megumi moved towards the sound of shouting and raised voices, it was obivious to her no one but the allies, division commanders and Pops knew what had happened as many of them looked confused as she dashed past them and practically lept over the bannister to the ground floor. She landed with a thud making many pirates turned to look at her retreating form as she rushed down one the corridors.

"IN A WEEK!" Izos voice caught her ears.

"WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET THERE!" Vista yelled.

She slammed the doors of the ball room open, "Tell me it's a lie!" She ordered her eyes locked onto her Captains, "It has to be a lie."

"They want to set us on edge," Whitebeard told her, "You must remain calm my dear."

She closed the door behind her, "Be calm… you aren't calm and don't tell me you are Pops because we know you aren't… do we even…"

"We will have enough time, the papers stated the execution will be at three o'clock a week today," he told her, "Marco?"

"With Edward," She answered taking her seat.

Whitebeard nodded, "Marco explained the rest of the plan to you?"

"Yes when the meeting was over he told me," She replied.

"We are now on the front of this war, our only goal is to rescue Ace destroy the marines if it is needed but once Ace is rescued we retreat, we don't want this to become a full blown war. No man should have to bury his sons or daughters," Whitebeard stated.

They all hummed in agreement nodding their heads, "as planned the fourth division will stay on the island to protect it and to protect Edward."

Thatch nodded his head, "Understood Pops."

"The rest of you need to have your crews or divisions ready within the hour, we need to be gone from this island within the hour if we want to get there with a good amount of time before the execution is meant to take place," He told them.

Megumi felt sorry for many crew members of the allies and divisions since most of them had been up the night before helping people of the island place the jelly coating over the ship so they could sail under the redline. The room started to empty as everyone started to prepare, "Megumi my dear, you are sure you want to come?"

"Of course Pops," she paused for a second smiling widely, "We are family," she paused looking down at the charms of her necklace, "No one gets left behind."

Ace looked up as footsteps started to come towards his cell, he didn't think visitors were even allowed into Impel Down let alone this far down. Ace kept his head down not looking up as he heard the person take a seat down in front of him, it was his grandfather he heard the man sigh, "I wanted you and Luffy to become great Marines. Never mind marines, you two brothers have become notorious outlaws. I'm sure you have heard the rumours about Luffy too?" Garp questioned the man. "In Water seven, he picked a fight with the world government and someone how managed to invade the island of law, Enies Lobby. I shot over there and gave him a taste of the old man's Fist of Love. Doesn't seem to have helped one bit thought." Garp sighed resting his hands on his lap, "After that, he caused a huge uproar on Sabaody Archipelago I'd expect no less from my own grandson!" Garp laughed loudly, the laugh bounced off the walls and filled every sixth level prisoners ears.

Ace smiled weakly thinking of his little brother, the little runt that annoyed him so much when he was younger but know he is glad he became friends with Luffy. Made the bound of brothers with one another.

"Oh yeah. I also told Luffy about his father," Garp stated, "He was really surprised to hear he had a father."

"Doesn't matter," Ace chuckled, "Whether we know about it or not as annoying as it is, both me and Luffy carry the blood of a world-renowned criminal. There's no way we could've become marines. Even though I owe my mother a debt of gratitude and took the name "Portgas" I still can't stand the thought that I carry the blood of that worthless father of mine. I don't remember him at all and I don't owe him anything."

"Yeah I get what you mean, but he was just…"

"That's why," ace interrupted his grandfather, "Gramps my old man is Whitebeard," he finally looked up a large grin across his face, "And no one else."

The look across Garps face was grim before he stated, "Sengoku want's to know why the Crew and the allies started to gather months before you were captured."

Ace smirked shrugging, "No clue, most likely a party it's a thing with pirates we aren't so uptight like you marines we like to let loose every once in a while a large party with all the allies and crew members." He sighed, "Such a shame that I missed it."

"It has something to do with the Siren does it not or they would not have gathered on an island associated with her," Garp barked.

Again Ace shrugged, "Sorry Gramps you are really going to have to ask her yourself, I have no clue haven't spoken to her in a while. Though I did hear she vanished from marine sights even when the entire crew was about. Might want to consider hiring new surveillance people."

Garp glared slightly at his grandson before sighing, "I never wanted to see you like this Ace."

"Well with my bloodline, we both knew it would end up like this," Ace sighed resting his head back against the wall.

Thatch watched silently as Megumi rushed from one end of the room to the other her face flushed slightly as she pushed a few extra clothes into her bag knowing they would only be gone two weeks maybe a bit more so no point taking anything valuable and with Pops fear they might loose the ships everything special to her had been packed up and placed in the bedroom. Edward sat on Thatch's lap curious to his mothers sudden burst of energy before she came to a stop, two pistols placed in the bag and her staff segments were the last things to go in before she knelt down slightly, "You be good for Uncle Thatch ok," She smiled weakly kissing the babies chubby cheek, "Mummy will be back soon."

"It will be ok," Thatch smiled at her, "You will be in a few weeks."

"Ready, yoi?" Marco asked standing behind her.

She nodded her head gently kissing Edwards cheek again stroking back the few hairs he had, "Yeah…"

Marco smiled watching her step back before he kissed Edward on the head and patted Thatch on the shoulder, "Keep an eye on him before you know it he will be off crawling."

"Don't worry, he won't leave my sights, you two be safe," Thatch ordered them both.

"We will be back soon," Megumi smiled softly, Edward looked up at his mother confused, "I promise Eddie soon you will meet Daddy ok."

"You two better go, don't worry me and the fourth division can look after the island for you whilst you are gone," Thatch told her.

"He's right, yoi," Marco told her pushing her softly towards the door her bag in his hand, "We won't be long."

She hummed softly and stepped out the door taking one last look at Edward before the door shut, she knew this was right Ace wasn't going to be like Roger she promised on Rogue's grave. Ace will meet his child and she will fight to make sure that happens.

AN: So that's what, three chapters this week god I spoil you guys don't I. The scene between Garp and Ace was taken from the anime this time round since I couldn't find the manga chapters this week. Plus I have had nothing to do today so I worked on this chapter a hell of a lot and planning stuff for the next chapter. The next chapter is the eve of the war so, that's Jimbei and Boa being introduced, Megumi's worrys about the war and the mentions of Luffys break into impel down. Yes Megumi is feeling incredibly guilty for leaving Edward but for what I plan to do, she does need to go to fight so I apologise.

cocobobo10: Glad you did though I sometimes feel tense breathers will make people stop breathing lol. It is to progress the story and I think the next few chapters are just going to be jammed back with action you might need to take a back seat when reading. I do it mainly to break up the chapter, so it isn't just constantly with her really. I pinkied promised my best friend I wouldn't kill off Thatch. Thatch is basically protective big brother you can't kill him lol.

DeadGirlEtarnal: Is this soon enough for you ;) lol

Well I might go work on the next chapter because I am getting completely into this, I am still questioning what to do after time skip if you guys have suggestions I would love to hear them. You are all amazing fans and I'm glad you've stuck with me, well speak to you all next chapter.

Scarlet.