Goodbye Love

Summary: When Benn sacrifices his life to protect Shanks, Shanks goes off of the deep end. Ace, Luffy, Sabo, and the others rush to keep Shanks from destroying himself as the fate of the world hangs in the balance.

Author's Note: Hey everyone and welcome to Goodbye Love! Thank you so much to CorpseJester for picking out the name of this fic! Alright, so this is heavily based on Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 6 ending! If you do not like character death, TURN AROUND! I want to note before we start: I made up a bunch of BS about haki within the Void Century to fit for this fic! Anyway, I hope you enjoy! On with the fic!

Pairings: Benn Beckman/Shanks, Marco/Portgas D. Ace, Koala/Sabo, Monkey D. Luffy/Trafalgar D. Water Law

Warnings: Character Death, Blood and Injury, Dark Shanks, OOC Shanks for a hot minute, Portgas D. Ace Lives, Alternate Marineford Events mentioned, Fuck Canon, Whitebeard Lives, Shanks is on a war path, Murder, plus more.

Chapter One: The Death of Benn Beckman, Shanks' Fury

Chapter Summary: As the Red Hair Pirates fall into a trap, Benn Beckman casts himself between Akainu and Shanks. Meanwhile, the others learn of what happened and race to find Shanks.

Shanks should have known. He had walked right into a trap. "Say goodbye." His heart had dropped as his eyes widened. He went to move, preparing to block the attack, but he would never make it in time. This meeting wasn't a meeting. It was a hit. A hit on his life. He had a bad feeling about this when they had arrived, but he never expected this.

It felt like the world had stopped around him as it seemed to go in slow motion. The air catching in his throat as Benn's face appeared before him. The splatter of blood against his face. His eyes widened as everything came to a standstill. Shanks' ears started to ring as his gaze moved down, looking at the gaping hole that was through Benn's chest.

Benn smiled at him, the blood already moving out of his mouth and down his chin. "I got to you in time… Shanks." Benn whispered before his eyes were rolling into the back of his head and he slumped. Shanks couldn't breathe as he watched Benn starting to fall, his eyes closing as Shanks watched the light leave his eyes.

"Benn!" Shanks screamed, the terror ripping out of him as he moved, catching Benn's body before it could hit the ground. Benn's blood was already starting to coat his arms and legs. "Oh God… no, Beck… you can't. You can't do this." He pleaded. Begging to anyone who would listen that this was not happening. He moved his hand, feeling for a pulse and cursing as he didn't find one. "Beck… please! Don't! Don't leave me!" The tears started to form in his eyes as he heaved. Trying to breathe as he adjusted Benn in his arm. "Oh God, no… please, please, baby… come back." He whispered, leaning forward, and letting his forehead settle against Benn's. His chest wasn't rising. It wasn't falling. There was nothing.

He moved again, pulling Benn closer as his body started to slump. "Baby… please, don't do this." He continued to plead. His heart was pounding, loud enough that he could hear it in his ears. All the times in their life flashing before his eyes. The memories that they had made. His smile. His laugh. Everything.

Now, he was just lifeless. Unmoving. Nothing to signify that Benn's life remained in his body.

No one was moving. No one was saying a word. Shanks felt the tears fall down his face. Wetting the surface as he leaned in, pressing his forehead back against the elder pirate's. This man had been his right-hand man for years. His Vice Captain. His partner. His husband. The love of his life. Shanks never felt so strongly about someone before.

Now he was ripped away from him within a blink of an eye.

What the hell happened?

Shanks looked up, his eyes landing on the man responsible as he felt the rage and blood fury starting to fill him. "You." He hissed. Without a second thought, he released a burst of haki, no emotion but unadulterated rage going through him.

Nothing else in that moment mattered to him.

He wanted revenge.

He was prepared to hunt down every last person responsible. Even if it was the last thing he did. The New Era had already started. Luffy had been crowned Pirate King. New Yonkos had been crowned. Alliances had been formed. The pirates were dominate on the seas. The Revolutionary Army was close to bringing down the World Government.

Nothing mattered to him anymore in that second.

All that mattered to him was settling the score.

Despite the pure hatred and anger written on his face, he was crying inside. Curled around a small flame that was threatening to distinguish. Nothing in this world was going to stop him from killing the man that took Benn's light from him.

Even if he lost himself in the process.

X

The time for the Pirate Summit had arrived. A banquet that was held with the most prominent pirates currently on the sea. A time for just peace and harmony among them. Chances for alliances to be made, and a time to catch up with old friends. It was something that Ace never thought he was see following Marineford.

He had been mere seconds away from dying. Seconds away from ending up with a magma fist through his chest from the current Fleet Admiral, then Admiral Akainu. If it hadn't been for the arrival of Shanks at the perfect moment, he would be dead. He knew it. Two years following Marineford, he had decided to leave the Whitebeard Pirates temporarily and take up training underneath Shanks. Working on refining his haki over his Devil Fruit abilities. He had realized in that final battle against Akainu that he needed more in his arsenal to stay alive. If he wanted to continue his life as the Second Division Commander of Whitebeard's crew, he had to use every advantage he could get.

For two long years, he had studied underneath the Yonko of the Sea. Learning all that he could about Haki. Refining and honing his skills with the three types of haki that he could use. He was far better now than he was back then. He had learned so much from him. He would be forever thankful for the things he learned from him, even if he didn't feel like he deserved it.

Though in the end, he supposed he did.

Within those two years, he had learned many things about himself and about Roger. Learning more about his parents from Shanks, who had known both of them. It had taken him a long time to get past everything that he had grown up believing, but he was in a far better place because of it. He had returned home to his nakama, stronger than ever. Meeting Sabo again, who had watched the entire Marineford broadcast. Regaining locked away memories from seeing both him and Luffy so close to death. Sparking the final match that was needed for Sabo to remember everything.

That had been a shock to him.

There was so much that he never would have known about if it wasn't for Shanks. So much that he wouldn't have now without him.

He sighed, leaning back on his arms as he looked around. Frowning as he realized that the Summit was already underway but there was a clear absence among them. It felt so uneasy within the last few days. Like something was going on, but they didn't know about it. There was always something happening around the world, but not something that left a sour taste in Ace's mouth.

"It's really odd that Shanks didn't show up." Ace stated, taking a drink from the bottle in his hand. Luffy and Sabo were on either side of him. They had been waiting for the Red Hair Pirates, but they had never showed. Hell, even Buggy was here. It was so odd to be holding a Summit among all the Emperors and one of said Emperors was a now show. Especially with the peace that seemed to on the sea now that they had a crowned Pirate King.

"Maybe, he's just running late." Sabo stated.

"This doesn't seem like Shanks though." Luffy added. "Why aren't they here yet?"

Ace didn't want to say that he was concerned, but he was. No one has even been able to get ahold of the red-haired Captain either. Shanks always answered his den den mushi, if not him, it was one of his officers.

His stomach had fallen the second he saw Deuce and Haruta running their way and their faces said it all. Something happened. The silence came next as Deuce held up the newspaper. "You want to see this, Oyaji." He stated, holding the paper for all to see.

Ace was left in shock.

Red-Haired Shanks Destroys Pangaea Castle, Benn Beckman Dead

"No way!" Luffy shouted, bolting up out of his seat as his jaw dropped.

Ace had choked on the air in his throat as he heard Marco say, "Beckman's… dead?"

"How did this happen?!" Izou shouted.

Ace looked over to Whitebeard, seeing that the man looked just as stunned as all of them before the sympathy came to his face. "The peace of the sea is going to be gone. There will be no stopping him."

Ace peered over to Luffy, seeing the pure anger that was on his face. "That can't be true! There's no way that Benn's dead!"

"Red-Hair destroyed the castle." Marco muttered, "The only way he would react like that…"

It was started to clue in for him. He was understanding why Shanks hadn't been answering them. The one person that Shanks had relied on since the death of his former Captain was dead. No one else had said a word until Buggy stood up, a dark look on his face, "Whitebeard is right. They just pulled the pin out of a grenade. Shanks… he won't sit by… the things he knows… can bring this world to an end."

Luffy immediately jumped up, the determination on his face as he nodded, "Alright, so let's go find him."

"It's not going to be that easy, Straw Hat-ya." Law stated, peering through his bangs at the younger Captain. Ace was now starting to understand why it felt like there was a tension on the sea. An uneasiness that had taken over despite the peace that seemed to be over it. The pirates weren't be hunted as much as they were before. Not a main priority for the Marines at the time. They had gotten too powerful. Alliances made that even the Marines couldn't break through. "This is Red-Haired Shanks. The man of many mysteries who can travel at unforeseen speeds. It won't be easy to track him down."

Ace felt like he couldn't breathe. He had gotten to know Benn really well during those two years. He had seen how Benn and Shanks were too each other. He looked over to Marco, shaking his head for a moment. Marco had almost instinctively reached out, grabbing his hand, and squeezing it. "Ace?" Marco muttered.

Ace turned his head, letting his eyes settle on the form of the First Division Commander. "I can't imagine what he must be feeling right now." Ace whispered.

"Probably feels like the world around him is over." Marco replied, his voice dropping low. "I know you want to go find him, Ace… so, let's do it."

Ace nodded, turning back to look at Luffy. "I'm going with you."

Luffy looked at Law, tilting his head, "I can't let him go through this alone. If it was you… I would go."

Law sighed and nodded, "If Red Nose-ya," For a second, Buggy interjected, sputtering about what Law had said, but the other pirate had ignored him, "Is right… we might have to fight him. Can you fight him again? Fight to kill if you have to?"

No one wanted to answer that. Law was telling straight facts. Still, Ace hated it.

Nothing on the seas were going to be the same anymore. They all knew it. Now, they just had to get to Shanks.

X

Sengoku was enraged as he walked into Marine Headquarters for the first time in years. The news reaching him just days before. Why in the hell did Akainu think that this was a smart idea? Trying to execute Shanks with an entrapment? Bringing him to a location with false pretenses.

Shanks was not the man to anger, and Akainu had done it. Angered the one person who shouldn't have ever been messed with. Not in this way. Garp was behind him, whispering, "Roger would be crying now…" Garp sighed for a second, "Sengoku, you know what is about to happen."

"I know." Sengoku hissed, "No one is safe now."

"What the hell was that brat thinking? Planning an assassination of Red-Haired Shanks?!" Garp added, "Nothing good would have came from it."

"I had my concerns when I stepped down, but I didn't think Sakazuki would take it this far." Sengoku whispered.

"This is going to turn into a shit show really quick if we don't do something about it." Garp grumbled.

"What was he thinking?!" Sengoku continued, "This never should have happened."

X

They had been trying even more to try and find the location of the Red Hair Pirates. They couldn't find them. No matter where they tried to look, who they got in contact with. It was like they vanished.

Sabo had reached out to everyone that he could think of. Even asking Dragon to use more of his connections to try and figure out where Shanks and the others had gone.

They had gotten a solid lead from a few people and Ace, Sabo, Luffy, and Marco had taken off ahead of everyone else. Being the ones who could travel faster. Once they found them, they would alert the others of their location. They were following behind, but they still could travel faster. Sabo was on the back of his bird, Ace was on Striker with Luffy, and Marco had taken to the skies. Taking breaks on Striker when he needed it.

Sabo had a sinking feeling as they traveled. It was too quiet now. Shanks was not a man to mess with, and the Yonko's lover had been taken from him. Shanks would not go down quietly. Especially after destroying the castle.

There was more to come. He could feel it.

They had to find him first.

X

Shanks was numb to mostly everything. No one could talk to him. All the anger and rage were bubbling in him by the second as he landed at the exact place that he needed to be. The others kept trying to talk to him. To calm him down. They were angry, but they would never understand just how hurt that Shanks was.

Benn was everything to him.

His lover. Husband. His person. The person who had been by his side for years. The person that Shanks had confided everything into. The person who knew Shanks better than anyone else. He had gotten the information that he needed. The people responsible for ordering his assassination.

Causing Benn to jump between them.

They were going to pay.

"Boss, please, Benn wouldn't want this." Yasopp pleaded.

"I know you're hurting. We are too…" Lucky added.

"You don't understand." Shanks hissed, sending a glare at his nakama. They didn't understand. They were nakama, but they didn't understand. How could they?

Benn's light had been taken from him.

And he was going to destroy every single person responsible.

"We cared about him too, Boss." Hongo added, "Please… we want revenge too, but this…"

"I don't care anymore." Shanks snarled. "They are going to pay for what they have done." It felt like ice was going through his veins. Benn's final moments flashing before his mind again as he gritted his teeth, "I'm doing this rather you want me too or not." Without a second thought, he pulled himself onto the rail and jumped.

"Boss!"

"Shanks!"

I need power. I need more. I have to finish this.

X

It had taken a few days, but they had finally managed to find the Red Force. What surprised Ace more was the clear absence of Shanks. The faces of the others showing the true reality of what they faced. Ace could barely swallow the lump in his throat as they boarded the ship, being greeted by the Officers of the Red Hair Pirates. It was odd. A weird feeling of not seeing Shanks and Benn standing side by side in front of all of them. The two main figures of the crew were just gone.

"What do you mean he's not here?!" Luffy snapped, the shock on his face.

Yasopp shook his head, "He jumped overboard. None of us could stop him." He replied, "We've been trying to find him, and I can't sense his haki anymore. He's hiding from us… All of us."

"Why would he do that? You're his family!" Luffy exclaimed.

All of their faces immediately darkened. The despair that Ace could see written on their features. Hell, he could feel it. He could feel their pain. It felt like the Red Hair Pirates were falling apart at the seams, barely grasping on to what little bit was left. The one person they needed to lead them wasn't here. The next person who would handle it in the case if Shanks couldn't was dead.

Marco stepped forward, taking charge as the three brothers couldn't find the words to say. "Would you mind telling us what happened?"

Yasopp looked back at the others and nodded. He took a deep breath, rubbing at his eyes for a moment as he started, "It started with that Vice Admiral kid… Koby, I believe, came to the ship, and requested that Shanks meet up with the Gorosei. Since the Boss had done it before, he decided to go. Benn thought that it was a trap, that we should plan carefully. Boss agreed, but… when it comes to keeping the peace with the Gorosei, he decided to take the chance."

Ace was still trying to comprehend the reality that Benn Beckman's life was taken. It was normal in the life of a pirate that lives could and would be lost, but this was Benn. A member of the Red Hair Pirates. A crew that seemed almost untouchable under the command of their Captain. It was such a harsh reality that it shook him to his core. He had almost lost his Captain back at Marineford. He had lost numerous nakama, and yet this still felt more unattainable than that. They were in a down right war, but this was different. It was an ambush. Targeted to one person who wasn't expecting to fight.

"When we arrived, that's when we noticed it. We were surrounded pretty quickly. Akainu got the jump on Shanks before he even realized what was happening." Yasopp continued, "I'm sure the Boss would have taken care of it immediately, but then… Beckman jumped in the way. He took the hit." He continued recounting the events of what happened following. How Shanks had broken down and how his Haki became out of control. That Shanks was out of control. "He was like something I had never seen before. No one could calm him down. He was going after any Marine who stepped even an inch towards them. Before we knew it, he had blown away the entire castle. He was so angry. There was nothing we could do to stop him. We tried. Benn wouldn't want to see him like this. He's in so much pain that I think that he would take down anyone who dared to stop him."

"We want revenge just like he does but seeing the Boss like that… we knew we had to get him out of there." Lucky added. "He's not thinking straight. He's so angry. We all are, but he… it's so hard to explain. It broke him."

"Where'd he go?" Luffy immediately questioned.

"Straw Hat—" Marco started, only to get cast a glance from Luffy.

"Shanks is alone. He's suffering alone. I almost watched Ace die all those years ago. It's because of him that I still have my brother. We can't let him go through this alone. If that… if that happened to Traffy, nothing would stop me from taking down the people responsible."

Sabo sighed, stepping forward into Ace's line of sight. "Best bet is that he's seeking out Akainu to settle the score."

"I'm worried." Yasopp muttered, "He was different. Like nothing mattered anymore. He had been so close to fatal injuries more than once when he took down that castle. They will be after him for it."

Luffy hummed, "So, we just have to find him first."

Ace paused as he noticed the look on Marco's face. How dark it had gotten. He couldn't see his eyes around the frame of his glasses, but his face told him everything he needed to know. "Should we?" The Second Division Commander froze at Marco's question. "That bastard tried to kill Ace at Marineford. As far as I'm concerned, I want him dead too."

Ace shook his head, rushing forward and grabbing Marco's arm to force him to look at him. "Don't say that. Remember what Oyaji and you guys told me about Kaido when I wanted revenge for Oden?!" He stopped for a second from the hard gaze that Marco held. Still, he sighed, shaking his head, "Akainu believes in absolute justice. He will do anything to take down a criminal. By any means necessary. I've come to terms with what happened. It was my own damn fault I almost died back then, but it was all of you and Shanks who got me out of there."

"Ace, he killed Benn. He tried to kill Red-Hair." Marco snapped. There was a fury within his eyes that had Ace shaking his head. He understood what Marco felt. Marco almost lost him back then. Ace had almost lost Luffy. He would love to see Akainu taken down, but not like this. Not by Shanks going after him by seeking revenge. "I want him dead, and it's no skin off of my back if Red-Hair does him in. He deserves it."

"I know." Ace whispered, "But this will break Shanks. There will be no coming back." He added. The air around him dropped. Ace had tried to fight Akainu back then for what he said about Whitebeard. What he said about him. He had been so angry, and Akainu knew exactly what to say to get the job done. And he had almost succeeded.

In the end, they couldn't let this happen.

"I'm with bird guy on this." Luffy stated. Ace exhaled sharply, casting his little brother a look. "That bastard deserves it."

"Rather he deserves it or not…" Ace let his sentence trail as he felt the anger flare up in him, "Do you really believe that Shanks should break his moral code for vengeance?! I've been down that path and it almost got me killed! I spent two damn years with Shanks training under him, and every single time… he told me that no matter what someone does, don't let them break you. Don't let them break the sense of humanity inside! Yasopp said it himself! Shanks isn't himself right now! The Shanks we know wouldn't be going after Akainu like this! If Shanks does this… it goes against everything that he stood for!"

"He's right." Sabo stated, stepping up to stand by Ace. "If we allow Shanks to kill Akainu, he'll lose himself."

"I honestly don't blame the Boss for wanting Akainu's head." Hongo stated, "We all want it. We want him to suffer for what he's done. I can't stand by and watch the man I've followed as my Captain destroy himself in the process." Ace watched as Luffy's entire demeanor changed, the way his eyes widened as his mouth dropped open. So, they were finally getting through to him.

"Luffy, you know Shanks… we can't let him do this." Sabo added. "It's okay to want revenge but is it really worth allowing Shanks to walk down a path that we know isn't him. One that will surely change him. Change the man who saved your life?"

"Boss isn't the type of person who would just go and kill someone like that." Lime Juice said, "When he went berserk, Akainu ran, and I believe that's what set this into motion. This isn't something he can laugh off like he used to, but at the same time… he used to tell us that even if we lost someone that we can't let it consume us. That when the time is right, we can handle it."

"We could settle the score with him, but he's so far out of his mind that he can't even feel." Yasopp sighed after a moment, shaking his head, "He didn't have to say it, but he wants to hurt Akainu in all the ways that he hurt us."

Luffy made a tsking sound, balling his fists as he looked down. "Alright, I'm in. Even if I'm not happy about it."

Ace shook his head again, looking at Marco, "If you really love me, you'll help me stop him." He knew it was a low blow, but it was what he had to do. "I walked that path for Thatch and look at what happened. If he kills Akainu, the peace he wanted will be gone." He never thought he would see the day that he was willingly wanting to stop Shanks from killing a Marine. A Marine that Ace wanted dead at one point. "I'm going rather you go with me or not. I can't let Shanks do this."

Marco sighed, taking a moment before he nodded. He turned back towards the Red Hair Pirates, holding himself up like Ace would see him when he was prepared to fight. "Where do you think he's going?"

"We have an idea, but it could be a long shot."

X

Gaban could feel the pain and anger before he even got up to him. Gaban rushed forward, his eyes falling on the form of Shanks. The air caught in his throat from seeing him. He looked out of it. His eyes looked like they were far away, his body tense as he walked forward. Blood splattered on his face and covering his hand. He had heard the news. He could see the devastation on Shanks' face. The pure anger that radiated off of him. His eyes were full of pain. Sorrow. Vengeance. He could feel his emotions just through his haki. How overpowering it was flooding out. It was like he couldn't stop it. The lights around him started to break, sparking before disappearing completely. Cracks in the walls and in the stone from the force behind his willpower.

A willpower that was seeking revenge.

"Shanks…" Gaban whispered. He knew what Shanks was here for, and he couldn't let it happen. "Something bad happened."

"You know why I'm here." Shanks stated, his gaze falling on Gaban. Gaban could feel the chill going down his spine. "Take me to it."

Gaban shook his head, stepping in front of the red head. He hadn't seen Shanks in years. He had kept an eye on him and Buggy in the papers. Watching for anything that they were doing. He was so proud of the two of them. They had came so far since their apprentice days. He had also seen Shanks in this much pain before. When he found out about Roger. There was nothing he could say or do to help him, but he couldn't let him get what he wanted.

"I can't do that, Shanks." Gaban stated. "This isn't the way." He had a feeling about what Shanks was going to do. What he had planned. He had heard through the grapevine about the relationship between Shanks and Benn. Had heard the rumors that Shanks had gotten married. He couldn't imagine the pain that Shanks was in, but he could see it.

It was almost like he was in a catatonic state. His feet carrying him to the place that he wanted to go. The power that Gaban was here protecting, he couldn't let Shanks get too. It would destroy him. He didn't want to see the sweet kid that he knew turn into a monster.

This was not Shanks.

Shanks was a sweet kid. One who enjoyed peace and harmony over the thrill of a fight. He would fight, sometimes having fun with it, but he preferred a life of leisure. If Shanks got ahold of this, that boy would be gone completely.

His humanity would be gone.

"I need power." Shanks stated, ignoring him as he continued to walk forward, going straight into the cave where the sealed off energy was. A dark, mystical dark essence of sealed haki. Haki that had been sealed away during the Void Century. Haki that should never be messed with. It's why Gaban choose to live here. Finding out about it, the Roger Pirates had decided to protect the world's history, keep it from being destroyed. If the seal was broken, the essence would consume the person responsible. Taking away any sense of humanity they had. Making them into an overpowered weapon of destruction. An essence that could power an ancient weapon and lead to the end of the world. Gaban knew he would have to physical try and stop Shanks, but he wasn't in the same shape that he was back then.

Gaban moved after him, reaching out to stop him, "I can't." He stated, trying again to get between Shanks and the seal. The air caught in his throat as Shanks moved his hand and Gaban felt himself being pushed back. Shanks' willpower trying to overpower his. He noticed immediately how he couldn't move. How Shanks had perfected the art of using haki as an extra extension to the body. Something he had only seen with Roger. "Shanks! Stop! You know what will happen if you touch that!" He tried to fight against it. Get out of the hold. He had to stop Shanks.

This was a moment that he wished Roger was here. Roger probably was one of the only people who could calm Shanks in this state.

Gaban managed to get his own haki going, flaring through him that broke him out of Shanks' hold. He rushed forward just as Shanks reached up, placing his hand on the seal. The one that had the ancient language written on it. Warning anyone not to touch it.

He was too late as Shanks' hand sank into the seal, disappearing into it. He cursed, "Shanks! Don't do this!"

"I have no choice." Shanks muttered.

Gaban could only watch in horror as the ancient language moved from the seal, moving onto Shanks' skin. Roger must be crying in his grave at this. Shanks was never going to be the same. "Shanks…" He whispered. He tried to reach out, physically move Shanks' hand away but it felt like he had hit a forcefield that had stopped him from doing so. Grimacing as he jerked his hand back.

The symbols flooded up Shanks' body. His once amputated arm reappearing with the same markings etched into tanned skin, appearing next to his right arm. Gaban could feel the overflooding of haki in the room. The wind picking up as he had to raise his arms to cover his eyes. He had caught the glimpse of the symbols moving over Shanks' face. His normally soft eyes turning harsher. Colder. Sharper. The stormy color turning almost pitch black as he blinked, lowering his hands as the writing had disappeared off of the seal.

"That's better."