Author notes:
Chapter 1: rewritten and beta'd by Kurapikababu.
Chapter 2: rewritten.
Chapter 3: small mistakes corrected.
Chapter 4: posted again and beta`d by Gerbilfriend
Chapter 5: written and beta`d by gabrielsangel23 and Gerbilfriend
Chapter 6: written, beta`d by Gerbilfriend.
Chapter 7: written, beta`d by Gerbilfriend
Chapter 8: written, beta`d by Gerbilfriend
Chapter 9: written, beta`d by Gerbilfriend
Chapter 10: written, beta`d by Gerbilfriend
Chapter 11: written, beta`d by Gerbilfriend
Chapter 12: written and here, beta`d by Gerbilfriend and Black' Victor Cachat (Blackbeard POV)
Chapter 13: :/
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I don't own one piece!
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This chapter was beta'd by Gerbilfriend. As usual she is an awesome help, especially in this 'chapter' helping me build the scenes and motivating me, and of course correcting my grammar and making it all clearer for your enjoyment. She wrote the continuous of the Marine!Lina omake in the end, check it out XD.
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Special thanks for Black' Victor Cachat for his inspiration and help in building the Blackbeard POV, without his generous help and insight the experience of writing it may have been impossibly unbearable. Do go check his stories, they are fun and original and would keep you on the edge of your seat.
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The new cover image is Lina, yes, and the one to draw it was the talented and amazing (the number one in my heart ^^) NightsBlackRose13 (check her new story). All my love and respect warped in a huge bouquet of flowers. She promised a better version (here, this is your motivation, get to work!)
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Warnings:
English is my fourth language. The story will include thoughts about suicide, self-harm, and Ace self-worth issues.
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Thanks to all of you that followed, favorite and especially reviewed. You are seriously amazingly awesome XD.
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miaandB
Thank you for your review. Good the whole point was to feel different emotions, things are going to get much intense here.
Yeah, I wanted to add something that was purely fun, I want to try them too. If you ever did tell me if they deserve all the fuss. :)
Yeah, thank you. I am happy to hear that. I wasn't sure if the impact of the situation was able to get through to readers by written words.
If you love " emotional rollercoaster" then I can recommend my other Fic "Moby Dick's New Resident's", it is more humorous, but it does have her emotional parts.
Thank you for sharing your opinion, and hope you enjoy the new chapter and the new omake. Looking forward to hear from you.
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OTrizy
Thank you for your review. Totally agree! Gerbilfriend is one of kind. (G: Of course I am :P)
Thank you, very glad to see our hard work being appreciated.
What were your thoughts on the new fic?
Hope you enjoy the new chapter and the new omake. Looking forward to hear your thoughts.
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HikarinDevil
YO!
Sorry, life getting in the way, and I have another fics!
Since I began writing, there are several scenes that I was itching to write, Hancock face Izo was one of them, I am happy you enjoyed it.
Not only the chapter name, but the Fic name as well ^^.
I am glad you enjoyed everything, My beta did good job on the omake, she wrote here the second part!
Thank you, I never thought that I would enjoy writing flashbacks, but I do. Agreed, I wish Sabo was there then and now.
Oh, thank you, feel free to drop there (in any of my fics) and tell me me what you liked and loved there. ;)
Really appreciate your feedback :P
Hope you enjoy the new chapter and the new omake. Looking forward to hear your thoughts.
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treavellergirl
Thank you for your review.
You cracked me up! After all you wrote, I hope my version of events doesn't disappoint you.
yeah, Buggy's dream came true, he is in the spotlight! All alone, by himself!
You get Lina right, she had a more pragmatic look at life. When it came down to things, she isn't afraid of getting her hands 'dirty'.
I am truly looking forward to your thoughts about Buggy here.
Thank you for awesome feedback about the omake, you made me and my beta truly happy. You understood Marine!Lina's head well, yes she did not chose the Marine in spite (but with clear head), she considered her options and decided to be calculated about it.
Hope you enjoy the new chapter and the new omake. Looking forward to hear your thoughts.
Gerbilfriend: Rose already said it but thanks for your feedback. Marine!Lina is one of the first things I have ever really written and I am glad that you enjoyed it :)
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her wife
Thank you for your review.
Oh, you would have to read to find out.
Thank you, I work hard in making every word count!
Those parts were my favourite too (Ace seeing the wanted poster, North star), very glad that you liked them.
Thank you for sharing your opinion, and honest input.
Hope you enjoy the new chapter. Looking forward to hear your thoughts.
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GreenDrkness
Thank you for your review.
After you said that, I gone and read that part again, so true. I cracked up.
About Buggy and Lina, and the Admiral.. Things are.. Nooo.(G: Bum Bum Bum)You would have to read to know. :)
Thank you for sharing you opinion, and the one shots looking more and more as the best solution to choose.
You have your answer here. :)
Hope you enjoy the new chapter. Looking forward to hear your thoughts.
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NightsBlackRose13
Thank you for your review. As always you make me quite happy.
Yo, yo-yo. One of the reasons I was really busy is this. I hope you enjoy it and thank you so very much for the drawing.
You are awesome.
You are cool.
You are the best.
And sorry about how this chapter ends beforehand. :)
Yeah, I love Izo too, his sarcastic side are fun to write, happy you enjoyed it.
Lol, yeah, I so can see it happen, poor Marco. (After you read this it would be poorer).
Actually Buggy said it himself that he after the pirate king title, it felt to me more like he was boasting, and didn't really mean it.
Thank you, my beta did the second part of the omake, looking forward to your feedback.
Hope you really enjoy the new chapter and the omake. Looking forward to hear your thoughts. XD
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YMLR
Yup, we will go with short one. It was fun seeing the whole journey until this name. ^^
Thank you for your review. Always looking forward to them.
Worry not, I told them you loved the omake, they do read the reviews!
Yeah, I would feel sorry for anyone (including Luffy) for having to deal with obsessed Hancock.
I enjoyed writing those flashbacks, surprised myself with how much.
"her being a Marine is almost blasphemy" made me snort. You are right in a lot of ways.
"My ideal is overprotective Older Ace".. hmm. What did you think about my Ace here? Huh? Was he good? Better than good? (shishishi) and oh, My other Fic MDNR is all about protective Ace (or over protective Ace).. feel free to check it.
Agreed! Fanfiction made us attached to Thatch, I wrote about him and used him in my other fics, and it wasn't an easy experience.
Glad to hear that the breakdown was believable, and yeah, you better not strangle me (too many things to do lol), and oh you better keep your pillow close today.
Hooray, you understood Ace's word. :)
I wouldn't call it desperate just yet, Lina had stacked several Aces in hidden places. Things are getting more and more interesting.
Thank you for your permission, looking forward to hear your thoughts about the new chapter, and don't forget the omake. :)
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NCM
Thank you for your review.
And what about this turn of events? Did you see it coming. ^^
I hope this chapter answered some of your request, and you enjoyed Lina's role.
Indeed, the near death of Ace is one of the important points.
I hope you enjoy the new chapter, and really looking forward to hear your thoughts.
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Sousie
Thank you for your review.
Lina would do what need to be done for protecting her brother, if she need to be vicious, then she would be the most vicious being.
I hope you enjoy the new chapter, and please share your thoughts.
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CelestialPirateQueen
Awesome new name!
Thank you for your review.
Not going to answer you, you would have to read. :D
She is a believer, but she is a realistic and analytic, and she saw men with swords near her brother's head without anyway in her mind to stop them, that what brought her breakdown, the feeling of helplessness.
Thank you, here is the second part of the omake, hope you enjoy it, tell us your thoughts.
Izo and Hancock scene was something I planned for so long, I just needed these two characters to meet somehow..happy you enjoyed it.
Well, Marco is.. Read and find out!
"The fleet admiral VS The Strongest Man in the world!" is something I wanted to happen in the anime, I decided why the hell not write it myself.
Thank you for your encouragement, I have four fics (including this one) so don't see myself stopping anytime soon.
Hope you really enjoy the new chapter and the omake. Looking forward to hear your thoughts.
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T-Girl
Thank you for your review.
"Always" to which part?
I would take it to all! ^^
Hope you enjoy the new chapter and the omake. Looking forward to hear your thoughts in detail :D.
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Black' Victor Cachat
Thank you for your reviews. XD
As it is my tradition to answer reviews here. I just wanted to tell you thank you, I enjoyed your reviews and your insight.. And thank you for all the help in this chapter. Do enjoy it (I hope) and let me know your thoughts. :D
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Please read notes at the end.
AFTER THE NOTE THERE is A Marine!Lina omake (part2) written by my adorable Beta
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K..
Ki..
Kill..
Kill the admiral..
Kill the admiral, she said.
The adm..
HUH
HUUUHHHHHH
He … he… captain Buggy… h...ha..had the ...re..real ..ad…
Buggy swallowed and tried again.
The ad..
The real .. ad.. Adm.. admiral..
He, Captain Buggy, was standing on Kiza..…
Buggy jumped up and down feeling the body beneath him.. And stopped, he took a deep breath.
Buggy looked with unseeing eyes at his feet and jumped again .. feeling some more the solid impact of the body beneath him, it was reverberating…
Kizaru was beneath his feet.
Buggy stared at his feet intestinally, his eyebrows frowning.
No.
He stared at the body beneath his feet.
That was Kizaru.
He, the great captain Buggy was standing..
That was…
It..
Tha..
It..
People were calling his name, repeatedly, their voices nagging at his poor mind that was trying to digest this information. He couldn't think like that. He needed some silence.
They should all shut up..
"What?" Buggy yelled loudly with all his might, his voice drowned by all the noise. He opened his mouth again to yell at them to be quiet and glare at those morons not letting him th…...
Oh
Oh
Shit…
He forgot.
Buggy looked frantically around him.
They were everywhere..
From every f**king side..
A sea of blue..
Those a**holes Marines were everywhere..
A sea of them...
There were moving like huge wave from every side ready to unleash itself on the nearer shore.. which was him.
Him.
Why?
Well, of course, he was the leader, the great Buggy-sama, the ..
No.
Shit, he had the real Admiral, he was standing on him.
Why?
Why?
This is bad, worse, much worse.., the worst.. One hell of shitty situation..
Why had it to be him? He thought she had him or the nauseate Crocodile or the other one.. what was his .. not him… who cared...
Damn her she played him. Tricked him, made a fool out of him.
What should he do? What to do?
What had she said again, that little shitty wretchy brat..
He smacked his fist into the open palm of his other hand.
Oh, right.
She said..
Kill the admiral.
Him, kill the admiral.
Was she out of her freaking f**king mind? She had to be! She had clearly lost the last marbles from the jar she called brain.
She wanted him to die. Didn't she?
That was her signing his death warrant.
He should just finish the job and jump into the sea, why bother?
He knew, he should've stayed away from those brats.
Buggy looked frantically, searching for an escape route, for anything, for an idea, an inspiration, for anything to save him for this nearing doom.
Some of them had begun to clash even more with the pirates..
They were being pushed back.
What should he do?
Why, so suddenly..
Things were good!
Why couldn't he enjoy those happy moments forever, he deserved it! After what he had to endure, taking his moment of glory away from him.
What should he do ?
Ehhh..
Shit!
Shitty shit ..
What should he do?
Why him? Why?
Damn..
That little shit Lina, this was her fault! He was taking back his offer for her to be his first mate, damn her, putting him in dangerous shitty deathly situation. She should handle this, NOT HIM. Where was she?
He shouldn't have gotten involved with her and that shitty brother of hers.
They only brought him disasters, one after the other.
Damn them, those li..
Wishhhhhhh.
A bullet whizzed closely by his head.
EHHHHHHHHHHHHH...
He …
He should …
Bullets were bad, swords okay, bullets bad.
He should..
"Run," Buggy screamed his voice cracking embarrassingly at the end.
Yes, he should run.
This was not his problem, others could handle it.
He was not needed here.
The other pirates would handle this.
Buggy almost lost his footing.
The pirates holding him up, no, holding Kizaru up and he was standing on him (shit!), were moving..
No, they were running to the direction of the water..the sea.. You shitty..
No! don't follow me..
"Follow captain Buggy."
Don't! You morons. I want to run, you stay and handle the marines.
Shit, shit, well at least they were running to the direction with less marines
"Protect the admiral."
"Huh, shouldn't we kill him?"
"Why are we protecting him?"
"Stop babbling and follow captain Buggy's orders."
"He said to run! Captain Buggy always has plan."
"Follow captain Buggy."
Ehhh, they were going to get him killed, why were they following him, dammit, he didn't get to here to die like this. No, not to die period.
No, he had plans, big plans, the best...
Captain Buggy, would not be taking down like this.
He..
He was going to use the admiral.
Yes, he could, he would.
He was genius!
It was the real admiral, after all!
He was going to use him as bargaining chip, a winning hand!
Dammit, he was the real genius here.
He still had one last trick, those marines didn't know who they were messing with…
He was going to beat the shit out of that girl, Lina.. she could forget about being his first mate, her loss..
"Run," Buggy ordered loudly and confidently, they needed to put some distance between them and the encroaching tide of marines before they began the negotiation.
"Run," The Great Captain Buggy-sama repeated.
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XXXXX
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"Aceeeeeeeee."
Oh, Luffy, you moron of a little brother.
"Luffy.." Ace wanted to call back, but his words failed him, what could he say to his brother, be careful, go back, leave...
Luffy had almost reached the execution platform where he was restrained.
Ace, snorted inwardly at his own words, his gaze downcast as he contemplated his situation for the nth time (It was an excuse to take his eyes from all the death and destruction happening out there, that he in this state could not affect).
It wasn't like he was sitting around, not doing anything because he wanted to do.
"ACE, stay there, I am coming."
Ace couldn't help but snort out humorless laugh, that was the only thing he could do. Wait and watch, helpless to do anything. His hands were clenched into white knuckled fists as he made himself raise his head to watch.
The marines were trying to stop Luffy but were not able to hold him back in anyway, especially with Jinbe backing him up and tiny 'army' following them.
As always when Luffy decided on anything then he became blind to anything else, no one could stop his momentum. It was good that Jinbe was with him to watch Luffy's back. He wished that neither of them were here to begin with...
Stop, he reprimand himself.
You decided to accept everything, the good and the bad.
Stop being delusional, thinking that you could stop Luffy! When he puts his mind into something there was no stopping him. You know better! You can't stop a storm.
He really wasn't that surprised that Luffy also had that power, the cursed power, the power that he refused to even admit he himself had.
It did make sense for the future pirate king to have it. Luffy was as good as holding the title in Ace's eyes, he would never tell him that. No need to make him more bigheaded even with Lina there to guide..
Where was Lina again?
Ace twisted his head and body from side to side, ignoring the painful strain on his arms.
The last he saw of her, few second ago, she was running somewhere.
Damn it.
He should not had let his eyes leave her for a second.
Where was she? Damn his little sister, just f**king damn it.
Why of all the times to be on the offensive, all alone, the center of attention, worse than even Luffy.
He can't believe he was saying this, but Luffy was an angel (no, he wasn't!) compared to what she had pulled today. This was unlike her.
Form all the F**king days she had to decide on today, where was she?
He took back every damn thing he had ever told her about taking the initiative, taking stand for herself, and about telling her to try to be more outgoing...
He take them all back, he shouldn't have said them to begin with. Telling her she was a compass, a guide was damning mistake, she took it too literally, shit! He had his hands full (like trying to hold water, no, AIR) worrying about Luffy's next 'big adventure'.
Just you.. dammit … wait until he get rid of those handcuff she was not getting out of his sight, no, out of his reach.
Shit, where was she?
Did those marines…
They better not..
Ace strained his body more, trying to break those handcuff, even though he knew he couldn't. Damn the seastone… no.
He felt burning hate for the devil fruit that he ate, why did he eat the damned fruit again? Who said it was such good idea? He needed to get out of these cuffs and protect his siblings, it was his job, not theirs.
Oh.
Good!
His whole body deflated, and his shoulders slumped, he ignored the pain and the aches of his joints.
She was with Jiru.
Thank the gods! Ace sighed his relief.
He would take him to drink after this, maybe several, not only him...
Ace grinned, a bit abashed and a bit entertained at the sight.
While he was at it he would have to speak in detail with his brothers about how to handle her. Yes, he was speaking about physically. Mentally, Ace sighed while shaking his head, he wasn't going to try (he wasn't sure if he was doing a good job).
Jiru holding her like a potato bag on his shoulder was not acceptable, neither was being flown on Marco's back or by his claws (in his phoenix form).
He really owed his brothers and Pops, not only for being here for him, showing him how important he was to them (despite the whole world now knowing whose shitty blood ran in his veins) but for protecting his baby brother and sister.
Shit, first the thing Lina and Luffy pulled with three admirals.. what the heck was that?
He was still in shock from seeing Luffy challenging the three admirals (no, it wasn't a shock, it was a denial, Ace admitted to himself), the real shock came when he was able to see once again after the sudden blinding light had waned. Seeing Lina flying in front of his eyes, he did not need to strain his neck, she was flying in his eyes level, above the three admirals. Then that shitty yellow monkey trying to kill her, with him watching everything unfold helplessly and unable to do anything except scream his desperation and fear (they need not execute him if that happened he would have gladly died from misery and heartbreak).
Next come that shitty pinky piece of feathery crap.
When Ace got his hands on that Doflamingo bastard and pluck his feathers one by one, slowly and leisurely and afterwards Ace would roast him, slowly and leisurely, then put his feathers back in their rightful place, slowly and leisurely (see he was nice (totally nice!)) on his body one by one, then he would pluck them again, and do it all over, that little piece of shitty garbage scum… he was going to whip his bloody a ..
BOOM
An explosion obscured Lina from his view.
BOOM
Marco went flying into another wall, no, two, three.. Fo.., nope, three.
Ace winced, even with his healing powers that would have hurt, a lot.
Marco, should have get there earlier, he was almost late, what the hell was he thinking! His sister came first.
Well, his rage towards Marco was disappearing, Ace cringed, seeing Marco get punched once again by Garp.
He felt sorry for him, no one should have to face that fist. Ace knew, he had the pleasure of experiencing it since he could remember.
But it was worse now, because Garp was holding nothing back, he was using Marco as a punching bag for his frustration (Ace could relate, he had several people that he wanted to use as punching bags).
It was lucky that Marco had the phoenix devil fruit. But still, his own rage when he saw the piece of scum flamingo attacking Lina was almost, almost, eclipsed by Garp's rage. Even the Fleet Admiral needed to step in, to stop him from going berserk.
Speaking of which..
The Fleet Admiral was one piece of work.. he .. well, he was doing his job..
The fact he was fighting with Pops on equal footing was indication to his strength and why he was the Fleet Admiral of the marines. Their fight took over a huge portion of the place, nobody dared move closer to them (nobody was that stupid or suicidal), it effects could be seen everywhere, with each strike they were both adding to the destruction all around. Ace would not be surprised if they actually broke the island in half.
The Fleet Admiral tried to undermine the effect of Lina's plan by distracting her from the huge cluster*uck of distraction she created.. It almost worked.
Seeing Luffy and Lina for what he thought was his last moments was truly unbearable, the look on their faces as they were running desperately to him broke his heart into little tiny pieces, he felt like that was his biggest failure ever. Him not staying alive until they reached him.
"Aceeeeeeeeeee, I am coming. Wait up, Aceee. "
Luffy's voice was really close but he couldn't see him, Ace cringed his neck searching for him.
To feel his face splashed with a stream of water.
"Shishishishishi."
Ace coughed and blinked his eyes repeatedly. Not being able to use his hands was stupidly annoying.
"ACE."
Ace cringed. Luffy's loud voice was louder still, it was like he was speaking into his ear.
He felt a phantom touch on his hands.
Ace jerked his body, opening his eyes wide, even with the annoying water making him want to blink repeatedly. He resisted and looked around him with blurry eyes, trying to twist his body, to see noth..
Something touched his back, unhappy with his movement.
Ace froze.
"I finally reached Ace."
Luffy's smiling face swam into focus. Even with his blurry eyes he couldn't mistake that smile.
They were both dripping wet.
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XXXXX
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Nooooooooo.
No.
No.
Just no.
His precious bargaining chip, his lifeline, his hopes, nooooooooo.
Why?
Dammit, it all because those slow witted pirates, he told to them to run.
They were supposed to move a bit faster, just one bit.
He had already imagined and planned the perfect negotiation.
He, captain Buggy had the perfect negotiation techniques.
Damn those marines, if they thought they would take captain Buggy alive, they got something coming, he would use ..
"Watch out, captain Buggy."
Shit!
Too late.
He felt several arms holding him, grabbing him.
Dammit!
He couldn't move.
Why did no one used swords anymore, they should slash him or something.
They were dragging him down, restraining him and he couldn't use his Special Muggy Ball bomb, no, he just needed..
"Marines attack.."
Buggy was fighting to breathe, he felt his body being crushed under a huge weight, yet he was able to hear snippets of loud shouts that were being shouted from people above his squished form.
"We got the ring leader.."
"Protect the admiral.."
"Kill the admiral.."
"Don't let them run.."
"Protect him to your last bre.."
"Save captain.."
It had become a heated fight with every group trying to get the upper hand.
Buggy was able to decipher this from his unmovable place, he had given up on trying to move (it hurt too damn much) and instead concentrated on his breathe and the screaming voices. Some of those voices made him think that he was lucky to be buried under a pile of a**holes marines.
It didn't take much time (yet for Buggy it seemed like forever and a day) for him to hear the loud roaring and cheering, unmistakably, of the marines (him being still buried was a thick hint).
He cringed his head trying to see, dammit, they lost, the Great Buggy lost, he was going back to Impel down. It was the fault of Strawhat and his damn sister..
No, he would be lucky if he was locked up in there (he really, really missed Impel Down. He should have stayed in that haven, why did he leave? why..).
Kizaru would blast him to crisp, why did he think it was good idea to stand on him, and step especially on his face.. Why.. he didn't deserve this.
He .. he should have stayed in East Blue, why did he decide to follow the Strawhat brat for revenge, why..
Buggy felt the pile crushing him get a bit lighter, enough for him to twist his body and head, he was in time to see how the marines tore the black robes from the admiral's body and were trying to break the numerous seastone cuffs on his body.
Buggy laughed humorlessly at their desperate tries, choking and coughing pitifully.
They were the one that built them unbreakable and to open them you had to insert special keys. Serves them right! (you want the keys, good luck diving for them!)
Some of the marines gently and reverently tried to take the black cloth that covered the admiral's head.
At least he would see Kizaru's face while he was still cuffed, he would enjoy this, he was going to treasure those last moments. Captain Roger would have been proud of him, facing death straight on. Buggy couldn't help the hiccup (it was because he was lacking oxygen, nothing else, no, he wasn't being emotional!)
Huh?
Kizaru's face looked weird.
Really weird!
Well, he did have his mouth taped shut.
But still his face looked different.
Buggy couldn't put his finger (uhg, he still couldn't move his body) on what exactly was wrong.
Was it because of his continuous stepping on Kizaru's face that changed his facial structure somehow, it seemed chubbier.
The admiral had his eyes wide open and was profusely sweating!
Strange.
Was it because of the great humiliation he experienced by the hands of the great Buggy.
Shit, that was bad, Kizaru would make … he could kiss a quick merciful death goodbye.
Buggy blinked and snorted (even with his coughing) at the high pitched scream emitted from the Admiral's throat (they hadn't succeeded in taking the tape off gently).
He blinked again.
It couldn't be..
Stepping on him would not make the tanned admiral white.
Would it?
Buggy wheezed as suddenly the pile on him became heavier, no he wasn't going to even to be blasted away by Kizaru, no, he was going to be crushed alive (they were trying to squeeze the life out of him).
Buggy struggled to breath.
Dammit.
There was big commotion and loud voices, he could still hear even by the muffled layers above him, but not the words themselves.
He felt hands on his numb hands, he couldn't see who it was. Did Kizaru come for him? The great Buggy? Was this the end of his legend?
Shit, it hurt.
Someone was pulling him and yelling.
It F**king hurt.
He hoped they made it quick.
"Captain Buggy."
"Stop crowding him."
He knew those voices. He felt hands trying to pull him upward, posture straight, his feet were touching the ground but he couldn't seem to use them.
"He need to breathe."
"Make way."
Buggy tried to raise his head and look around him but it was too hard, his whole body felt heavy. He was standing only because of the two holding him up.
"He said, make way."
"Help him stand up."
"Gently."
Those were the voices of his followers. They came for their leader. He was safe!
Take that you a**holes marines.
Such loyalty, it brought tears of joy to Buggy's eyes.
"Ohhh, Captain Buggy, you were awesome, I thought for sure we had the real admiral with us."
"Me too."
HUH, what were they talking about? Did he hit his head too hard. Those a**holes marines..
"I knew it was all an act!"
"You did?"
"Of course, I never doubted Captain Buggy, it was obvious it was part of big plan that we were not aware of."
"Ohh, so that was an act? Captain Buggy tricked us.. ouch.."
"You moron, for something like that to work, you need to trick your friends to trick your enemies, Captain Buggy had no choice."
"But..."
"Yeah, you moron, if Captain Buggy didn't trust us to follow him through anything, he wouldn't have been able to pull it off."
Buggy tried to move his mouth, to demand for someone to explain. He knew he was awesome but what the hell were they babbling about. His mouth was dry, he swallowed and continued to listen with interest.
"That was deep."
"I didn't know that captain Buggy trusted us this much.."
"I never thought I could respect you more, but I know I choose the right captain, I would follow you to hell."
He knew he was great, but what was that about trick and .. real admiral.
OHHH. It wasn't Kizaru.. Then who the hell was it? Was he just played?
"We'll never doubt you again."
""I never did!"
"Captain Buggy is the greatest."
Buggy looked around him, no, it didn't seem like he was played. By the look on his followers' faces he was the one that played everyone (even himself), the whole bunch were eyeing him with newfound respect, some had stars instead of eyes.
"Long live the Great Captain Buggy."
"Long live."
He felt himself being carried again (he felt like ball of crumpled paper) and thrown in the air, with loud cheers and people screaming his name.
It took a while, but he was finally put on his two feet, and thankfully his feet got back to work. They were still shaky but he could stand on them now.
"Captain Buggy is the greatest."
"What should we do now captain?"
"What your genius next move?"
"You order and we will follow."
"What is your next move to trick those morons' marines?"
"Did you see their faces when they realized it wasn't the real admiral.."
"Talk about your own face, you were stunned like them, looked like..."
"I wasn't .."
"Yo, the great captain Buggy, right?" someone interrupted their very important conversation.
Who dared interrupt this important moment, he was about to begin his victory speech.
Well, at least, he referred to him by the Great Captain Buggy, he was in good mood, so he would let it go this time.
"Isn't he a Whitebeard pirate?"
"He is Rakuyo the seventh commander."
"Trying to pick fight with the Great Captain Buggy? Are you?"
"You have some guts!"
"Wait a moment, the Whitebeard pirates left us before.. "
"Yeah, somethin' about helping out the.."
"I think, reinforcements to the other gr..."
"Oh, right, this is Captain Buggy's victory."
"Yeah, we did it all alone, without your support."
"Yeah, we wouldn't let you take credit for this."
"Why are you here now, trying to pick a fight?"
"Fight? With captain Buggy?"
"You shouldn't you will lose."
"You had to go through me first."
"Me too."
They were all surrounding the intruder, protecting their captain, demanding he be respected and given the credit that he deserved.
Buggy had tears in his eyes and he snuffled. This loyalty, this love, ohhh..
"Lina sent me. She said well done. She expected nothing less from the great Captain Buggy. He alone could pull it off. She was sure you would keep your word."
Word, what word? What were he the heck speaking about...if that brat thought she would trick him again and put him in another bad spot..
"Of course."
"Boss Lina got it right."
"Of course, she did, she has great taste."
"Boss Lina knows about the greatness of Captain Buggy."
"She was the one that told me that I should follow captain Buggy."
"Me too, she said I could never go wrong following the Great Captain Buggy."
"Yeah. As Boss Lina said there's reason why there's Great before his name."
"You remember what she told us before the fight.."
"Yeah"
"I remember!"
"That we are the underdogs."
"We are the real threat, not the Whitebeard pirates."
"Yeah, we are the stars of the show."
"Captain Buggy will lead us to greatness."
She did? She said all of those nice things about him… he felt touched. Truly.
Buggy snuffled, maybe he was being too hard in his judging of her. She probably thought he could handle it. That was why she put the heavy duties on his shoulders, it was because of her absolute trust in him.
"Boss Lina and captain Buggy are the ones running the show."
"I want someone to trust me like boss Lina trusts captain Buggy."
"Me too."
The whole group were giving cheers, calling his name and Lina's.
She was probably waiting for him to ask her to become his first mate, she was being shy about asking herself.
The Whitebeard commander cleared his throat and said loudly.
"She said to follow plan F, she knows you will do even better this time..."
Huh, plan F? Was there a plan F, what heck was plan F? Did he hit his head so hard that he forget?
Buggy rubbed his head.
For this matter what were plans A, B, C and D, umm what was there after D. Who cared, F it was.
"..and go help Mr.1 One's group.."
"Ohh, so this was all a part of plan!" The poor sod got whacked on his head repeatedly.
"Idiot, everyone already knew that."
"Yeah, where were you for the last ten minutes."
"There are more plans, that what you should say."
"Of course there is."
"Mr. One's group is the group with man in the golden armor …"
"Yeah, the one with a lot of firing power.."
Firing power that got Buggy's attention. Bullets that were not aimed at him..
"Yeah, we would even do better this time."
"Yeah, there is a reason why boss Lina trust Captain Buggy."
"Because he is great!"
"We are following plan F."
"She trusts captain Buggy even more than the Whitebeard pirates."
"You moron, you forget that boss Lina and Captain Buggy go way back."
"Huh?"
"Yes, you forgot that we all escaped from the hell in Impel Down together."
"Oh, right."
"Of course she would trust captain Buggy more, they share a deep bond."
"Yeah."
Of course they do. He was the great Captain Buggy, no plan was complete without him, people were trusting him, looking up to him.
Exactly as it should be.
Everyone was waiting for his word to move.
It was time for him to shine even more.
Buggy put his hands on his hips, puffing his chest, and shouted in an authoritative voice.
"Follow me to help our comrades in Mr. One's group ."
…
..
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XXXXX
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..
...
Lina craned her neck, trying once again to see what was going on in the other side.
She was basically inside the plaza now, not that far from the execution platform, it was surprising how 'empty' it was. It meant that her plan worked, the thought brought smile to Lina's lips.
Jiru ordered her to stay here and not move. He did promise to give her exact orders to those that didn't have Den Den Mushi with them, really, why couldn't all the commanders have Den Den Mushi on them?
Things could never be perfect, or even close to it.
She hoped Buggy was okay, he was not their 'friend' per say, but he wasn't an entirely bad person and he had helped her by being the lure (it slipped her mind to tell him that!), she had to sacrifice one group to make things work, to buy time, to change the focus, to shift everyone gaze from her brothers (the most important thing) she had to give up something of 'equal' value.
Buggy's group was the one with highest chance of doing something unpredictable which meant more time (the most essential thing), running away was just like him and was exactly what needed.
There was nothing else to do for Buggy. Lina shrugged, she had already decided on this path with all its consequences.
Lina twisted her neck and searched for her twin brother. Luffy was almost at the platform, she had done it, she bought him the time he needed. She kept her promise.
She let out a long breath, feeling her tense body relax.
The corners of her mouth jerked up involuntarily, Ace would be free soon, and then she could began the ret..
Wahhhhhh
Flying.
Shit!
She was flying.
She was basically carried a few meters into the plaza by the wind, landing on her butt.
What was going on?
Did new player..
Oh, it was the Fleet Admiral and Whitebeard. She let out a deep breath that she didn't know she was holding.
Every clash between the two of them was a clash between titans, the impacts reverberating everywhere.. Lina stayed sitting not bothering with standing up. It was the fifth time she had stumbled in the last five minutes.
She didn't have the time, but if she did she would have been watching with absolute awe the fight between those great powers, it was something she might never have the chance to see again.
Neither of them backing down. Every meeting between them was full of unparalleled strength, their eyes observing every muscle shift, each blink and twitch.
But that wasn't entirely true, it seemed that the Fleet Admiral knew that his plan had turned on him.
Lina smiled nastily at that.
He seemed to be a bit, only a tiny bit, distracted, but that was enough in such fights.
Lina understood now why the two heads, the two powers, didn't fight at the start, but stayed on the sideline giving orders and watching from above the pieces move on the board.
If the kings were to fight there was no backing down until one died, it meant the war would had ended because this was the ultimate move any of them could use, and as such these moves were kept as drastic moves or as The Trump Card.
If one of them backed down it would be a loss, devastating loss, The LOSS.
It wouldn't matter if fights and battles were still being fought. Backing down would mean the war had already ended, it was over. It would be an irreversible blow to the whole fleet.
The Fleet Admiral couldn't back down from this fight, he didn't have choice, and even if he did, Whitebeard would not let him, and the Fleet Admiral knew this.
The Fleet Admiral's choice to attack Whitebeard was the best thing that could ever happen to them. It meant that the execution platform had no protection, the road was empty and clear. Well, expect the small frays (Luffy could take care of those).
It also meant that there was no one to lead the herd (with the three admirals otherwise occupied). That was hard truth to swallow that the Fleet Admiral seemed to had realized, he was literally stuck between rock (the purpose they were falling to achieve) and hard place, more like unforgiving tsunami. Usually being unable to direct your soldiers was true to both of the clashing kings. But Whitebeard was not the one giving the orders, was he?
She was (did that make her queen? Uhg, no, she preferred the joker.)
She felt a twinge of pity for the Fleet Admiral that she crushed instantly, he tried to execute her brother, he deserved worse.
Lina tried to stand up and just fell again right away, she sighed, she should check on Luffy and A..
Boom.
What now?
Oh, poor Marco.
She should probably apologize for cursing him too much. It wasn't that he didn't go to save Ace, it was that he couldn't.
She cringed, closing her eyes. She didn't know if having a power that healed your injuries was a blessing or a curse. Right now she was leaning more towards the curse.
She had sat for too long, she should get up, and help Luffy with whatever he needed, this was their chance to get to Ace without the others being any wiser.
She stood up without falling this time and begun to run before another wind or quake or shockwaves made her lose her balance.
The sound of something burbling stopped her in her tracks.
What in the name of..
She took two steps back instinctively, obeying her gut feeling, just in time for the bubbling lava to miss her body, she felt its seething heat burn her.
Who?
How ..
.
".."
No.
No, wasn't he dead?
Shit, he fell into the water.
Seawater.
The ocean!
Why? He should have sank like an anchor and died.
Dammit!
The supposedly dead admiral stood several feet from her, he was breathing hard and was only could be described as.. drowned rat made of granite, his hat was still on his head but it had lost its crisp appearance.
Lina carefully took several steps back, her hands going to her staff, this wasn't someone she could fight and hope to win.
The plan was too effective. Her star shone too much.
Shit, should she call someone? Who?
No. Going to the Den Den Mushi now was dangerous.
She took another step back, her hands turning white as she clutched her staff.
"YOU," he uttered in menacing disgust, moving with heavy steps to her direction
No sudden moves, slowly move backward, keep as much distance from him as possible she thought, trying to slow her racing heart.
"It's because of you.."
Think positively, him being here meant that he wasn't stopping Luffy!
Slowly, don't draw too much attention to your moves, she told herself.
She clutched harder the staff in her hands. Her hands had become slippery because of the sweat pouring from her. She really wanted to say it was only because of the scorching heat, but she was not so sure.
"...You, the daughter of that devil..."
Even though he was moving steadily to her direction, and he was staring directly at her, his eyes looked unfocused. The seawater may have not killed him but it definitely affected him, she might even … no.
No.
As enraged as he looked, she could only play for time and hope Jiru came back quickly and they could get away with his speed, he was her best bet, everyone else was too busy.
She took another step back, trying to observe his every move. Her only choice was to try to predict his attacks and avoid them, hoping she would be fast enough.
She needed to not antagonize him, keep everything slow and easy, she repeated in her head.
Show no fear.
Face blank, eyes watching him, watch every muscle twitch she ordered her body.
".. an evil like you dares to bring a humiliation on Justice.."
His voice getting louder with each word as was his focus, the look in his eyes made her swallow and almost lose her balance causing her to stumble her steps.
Lina fought to keep her face blank and continued to move backward slowly as not to stumble and fall down, that would be disastrous.
She shivered, such burning rage and hate directed at her was a first.
She wondered how Luffy could face such things again and again and never doubt himself.
"Destroying you would destroy evil," he accompanied his triumph shout with a lava attack, she managed barely to avoid it by using her staff to take a huge jump, she forced herself not to turn and run away.
Showing him her back would be a costly mistake.
Shit, should she try attacking him with water? No, her water would never reach him, with boiling lava around him and ..
Shit, his body was made of lava...
What should she ..
Could she in any way drop him in the sea?
She could maybe..
No, no, the ground was not a frozen surface. They were in the plaza. Dammit!
"'Evil' must be exterminated completely to achieve an Absolute Justice!"
She tried to take another leap backward, she somehow succeeded but stumbled when landing, falling on her knees.
Shit.
Up. Fast.
Lina stood up hurriedly to fall again, was it a quake or was it a shock wave? Dammit.
She screamed.
Pain was consuming her, she squeezed her eyes shut.
The bubbling lava scorched her left leg and hand.
She threw herself back, trying to run from the blistering heat.
She forced herself to open her eyes.
No.
Her staff.
She tried to reach her hand to save it from the boiling sizzling lava.
It hurt.
The pain was burning her from the inside out.
It was unbearable.
No.
No.
Her staff was no more.
Up, stand up, she screamed at herself.
Not yet.
You are not dying here.
"Allowing the spawns of the 'Revolutionary' Dragon to live is a great crime!" He snapped, his voice had an underlying satisfaction to it, she noted, titling her head to look at him, she would not flinch away.
She would not.
He was really close, looking at her from above, like he had found her guilty in the worst crimes that he decided to become the judge, jury and executioner himself, directing his fisted hand of boiling red lava at her.
She could feel the heat scorching her face, she stared back at him, hoping that her eyes were showing her defiance, her resolve.
No Regrets.
She didn't see him as someone that had the power or the right to judge her. She stared at him wanting the look in her eyes to haunt him forever.
"I'd burn you to a crisp in an instant."
He seemed to want a reaction from her, to torment her, for her to beg for life.
She stared, unflinching.
Stared.
Her eyes staring calmly at his raging hateful eyes.
.
.
Huh
What?
She blinked.
"Yo!"
She blinked.
And again.
"Lina, are you ok? Hey, you..."
That's was Luffy's voice.
"... were you trying to hurt Lina..."
She blinked.
He wasn't trying to hurt her, but to kill her.. There was big difference.
She opened her mouth.
"Ace.." Lina finally choked.
Her big brother was staring down at her, he seemed upset.
He had his hat on him.
She blinked.
He was still there.
His orange hat that she gave him on his sixteenth birthday was on his head, when did he get it back.. Strange.
She stared at his face.. His mouth was moving.. He looked upset, no, more like pissed. Why? He was safe and free, free. Free. He should..
She concentrated on the words.
"...Really, Lina, what the hell are you thinking pulling such a stunt. Making me worried, no, more like ..."
Oh, he was pissed at her.
Lina felt her body slump.
Typical Ace, he was always…
The Admiral …
Lina jerked her head up, her whole body tensing, ignoring the pain..
Looking at the scene behind Ace, who was crouched down to check on her injuries still muttering about her grievances.
Jinbe was dousing the slumped figure of the Admiral with a continuous bath of seawater while Luffy was using his second gear trying to punch him repeatedly, but finding it hard to accomplish with Iva-chan trying to drag him to safety by the collar of his shirt while yelling at him all the while.
"I punched the a**hole with Luffy and Jinbe attacking from the sides, what the hell were you thinking..", mumbled Ace, seeing what had worried her.
"We need to go." Lina told him urgently, trying to stand up, despite the burning pain in her leg (that was not important, she could handle it), but having Ace stop her, both of his hands gripping her shoulders forcefully yet gently enough not to further bruise her.
Ace let a deep sigh out, then while still crouched he turned around showing her his back.
She stared at it, noting from up close the Whitebeard's Jolly Roger on his back.
'This is my pride and joy' she remembered him telling her, eyes glowing with warmth.
She understood now.
"Hurry up," he demanded.
Lina blinked, she really couldn't remember the last time that Ace gave her a piggyback ride.
"Lina." Ace's impatient voice rang clear and Lina as if on instinct put her arms around her big brother's neck and let her head rest on his shoulder. She felt contented. They did it. Ace was safe. He was with Luffy and her.
Ace immediately and gently grabbed her legs, making sure she was secure on his back, he stood up and called.
"Luffy."
Luffy stopped struggling, twisting his head to stare at them.
"We need to go."
Ace hadn't finished his words before Luffy had pounced to their side, leaving a baffled Iva-chan behind.
"Lina are you okay?"
"I am. Good job Luffy, you saved Ace."
"Shishishi, I said I would."
Luffy beamed at her, but then he stared at her injuries with look of anger and rage. She knew that look. Now wasn't the time. Not at all.
"Luffy."
Lina called to him pleading, making sure to make an eye contact and shook her head slowly, now wasn't the time.
She hugged Ace tighter, telling Luffy without words that our big brother is more important. The danger wasn't over yet.
Luffy nodded once, and took his precious hat, his treasure, and put it on her head gently, like crown, no, like protection, a blessing.
A promise.
She give him genuine smile, she understood.
He gave her smile back.
Jinbe and Iva-chan and the other freed prisoners were there, around them, like shield, she hadn't noticed.
"... Ve need to go.."
"Before anyone notices..."
Lina felt Ace's unseen nod reverberate through his and her body.
"We should let p.."
"Iva-chan, Tension hormones." Lina cut him, this was more important.
Iva took steps back, her hands coming in front of her as to protect herself, her face showing panic.
"No, Lin-chan, anymore and vould be dangerous.."
Lina sighed and said irritably.
"Not me. Ace."
Iva-chan stopped in her lecture.
"Oh, that's good idea."
Luffy laughed, while Ace was looking at the others with what she assumed was confusion.
"Good, the three devil children with tainted bloodlines are right here,I will rid the world of you all in one go for 'Absolute Justice'."
…
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XXXXX
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..
…
He looked at the nearing Gate of Justices with unconcealed anticipation and glee. He couldn't wait to see the reaction of Pops and his 'dear brothers' (oh and the marines). He had not seen any of them since his sudden departure.
"Zehahahaha," Blackbeard laughed loudly.
His laughter went unnoticed because of the heated discussion between his new crewmates, about which weapon each should wield was still ongoing. Even with the wide range of weapons of all kind to select from arranged by their generous marine hosts.
They should have taken over the armory in Impel Down on their way out.
No, they would still fight.
They were testing each other, measuring the competition in small ways such as sweetly polite arguments on the fastest way to sail to Marineford, compliments with potentially double-meanings, leading up to the present situation over the weaponry. It did not matter, he knew they were gauging the reactions of each other, but especially their new Captain. That they were trying to find their place in his crew before they arrived to their first crew outing, the one to etch the name Blackbeard in history.
Much more entertaining than on the Moby Dick!
They were almost there.
Today was an excellent day for him to begin his new Path. The Path that would shake the world to its core.
He intended to crash the party, or what remained of the party.
Well, if he could have arrived faster he would. He would had watched with enjoyment as they tried to destroy each other to his pleasure and stepped in the right moment to snatch the victory from the jaws of the supposed 'winner' before they could taste its sweet flavor and make the Victory his own (probably when Pops was breathing his last breath. Guiding his dear Father in his last steps to the end of the Path was the duty of his son).
He had just come from watching an entertaining show on its own. The prisoners in Level Six were more than willing to kill each other in order to prove their strength to him and the sole survivors of the entertaining show were now sailing with him.
Sanjuan Wolf, Avalo Pizarro, Vasco Shot and Catarina Devon.
The most cruel and vicious of them all, or as the marines called them the worst of the worst, and now they were part of his crew. And the cream on top of the cherry pie, Shiliew, the Head Jailer of the prison they broke into and out of, had joined him after saving their lives.
He had no doubt that Fate had brought Shiliew to save them and had told him to join the crew.
There was no shred of doubt that their fate, all of theirs, was entangled with his own. He needed to show them that. After today, he would earn their 'respect' as Laffitte elaborately explained to Burgess and then Blackbeard could spent less time on watching his back and more on furthering his ambitions.
Shiliew had already told him bluntly that he would leave the crew if Blackbeard failed to acquire the powers of the Gura Gura no Mi.
He also had to keep an eye on Avalo Pizarro, his unwavering smile didn't hide the intentions clear in his eyes. Pizarro was similar to him, much too similar, he would work quietly and tirelessly like Blackbeard once did, blending in, until his chance to aim for the leader's seat arrived. That made it all the more fun, if it was his fate to be struck down by one of his own, then that was that.
His crew had grown stronger and crueler, fitting his image. The way he wanted the world to perceive him. He wanted to be feared, he wanted his chosen alias whispered to spread terror and panic and after today the legend of Blackbeard would spread like a rash, itching painfully and agonizingly its way through everyone's skin, leaving scars to always remind them of his name.
His legend would eclipse Whitebeard's mere name, like the man had never existed. Unlike the forgotten man his Flag would not only bring a whispered songs about the devil by mere children playing as marines and pirates in the yard. Forget about a mere children's song, his Flag would make them all as one, children and adults, marines and pirates, tremble with fear, unable to utter a word. No, the only thing they would be able to say (in their last breath) was 'Blackbeard'.
His time had finally come.
Blackbeard had been planning for more than 20 years, waiting patiently and planning for the right moment. He had waited, embracing his role as obedient loyal follower, waiting and waiting, believing that his fate would shine on him. He waited for so long until it finally came to him in a commander's hands. Getting the Yami Yami no Mi was his heavenly fate, and with it, he would be the greatest. The shining fate had given him the gift of darkness. And since then, Fate had never failed him, leading him to collect, one by one his new family members, people that believed in fate as strongly as he did.
Blackbeard laughed jovially once again, and continued with this line of thought.
.. and by the hands of another commander.. He was able to fill the vacant position of the Shichibukai, making it so much easier to cross the Gates of Justice into Impel Down to strengthen his crew. Yes Commander Ace, was a wrapped gift from heaven. Because of him he would be able to easily get his hands on the Gura Gura no Mi, after killing his weakened Pops, of course. It was fate that give him this golden chance. (Blackbeard had no doubt that Whitebeard would stay alive until he reached there to be killed by his (former) son's hands.)
Blackbeard wondered distractedly if Commander Ace was still alive or was he already executed, he would see in bit, wouldn't he? and he would enjoy it either way.
"Zehahahaha," he laughed, remembering Ace's desperate request before he handed him to the marines.
He should hope for Commander Ace to be alive, he could tell him about his fated encounter with his youngest brother, or did he already arrive to the war before them. Strawhat had enchanted two of the Shichibukai to help him. He was someone to watch for, a True Dreamer like him.
But it didn't change anything either way, nothing could come between him and his Fate today.
In the long run his plans have not gone exactly as he had envisioned them, despite all his planning and scheming. Yet he could feel it today, fate was looking on him from above, laughing with him, showing him the way.
He was almost in the place where he would become truly invincible and the strongest of them all, and then he would began pursuing his goal of world domination.
The title of the Pirate King was as good as in the palm of his hand. No, he was already wearing the unseen crown that fate bestowed on him!
This coming confrontation was yet another stepping stone to achieve his long sought dream.
Blackbeard squinted his eyes and stared.
There was a figure waiting for them on the island's shores.
Slim.
Tall.
The dust and the smoke made it impossible to discern if it even was a pirate or marine.
"Laffitte," he ordered, and without any further explanation, Laffitte immediately turned his hands to wings and flew above the borrowed marine ship. Van Augur had his rifle aimed at the shady figure. All of the crew was standing beside him, waiting with clear anticipation, the blood lust could be smelt in the air.
Blackbeard used his observation Haki to try and see, the revelation startling him.
Was it true? Could it be ..
His smirk grew with each second.
As they moved closer, the figure became more and more visible.
The one that came to greet him...was..
Blackbeard let out a joyous loud laugh and with a jovial tone of voice said.
"Zehahahaha… this is a surprise. I was wondering who had come to greet us maybe you should join me ... Zehahahaha!"
…
..
.
XXXXX
.
..
...
The submarine was surfacing, they had finally arrived. Marineford was straight ahead.
They might have even arrived too late. Had they executed Whitebeard's commander yet? The war had already ended?
No, he didn't believe so.
Law clutching his sword in his hand climbed the stairs running, followed by his crewmates trembling from excitement (or was if trembling from fear) Shachi, Penguin and Bepo.
He opened the hatch expertly with one hand and hurriedly got out and stared at the island, or what remained of it, he could see smoke, fire and ice everywhere but the most prominent feature was the destruction.
Nothing had been spared.
The fight was not over yet.
He moved around the small deck trying to find the best point of observation, his eyes not leaving the battlefield.
He almost lost his balance as a sudden wave impacted the submarine, he heard the others groan, having lost their balance.
"Captain," Bepo hesitant voice called to him.
Where would they be?
"Ehm, Captain," Shachi was calling him too, Law ignored them, keeping his mind on what was important.
How should he go about finding them?
"Captain," their voices were keeping on nagging him.
"Cap.. tain," it was Bepo again, he noticed in the back of his busy mind, trying to come with feasible plan.
He needed a bit more information to come up with any sort of plan.
"Captain," Penguin voice sounded urgently pleading or was it desperate? Law mentally shrugged.
He couldn't just burst in there.
"Captain, please Captain," Bepo was begging, his voice showing his panic, which wasn't unusual. Bepo panicked because of the simplest things.
Law furrowed his eyebrows trying to concentrate.
He had a feeling they would be in the thick of it.
Right in the center of the attention, at least that was where Strawhat would be, and where was Strawhat there was Lina.
He could finally get some answers.
"Captain," the three of them shouted loudly.
Law spun around and growled, "What?"
He showed his displeasure and annoyance clearly by how all three swallowed and said nothing.
Then as one all three of them lifted their hands and gestured to their left with their fingers.
They were a bit shaky. Was he too harsh?
Law with raised eyebrow, tilted his head to look, amused at the synchronicity.
".."
".."
Oh, shit.
Huge ship was beside them.
Real close.
It was a miracle that they had not collided.
How he missed it he had no idea.
The huge ship wasn't any regular ship.
No.
And on it, there was one particular figure staring at them that made the hair on his body prickle.
Law gulped, his heart stuck in his throat.
A face with red hair and three distinct scars across his eye was staring at him.
His face showing his..
Law was not sure, he wasn't able to get any read on him.
But he knew one thing for sure.
Trafalgar D. Water Law was not ready for this stage, after all.
…
..
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XXXXX
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..
...
20-15 minutes ago:
"Do you understand?"
"Yes. Are you sure that that is what you want me to do. "
"Yes, we can't have you put yourself in any more compromising situations and by taking him down you would be helping us a lot."
"Still, I want to be of more help."
"You are! You already did a lot, without you we would not have made it this far."
The voice hummed in response.
"I trust you will take care of the new beast the same way you did the last, but please, please, be careful."
"Worry not, anything for my darling."
Clank.
...
..
.
So your thoughts, anybody?
I feel like an evil person, but your feelings after this? Best scene? Likes and dislikes?
I want to remind you all to read the second part of Marine!Lina below.
This was truly a challenging chapter, having to write two characters that I don't like was hard.
I was able to do it only because of the encouragement and help of these two dear people, Gerbilfriend and Black' Victor Cachat, and the motivation by Lina's drawing by the amazing NightsBlackRose13.
.
For you who read My MDNR, then this is not news to you, but I started new job, so my schedule in general is hectic, which would affect my writing and posting, just a warning!
Leave a review and cheer me up!
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Omake 2
Apparently being the granddaughter of a vice admiral (especially Vice Admiral Garp) changed things, drastically. The captain that she was supposed to sail with had said that, "There is no way I'm attracting his attention" and combined with the fact that she had been able to beat him in a fight (he was a sore loser and a wimp) she was waiting for another ship to come in. But on the upside she had been assigned to the grandline, take that Luffy she was getting there first!
She was eating in the mess hall when, "Would Monkey. D. Lina please come to my office" went off on the denden. Getting up Lina wondered what was happening now, did they finally find her a crew to be part of? Lina looked mournfully at the food she was leaving behind.
Inside the office there was the base commander and a woman with pink hair talking to him. "Hina thinks that having a Monkey will be fine but that she should hurry up. Hina wants to deliver the-"
"I'm here sirs" Lina said saluting as she entered the room.
"At ease private, this is your new captain, Hina. You will be sailing with her to Imple Down to drop of a prisoner"
So she was to be her new captain. Lina looked at her (she was surprised she was a woman, the marines tended to have more male captains) and she looked competent other than her tick. As long as there were no Fists of Love they would get along fine.
"Its nice to meet you Captain" Lina said.
"Hina hopes you will be useful. Hina does not like layabouts." Captain Hina said. Lina felt her hopes of a competent captain rise.
"May I ask how you fight?" Lina asked trying to get a feel for her new captain.
"Hina is a cage, everything that passes through her body… is locked tight" Hina said in a monotone. "Let's go, Hina wants to get this over with" and with that Hina started walking. Lina had to increase her pace in order to keep up with her.
XXX
"Attention" Hina called as they got to Hina's ship. Lina looked it over and saw that it was a generic marine ship with white sails and the seagull logo emblazoned on it. Lina looked at the different crew members from her position on the deck besides Hina, they all looked normal except for… were those two dancing!?
She glanced over at her new captain and saw fond annoyance flash onto her face before it went blank again." Hina wants to introduce a new crew mate, private Monkey D. Lina".
As Hina was introducing her Lina watched her new crew mates' reactions. Most of them seemed to be whispering about something, her gender maybe? But the dancers had just stopped dancing and stared at her mouths wide open, Lina started to get a bad feeling about that. Did Grandpa have something to do with these two? She would have to ask them later, she thought already making plans to talk to them.
Her stomach grumbled, she thought wistfully of the meal she had been eaten when she was interrupted by the call. Marine food wasn't great but it was food she didn't have to protect from Luffy.
"Hina wants a volunteer to show her around the ship and explain the duties"
"We will Hina-chaann" one of the dancing men called out, apparently forgetting his misgivings about her. Great, a fanboy.
"You can count on us", the other one said, saluting. No, worse, two.
Ugh. Trying not to let her aggravation show on her face Lina walked over to them, thanking them and asking about their names, trying to be friendly, but not overly so.
"I'm Jango-" the one wearing (definitely non-uniform) heart-shaped sunglasses said.
"And I'm Fullbody" said the one who was actually in uniform and had a scar under his left eye.
XXX
"And this is the mess" said Fullbody as he gestured to the empty room with tables and chairs. He then glanced around at the rest of the room, maybe to see if it was empty?
He leaned closer to her and whispered, "do you know anybody named Luffy?".
Lina felt her heart sink, first Gramp's new apprentices and now her crew mates, Luffy whhyyy?
What had he done now? Did she want to know (who was she kidding, of course she did).
"A relative might go by that name but I'm not sure, I could check. why?"
"I'm sorry to say this but he is a pirate" Fullbody told her as if he was breaking grave news.
"Really?" she tried to make herself sound like this was news to her, and such an awful news at that.
"Yes, I fought him" Jango said, Lina looked at him in new light. Did Luffy challenge the crew or something, was he the prisoner heading to Impel Down! What should she do?
No, stop, they would not take her on the same ship as her brother, they weren't idiots. Don't jump to conclusions. Ask questions, smartly.
"Did he attack the crew? How did you fight him?"
Was Jango blushing? And Fullbody too? Refusing to make eye contact Jango said, "weelll I wasn't exactly a marine then and he got in the way of my old captain so I tried to hypnotize him but he was too stupid"
Lina stopped herself from snorting, she could believe that Luffy was too stupid to be hypnotized.
Jango then turned to Fullbody and elbowed him, Fullbody looked down and blushed before muttering something about a fight and an escape?
So Luffy wasn't the prisoner, that was good. Luffy was safe to explore and sail. Lina realized that the two of them had been staring at her while she thought, flashing a quick smile she said, "Let's keep going with the tour".
When they walked through the kitchen she made note of where the cabinets with the jerky were but she paid the most attention to the "stash of chocolate for captain Hina", it never hurt to know where the best sweets were kept.
XXX
Lina was still getting used to the ship, and was finding hard to find her way, everything looked the same. Even the terminology of sailors and ships was differentially irritable. You never go downstairs in a ship; you always go below. To go up is to go topside. However, if you climb the mast, stacks, rigging, or any other area above the highest solid structure, you go aloft. Like Really? They didn't have anything better to do then go up with new names?
She looked around trying to find anything to tell her in what way to go to get to the main deck. She gave up and decided to go with luck.
Let's go this way, it couldn't get any worse, she at least was still in the ship.
Oh, she had found the ship's prison, excellent Lina.
She turned to be in her way when the shadow of unnamed figure catch her eyes and she paused in midstep.
Right, captain Hina did say they were taking a prisoner to Impel Down, which wasn't Luffy.
She curiously turned eyeing the figure of the shackled prisoner.
"You here to laugh at me" Lina heard as she looked at the chained body, she blinked as her eyes adjusted to the light, the prisoner had six arms? The person(?) watching her mouth-thing twisted, "never seen a fishman before?" he asked her.
Lina's eyes had fully adjusted to the gloom of the hold and she scanned the fishman(?) in chains, trying to figure out what to say as she studied his pink tentacles, "I'm Lina" she said feeling the need to fill the silence.
The fishman humphed before opening his mouth? It was a mouth right? She had never seen a fishman before, only heard about them and their biology could be different. Did they also have different terminology? Oh great more stupid things to learn. Ugh, and knowing her luck he had met Luffy too.
"I'm"
(Guess :P)
