Marco hears several news as he travels aimlessly without a destination. He hears of upstarting new pirates, some seeking power, some seeking riches, and others, freedom. Some set out to sea, not as pirates, seeking the thrill of an unknown adventure, while some wanted to experience for themselves the world they never knew.
Marco paid them no mind. It wasn't any of his business what they were up to. He was just keeping up with the news; it was always good to be informed. Or perhaps, it could've just been a habit from back when he was the First Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. Who knows?
One day, as he was walking around a random village, he received a piece of interesting news of a recent pirate crew. It all started with one pirate, who had set sail from an island near two graves of some legendary pirates who had perished in a war against the Marines long ago. As soon as he was on the seas, he created uproars all around the world, taking down bigshots and claiming islands being terrorised as his turf. Unsurprisingly, it did not take long for him to make a name for himself.
The news described him as an odd pirate, for he had no interest in treasure nor power. He did not have a crew, and he is not a captain. Instead, his crew is his family, and he is known as their father rather than their captain.
They roam the seas, taking in anybody who seeks a family and a place to belong, regardless of their species or their pasts. They sail on a large ship with a whale head, and they have since gathered enough members to require 16 divisions, each with a Commander to take charge of the division.
And they are known as the Whitebeard Pirates, led by one Edward Newgate, commonly known to the world as Whitebeard.
Marco swallowed thickly. He had expected it. People die, and then as time passed, they are reborn again into this world, ready for a fresh new start without any trace of the past they lived through. They would never be the family he sought hopelessly for, a family from centuries ago.
And yet he just had to see them. His family, who have never met one another despite being reincarnated so many times, was finally gathered again. Was it just a coincidence? A cruel joke being played on him by Fate, after keeping his family separate for so long? He didn't know, and he didn't care. All he wanted was just to catch even a glimpse of his family together again. It doesn't matter if he was part of them or not. He just wanted to see them again.
Marco felt his breath hitch when the ship came into sight. It was so painfully similar to the ship in his memories, down to the tiniest details. From his bird's eye view, he could see the numerous crew members scattered all over the deck, each one looking just as he remembered them. And the captain, the unusually large man, was sitting in his throne out on the deck, watching his children with that same familiar fond smile.
It was all so overwhelming, that Marco hadn't even noticed when he landed on the deck. Strangely enough, none of the crew members paid him any mind other than a brief glance, as if it was normal to have a man with flaming blue wings land on your ship's deck like he belonged there. Actually, did he even fly in, or did he just drop from the sky? He couldn't quite remember – he had been too distracted by the familiar ship also named the Moby Dick – but either way, his entrance should've garnered some attention, which makes the crew's indifferent reaction strange. He shrugged it off, figuring they were just relaxed because of their unwavering faith that nothing would happen to them as long as they are surrounded by their family.
So much like we were before, yoi, Marco couldn't help the small smile that crept onto his face, shaking his head before facing the captain.
"Hello, I apologise for just dropping in on you like that, yoi. I was just curious about the new pirate crew that have been in every newspaper ever since they were formed, yoi."
"Gurararara, and what do you think?" Marco held back the tears that threatened to form at the sound of a familiar laughter he hadn't heard for centuries.
"It's interesting, honestly, yoi. I'm really sorry for disturbing you just for the sake of curiosity, yoi. If you don't mind, I'll take my leave now, yoi."
"Wait." The large man looked at him with a twinkle in his eyes.
Oh no. I know that look, yoi. Marco thought, as slight panic and despair crawled up on him. Before he could spread his wings and fly far away from here, Edward Newgate rose to his full height and reached out a hand to him.
"Join my crew and become my son."
"So many have left." Whitebeard commented as he stared at the near-empty ship before him. "Some wanted to form their own crew and become subordinate crews. Some found new lives and new families on the islands we've been to." He looked down to the young boy who stood at his side. "Marco." Marco looked curiously up at him. "Are you not going with them?"
"Why would I, yoi?" Marco huffed, crossing his arms. "You're my family, Oyaji. I'm staying by your side, yoi."
"Gurarara, do as you like, cheeky brat." Marco grinned at him.
"Of course I will, yoi!" Whitebeard laughed again before looking out towards the sea.
"As we continue to travel, we will surely meet more people who will become brothers. I will need someone who will stand by my side and be my voice of reason, as well as the pillar of support for the family. Will you be willing to take up that role, Marco?"
"Huh? Are you sure about that, Oyaji? I'm not even 20 yet, yoi! And besides, I'm just an apprentice, yoi."
"But you're my son regardless. And your age doesn't matter, son. I'm asking because I think you are mature and responsible enough for the role. Of course, it does not change anything if you refuse. I will not think lesser of you, neither will I reject you for it. I just think that you are fitting as the first piece of this currently incomplete family. But I want you to make the choice based on what you want, and not because of me."
"I…" Marco shuffled his feet as he thought for a long while, before looking up to Whitebeard with a smile. "I accept, Oyaji!" Whitebeard gave such a jubilant laughter at his reply that Marco just knew that he would never regret his choice.
Marco awoke to the brightening blue sky above him. The Blue Hour, he recognised. It took him only a second to remember where he was and why he was there. Groaning as he brought a hand up to cover his eyes, he was suddenly aware of the wetness on his face. He sat up in mild alarm, staring at his hand, which now had a wet spot.
Why am I…? The answer hit him soon enough and he relaxed. Ah, he mused to himself, it's because I had that dream, yoi. That dream, of that fateful day when the crew of the Whitebeard Pirates became his family as he knew it. He smiled at the memory. I haven't thought of it in a while, yoi. How nostalgic, yoi. He chuckled as he stretched.
It was amazing, the way Fate worked, Marco thought to himself, that even without their past life memories, the crew still managed to get together with almost the same crew members on a ship that is the exact replica of the Moby Dick. Being on the ship like this made him feel at home, even though he knew it wasn't really home, but it was close enough. It's just like how being with everyone like this lit a tiny spark of hope in him, that dared to dream of having his family by his side again.
Even though they're not my family, yoi.
When this Whitebeard asked him to join the crew and become his son, he found himself unable to refuse, and the crew had instantly accepted him as one of their own. Yet, he couldn't bring himself to get too close to them, keeping them at a distance, pushing them away when they tried to get close. Despite that, they took to him easily, treating him as though he had always been there even though he had only joined just 3 days prior. He had to constantly remind himself that this wasn't his family, no matter how much they looked and acted like it. His family was long gone, and nothing was ever going to bring them back again. He felt a painful jab in his heart and reached up to grip at his shirt where the mark on his chest is.
When he first arrived, he had made sure to button up his shirt in order to conceal the tattoo on his chest, despite absolutely despising the idea of hiding it. Of course, he had done the same back when he had been in Sphinx, but even then, he hadn't concealed it completely. He had left just the top half of it displayed, not enough to give away his identity instantly, but enough to be recognised subtly at a closer glance.
But this was different. The crew's Jolly Roger was exactly the same as he remembered it and many of the members have the same tattoo he remembered them having. It would make no sense for a stranger to appear out of the blue bearing their mark. It could cause some unwanted problems, and he really didn't want to get on his family's bad side, reincarnations or not.
And so, he had forced himself to swallow his revulsion as he buttoned his shirt up all the way, leaving only the collar unbuttoned, and fully concealed the mark he bore so proudly on his chest for centuries.
Marco swallowed the lump in his throat, feeling the sting in his eyes. His grip on his wrinkled shirt tightened so much that his knuckles turned white. What was he thinking? How could he have allowed such weakness to come over him, clouding his sense of judgement? Did he truly think that he could just join the crew and everything would be fine? That he would have his family back again and they could sail around the world together like before?
It was foolish after all, to dare hope that he could have his family back again, Marco couldn't help the bitterness simmering in him as he sailed alongside crewmates so familiar, yet so foreign. They were all just as he remembered, even their mannerisms and personality, but he was the only one who remembered them. This crew didn't know him, just the way he knew it would be. He had known it was hopeless the moment his family left this earth. Once they died, nothing was left of them. Even if they were reborn with the same looks and personality, they would never be the same again. His family have been gone for centuries, and he will never have them back again.
"Of course we miss Ti-aniki." Jinbe's words struck a chord deep within him, when they were discussing the feelings of a crew who had lost their captain. "It's ok to miss him, but we can't wallow in the past forever. What's gone is forever lost. All we can do, as the Living, is to go on living, remembering all that we have lost, but not forgetting what we still have left."
But why? He couldn't help but think, as he curled up on himself, biting back his sobs. Even though he already knew… Even though he had known for so long…
Why? A whimper escaped his lips as he stifled yet another sob.
Why can't he just let them go? Why is he still holding on, even when it hurts him so much?
Greeting the new year with a new chapter! Enjoy! Reviews are always welcomed!
