I do not own One Piece

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Beta read by the wonderful Karukyuu and rose7anne101. Make sure to go check out their own stories!

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Rise from the Ashes

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Chapter 5: Following Straw Hat through Paradise

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Before…

At the crack of dawn Fire Fist Ace was up and pacing back and forth as he waited for the morning paper.

"He does know it won't come for another three hours, right?" one Whitebeard crewmember asked.

"He's afraid of oversleeping, he says. Doesn't want to miss his little brother's first wanted poster, since he should've sailed off by now."

And then the Second Division Commander in question froze in place, and then tilted his head as he went off to sleep.

The onlookers gave him a flat look, but then went back to work.

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About a week later, it finally came. A gleeful Ace ran towards the center of the deck where his Father sat, along with a lot of his ship-brothers.

"Look Pops! This is my little brother!" he cried out as he finally came skidding to a halt beside the mighty Whitebeard.

Setting aside his rum in interest, the massive old man leaned forward for a better look.

"Monkey D. Luffy. Dead or Alive. 30 Million Beri. The Straw Hat. Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates."

So this is the brat, Whitebeard mused, knowing from the way Ace spoke that he was closer to the boy that most blood-brothers, for Roger had died far too soon for this to be another child of the Pirate King. His uninformed sons though were having their own thoughts however, thinking that the different surname from Ace's was a little surprising, but they could be step-brothers, or maybe someone had suggested to the kid to fake his name so that no one would associate him with the famous Fire Fist. Ace had never said anything about that, so it was probably not important however.

There were some differences between them, with this grinning boy having a different complexion and rounder face, no freckles, and while his hair was also black it was straight where his older brother's was curly in a way that the nurses' were jealous of. Still, that goofy, dorky grin did seem like Ace. You could see the resemblance there.

"Wait, you mean we finally have a face to go along with that kid brother you never shut up about?" Thatch teased as he stepped closer to size up the figure in the picture.

"Yeah, you were even going on about him between trying to kill Pops!" another crewmember called out.

"Heh, not going to be scaring off people with that kind of bounty picture," Fossa teased as he took in Monkey D. Luffy's wide smile.

"Not a very intimidating moniker either," Rakuyo threw in. "Who's gonna be afraid of someone named 'Straw Hat,' eh?"

"Nah, it's perfect," Fire-Fist Ace chuckled. "Trust me, he never goes anywhere without it."

"And that bounty is pretty impressive for the East Blue," Kingdew added.

"How's about we make sure to meet him when he first comes to the New World?" Curiel grinned. "Just to make sure he understands how much tougher it is here than Paradise."

"Just don't go overboard," Ace warned, but his eyes were light and warm. He knew his brothers would be careful and "respectful" with their hazing, and it was not exactly a bad idea for Luffy to learn about how harsh the New World could be. Also, Ace was a little bit of an anomaly amongst the crew, since the rest of the Whitebeard Pirates had no other blood family members alive (or at least none they would acknowledge), so Luffy was a new experience for them.

Alright, so there was the Decalvan Brothers, but they hardly counted.

Luffy was just a nice new source of gossip.

…And maybe Ace had talked their ears off about him once or twice.

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Whitebeard took another deep drink of his "medicine," savouring the taste of the quality booze, a gift from a man on one of the protectorate islands. Not for the usual reasons, but because his pregnant wife had gone into a difficult labour and Whitebeard had offered the services of his own miniature hospital. He stifled his frown as he realized his thoughts were wandering again, Happening too often, I'm getting old.

Around him his sons were having a great time chatting about Ace's little brother's first rite of passage: his first bounty poster, and were reminiscing about their own first bounties, but it was the "D." that caught their Father's attention. He always took note whenever a D. appeared, ever since his last conversation with Roger, and made a point of keeping a loose eye on them. I wonder what you'll accomplish, brat.

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"So he's called Straw Hat?" a voice boomed down.

"That's right Captain!" a crewmember yelled up at their leader, the massive Little Oars. Jr. "But it's not like yours, got a red ribbon around it and such!"

"Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ace's little bro and I should meet to talk about hats sometimes," Oars joked, fingering his own straw hat that Bro Ace had made for him.

"Yeah, but it'll probably be a few years before he shows up in the New World."

"Ace just needed a year," Oars pointed out, "but yeah, he has said how weak his little brother was in comparison."

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"Wow! Lookit this! Ace's little brother's bounty just shot up!"

"What? Really?"

Everyone in earshot started crowding in, glad to finally have something to shake of the gloom that had haunted them since Thatch's murder and wondering about what was happening with Ace while he hunted down Teach all on his own. The Second Division Commander was strong, no doubt, but Teach was an experienced survivor of the New World for over twenty years, while Ace was still fairly young. Hearing good news about his kid brother was an excellent way to lighten things up.

"Yeah, his bounty shot up to a 100 million!" Haruta exclaimed.

"What? That's a pretty big leap!" Namur noted. "What'd he do?"

They all glanced at an irritated Izo who was flipping through the newspaper, scanning articles. "No idea," the crossdresser finally said. "Nothing here to explain why they suddenly tripled his bounty. But you're right, it would have to be pretty big though."

"And one of his crew got a starting bounty of 60 million, they're calling him Roronoa Zoro, the Pirate Hunter!"

"Oh, well that's a more impressive name," Vista mused as he stroked his mustache. "I believe I heard word that someone by that name is regarded as the best swordsman in the East Blue." He gave an agreeable shrug at everyone's expressions, "I know, I know, that's not saying much, but he was supposed to be a bounty hunter. So what's a man famous for, as the name suggests, hunting pirates, doing with a pirate who's a single beri away from becoming a Supernova?"

"Hey, how long've they been in Paradise? Aren't they just starting out?"

"And why a starting bounty that's twice what his own Captain was wanted for?"

"They aren't going around killing people like the Kid Pirates—"

"Of course not! It's Ace's brother!"

"…Or they'd have said something," the speaker continued as if never interrupted, "so they must be doing something else to be seen as a threat."

"Obviously the government's covering something up," another brother smirked knowingly.

"Obviously, but what?"

"Yeah, I mean the only major event that's happened was with Crocodile in Alabasta, and…" the nameless crewmember trailed off as everyone started looking at each other.

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A few minutes later

Their Father was busy in what they recognized as his "contemplative mood," so the gossiping family members went to bug Marco.

"Don't be ridiculous," he told them, pausing in his paperwork as he figured out what supplies they would have to buy at the next island. "Not only did that man survive fighting Pops, but for twenty years he's defended his title as Warlord from all challengers, from idiot rookies to veterans trying to take his place. And now you guys think that Ace's kid brother, the one who Ace likes to go on about how he could barely even throw a punch when Ace left him back home, beat Crocodile? And lived to tell about it-yoi?"

They all shuffled at that, feeling embarrassed at getting excited over nothing.

"Besides," Marco drawled, "Crocodile's a logia, he ate the Sand-Sand Fruit to manipulate, guess what, sand, and he lives in a place also known as the Desert Kingdom of all places. You saying that a rookie from the East Blue beat a Logia in his home turf-yoi?"

"And the kid only ate the Gum-Gum Fruit, right?" Kingdew added as he walked up. "That's a pretty minor paramecia. Ace even said the kid had trouble moving about for years, much less throw any of those punches he jokes about."

"They did say it was just a marine captain though," Izo added, "would you expect Crocodile to get beaten by someone like that either? Even if he is supposed to be a logia too?"

Marco frowned in thought at that, having remembered fighting Crocodile from years ago. Even then, the man's skills should have been enough that no navy man that low ranked could be expected to win. "What's that marine's name again, and what was his Fruit?"

There were only a few logia, so it was easy for them to remember. "The Plume-Plume Fruit, one of the weakest, you only become smoke. Eaten by someone whose mom named him 'Smoker' of all things, if you can believe it."

"Seriously?" Marco smirked in mirth. "Alright, you're right, we should look into this more. Even if you're all wrong, there's a rising marine to keep an eye on. Who wants to go look into this-yoi?"

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Later

"Hey Pops," Izo called out as he approached, projecting his voice so others could hear and know to come over, "looks like there's something behind that crazy idea that Ace's little brother took out Crocodile after all."

"Oh?" Whitebeard asked, lowering his jug of sake, while more of his sons walked up.

"Yeah, we just got confirmation from Doma," referring to one of their allied captain's and Pop's other sons, "both Doflamingo and Shanks of all people are also actively investigating the possibility that a rookie beat a warlord, given how his bounty jumped up for no official reason."

"Quite a bit of speculation actually," Jozu warned. "When that kids gets to the New World, people are probably going to be after him to test that out. Hotshots wanting to make a name for themselves, or just because they're curious. If it wasn't for the cover-up, he'd probably be fighting people throughout Paradise even."

Turning with a smirk, Izo held out his hand palm up to Marco, "Pay up."

"Bet's aren't finalized until confirmation," Marco lazily informed him.

"C'mon!"

"Nope. Don't ya all have better stuff to do?"

"Nope."

"Regardless," Whitebeard interrupted, wanting to keep on track, "it's clear that some dangerous people are taking an interest in Ace's brother." And yes, that included Red Haired Shanks. The man had not risen to the top of the food chain by being a laidback drunkard.

"Should we ask Shanks about his interest? When he comes to see Pops, I mean," one brother asked.

"No," Jozu firmly disagreed. "Red Hair probably knows we're interested, just like we know he's asking questions, but if Pops brings him up at their meeting, then that man will become very interested in Ace's brother, wondering why Whitebeard cares about some punk rookie."

"So just play it cool for now?"

"Exactly."

Speaking of rookies… Marco thought. A lot of his brothers were acting a little too cocky about Shanks coming over. Might be best to keep the newer ones around until just before Shanks gets here, so that they can get a taste of his haki. Should motivate them to train harder afterwards.

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The Moby Dick was docked at a protectorate island, buying some new produce, when Blamenco came back early. Reaching into one of his cheek pouches, he pulled out a bundle of newspapers and a thick stack of bounty posters. "Hey! Everyone! Get a load of what Ace's kid brother just did!" With that he started throwing copies of yesterday's news to random brothers.

Snagging one, Marco unrolled it and took in the headline:

Enies Lobby, the Island of Justice, Burned to the Ground by the Straw Hat Pirates!

Wait, what? Marco blinked, and reread the title.

"Good thing Ace isn't here, or he'd be insufferable," Blenheim deadpanned as the oversized man read over Marco's shoulder.

"Or racing off to the nearest Marine base because he's afraid that his little brother might get a higher bounty at this rate," Curiel laughed, laying down one of his bazookas to pick up the bounty posters. "300 million already, huh? Can't wait til he gets ta the New World!"

"Eight different bounty posters? That's unusual," Blenheim noted, since an intensely reading Marco was blocking the rest of the article with his body.

"Yeah, and that Pirate Hunter guy's a Supernova too now. And wow! Look at this hottie!" Curiel whistled as he showed the picture of Cat Burglar Nami.

"Ha!" Atmos boomed. "Most of them look like decent posters to intimidate someone, but her and their captain sure don't!"

Then a flat-faced Curiel held up a picture of an adorable critter eating cotton candy. "Seriously?" a confused Atmos asked.

"They say it's their pet," Blenheim frowned in puzzlement, taking in the commentary and a bounty so small it was not even worth cashing in. "That's pretty strange, going to the expense of making a poster for just a pet, and such a puny one that ( . No one…) no one'd think it's a threat. If some bounty hunters found them, they wouldn't even bother capturing it."

Marco handed over the newspaper, "A lot on the evilness and depravity of their crime, but nothing on how eight people accomplished all that, or why."

Elsewhere on the Moby Dick, more and more crewmen were bunching up around newspapers, "It looks like this first mate of his, the Pirate Hunter, is indeed quite the swordsman," Vista beamed. "A Supernova in his own right!"
"Says a lot about Ace's little brother right there, if he can command a man of such caliber," one brother agreed.

Some thought about pointing out that there was no guarantee that Pirate Hunter was a dominant man who had come under leadership of an even stronger one, but with Vista's pride in swordsmen it was not worth it while he was present. "Might not be the first mate," someone pointed out instead. "Some crews like to have a first officer that has more brains than anything."

"Ace has said a few times how dumb his little brother is."

"Probably just him being a worrywart," Fossa, another swordsman, dismissed. "Or are you saying an idiot managed to burn down the Island of Justice?"

And at another grouping, "Looks like we're not going to be able to do the full 'New World Welcoming Party' we'd planned," Blamenco ruefully said.

"Sadly," Izo agreed. "If he's got that high a bounty, he might think he can just lash out if he takes it badly, and Ace would be upset if we put him in his place too hard."

"So who're we going to use all that glitter, glue, toothpaste, and hot sauce on?" Haruta wondered aloud.

"Does that mean we can get rid of all those trained birds?" one brother groused. "They keep making a mess."

"Thatch got those birds for this," another growled, "we're keeping them, and someone's getting the surprise of their lifetime!"

"…It's possible that we've spent a little too much time on planning how to welcome Ace's kid brother," Izo admitted.

"Eh, guess it's probably best not make him suffer for how we've had to spend all these years hearing Ace go on about him," Blamenco advised. "Maybe just some booze and some spars?"

"Oooh!" Haruta said with a malicious gleam in his eyes that made all the others turn to him eagerly. "What if we faked up a poster for when Ace came back, saying that his brother had a bounty of 551 million to Ace's 550?"

Cackling with glee, the others started scheming anew.

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The news arrived during the monthly birthday celebration.

After his crew hit over three hundred people, Whitebeard had been forced to concede that celebrating his Sons' birthdays –or at least those who had an interest in such things— was impractical given the sheer number of celebrations that would entail. Plus, it was just a bummer to have a birthday party postponed because of a wild storm or a vicious battle.

Now years later they had worked out a system where on the first of every month, or whenever the Division Commanders decided based upon circumstances, they would celebrate the birthdays for everyone born during that month.

Birthday cake was a guilty pleasure for Whitebeard.

They would not let Thatch's death overcome them; he would never forgive them. Indeed, this was their way of remembering him, given how much the Fourth Division Commander had loved such parties.

Ace's absence was also evident of course, another hole in their daily lives, but all the more apparent at the party, but most of them were confident he could handle himself. No news was good news in their opinions.

Then the News Coo came by. Using his powers to purge away the alcohol, Marco bought the paper and opened it up to the first page. Something about a famous pirate being captured, with a picture of…

Marco threw down the newspaper and flexed his arms.

Cold burning wings of fire alerted everyone in sight as the First Division Commander flew towards the navigation room. "Have a course charted for Paradise, but do not set sail for there yet," he ordered, and the man on duty flinched at the icy tone before Marco then turned to fly towards the nearest staircase. Storming down below deck, brothers pressed to the side to let him by before hurrying up themselves to figure out what was wrong. The news was spreading throughout the ship now that Marco was agitated about something.

Nurses were running towards their Father with medicine to calm his blood pressure as golden eyes drank up every little written detail from the retrieved newspaper. "It's a trap," he growled, before cocking his head to read the sea and sky and confirmed that they were indeed not on a course for Paradise. Good. No need to be too predictable. I'll give you and the World Government a chance, Sengoku, the Emperor silently vowed. You can release Ace, or give him a chance to 'escape,' but the moment you announce his execution, it's war. Giving you the benefit of the doubt, the traitor probably made giving Ace over too public for you to cover up, and I'll accept the loss of face you'll suffer as my price, as opposed to my Sons dying in battle. But if you go through with it…

The Den Den Mushi were already starting to ring when Marco reached the communications room, running into a Brother who had just come out to find him or another Division Commander. "Unhook them all and ring the others," Marco ordered, and half a minute later over forty allied Captains were yelling for instructions. They were all heading to Paradise, but they wanted clarification for rendezvous points, and wanted to know if there was anything else they should acquire. Tersely Marco gave some coded phrases from memory that would translate into what Pops would order if he was there (he no longer needed to consult his Captain on such matters). He gave them instructions, designated meeting points, and then hung up. They took no offense to his curtness, knowing he was struggling to constrain down his own fury.

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Captain Squard of the Whirl-Spider Pirates paced furiously back and forth as his ship sat anchored off of the nearest designated island. Itching to set sail and attack, but knowing what Pops was planning made him struggle to remain where he was. Marco had been very specific after all with those coded instructions, which all allied Captains had to memorize or at least write down in some way that would ensure their secrecy.

"But how're we to get to Paradise and Marineford so quick?" one crewman was asking his first officer.

"Some of the smaller allied ships are going ahead, with some craftsmen from the protectorates. Pops always thought the Navy'd try something this dumb, and he had them develop a method for a crack team to Coat the entire fleet far faster than anywhere else. Pop's other ships with some of the Division Commanders have already quietly arrived by now to help with preparations. We'll make it in time."

"And make the Navy pay if they've so much as touched Ace," Squard muttered. He and the kid had not gotten along at first, but before you knew it they had been fast friends. Ace might have trouble bonding with people, but once you were his friend there was no one greater. Loyal to a fault, always helpful, and always dragging everyone around him into another exciting adventure. Everyone loved him, and everyone, from mightiest New World veteran to the lowliest deck scrubber was ready to save him, regardless of the cost.

Before setting sail, Squard had even given a few words to the effect that no one would begrudge whoever decided they wanted out, docking his ship by an inviting port for the night. Perfect opportunity for someone to slip away while their Captain was off conducting some final business (quality liquor to celebrate with Ace for when it was all over). No one had left. All of the other Captains had doubtless done the same.

"Captain! Sail to port!"

Glad for something to do, Squard snatched up his telescope and walked over to get a look at the oncoming ship. Then Squard's smile turned feral as he identified the Jolly Roger of the new arrival.

An hour later he was welcomed aboard by the newcomer, and was craning his neck up at the imposing and utterly massive figure of Little Oars Jr. "Ready for a fight!?"

"Yeah!" boomed the monstrous super-giant, eyes flashing for battle. "We're gonna save Bro Ace!"

"Or die trying," Squard vowed.

"We should just go to Impel Down and snatch him out from there!"

"I hear yah, but its better this way. The Calm Belt's no joke, and even with Pops we'd be hard pressed against all those Sea Kings, especially if we attract the ones the size of islands. We'd wear ourselves out by the time we got to the prison, and the guards would just call for reinforcements, even try to buy time by threatening to kill Ace. By going to Marineford, in front of the world while they're doing everything as publicly as possible, their pride'll keep 'em from doing that." Actually, Squard was not so sure about that, since he really did not know much about Impel Down's warden, but if anything that just reinforced his confidence that it was better to go to Marineford; Sengoku was a known factor.

"Well, if you say so," Oars slowly got out, scratching his head, his straw hat safely nestled on his back.

"And of course this way we can send a message to the whole world by crushing the Navy where it's strongest," Squard sneered. This was a matter of honour and pride after all, and they would crush the Navy where it was strongest and rescue their brother regardless of the peril and cost. It would be in front of the whole world, not at some dank prison in the middle of nowhere.

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"Sir, begging your pardon, but any new orders?"

"No Captain, HQ's orders are still the same, tail and observe only."

"…You know it's too quiet, don't you Rear Admiral?"

The senior marine threw his subordinate a glare, but knew it was fear making him act like that. The twenty-three guard ships of the fleet were on the frontline of the looming war, tasked with ensuring that the rest of the marines always knew where the Emperor was.

And the announcement of Portgas D. Ace's impending execution had been released in the newspapers three days ago.

"Sir! The Moby Dick!"

Heads snapped around to see the massive ship was starting to move…towards the Red Line and Marineford beyond.

"Alert HQ of this at once!"

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"—repeat! The Moby Dick is starting to advance, we are—"

Blue fire smashed through the upper decks and burst into a particular room.

Crushing the assigned officer beneath his talons, Marco swung the most secure Marine communications devices into a bag. Unable to call for help, they were all trapped mice for him now.

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His daughters holding onto his life support equipment in the background, Whitebeard vented his rage with another tsunami, sinking another ship and throwing the remnants around so badly they would be unable to get a word out.

Mighty cannons all across the massive Moby Dick thundered with unerring accuracy, manned by the greatest pirate crew alive.

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Namur and his 8th Division smashed up through the hull of the warship, their Commander taking the lead while they finished pulling off their air supplies and then joined him in gutting the ship.

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Marco and Fossa passed each other on one of the last ships, the former carrying a large load of Navy Den Den Mushi to help tap into whatever orders were given during the upcoming battle. No, upcoming war, Marco corrected himself. Because even if we crush the Navy, it won't end there. 'Cause we won't be just facing the cream of the Navy and the Warlords, this'll also be against their promise to the world that they offer everyone safety against all the 'evil' upon the seas, that they are Justice, vindicating whatever they demand of public. The only way the World Government can survive outright collapse is if they manage to beat us, even after we sink Marineford and everyone on it after getting Ace away. It won't end even if we kill Sengoku and the Admirals. And with the Navy's strength crushed, other pirates will rampage for wealth and territory, and Big Mom and Kaido will attack us while we're still recovering. For Marco was no fool, his belief in victory was born from confidence in his family, not arrogance, but he knew that they would still suffer horrific losses in the bloodbath to come. Pops was on his last legs, and many precious brothers would die in the days to come. It was all too plausible that winning at Marineford would leave them too weak to resist the other Emperors, but they still had to do it. You didn't let people hurt your family.

Ignoring the fire and gore surrounding them, Fossa called back to his older brother, "Maybe you should've let them get a longer message out after all," rightfully assuming that Navy HQ would only have received what Marco allowed them to.

"No, best to keep them in the dark and wondering if we've got something new. Maybe it'll snap them to their senses."

"Marco…" the grizzled veteran began, and something in his tone made the Phoenix stop and turn around. "We can win this, but at what cost? Our protectorates are going to be vulnerable."

"The nobodies will stay away until Pops is dead, especially after we crush the Warlords and Admirals. That just leaves the Emperors, and since this'll be their best chance in ages they'll go after us directly instead of just the islands they can take after we're dead."

Sneering in contempt at their adversaries, Fossa nodded. Those opportunistic vermin would learn the truth of their arrogance if they tried such a thing. Especially once Ace started sinking all their ships. Dude would probably have a lot of stress and frustration to work off.

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"Alright, Shanks," Whitebeard growled into the secure Den Den Mushi, confident that no unwanted ears would overhear, "what do you want?"

Silence for a moment, doubtless from the Red Haired brat registering the concession his elder had granted him, especially since it was Whitebeard who had initiated the call.

"…To not see the New World be consumed by bloodlust. I'll keep the other Emperors off your back, you bring Ace back and end this mess."

"Done. I'll have him bring you over some quality booze as thanks when this is done." And then he hung up.

"So what does he really want?" Haruta asked, his youthful face belying the shrewdness in his eyes.

"He doesn't know yet either," Whitebeard grumbled, "but he knows that now's not the time to push me, and he'll wait to see what the situation is like after Marineford, for both us and the Navy. He might even show up after it's started even."

Fussing away, his daughters started reapplying his life support equipment, they would be unhappy when he sent them away from the fight while passing by Fishman Island and took the stuff back off. And for the last time, Whitebeard knew deep within his heart. He had felt the strain when he had crushed those insufferable spies, and knew that he only had one more good fight left within him.

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Their plans had been finalized, and their weapons were readied. The Coated ships disappeared into the dark ocean depths.

The entire time not a word had been said about where their final destination was, and why. They all knew.

They all would have gone regardless, not even their Captain's orders would have stopped them.

And so the Whitebeard Pirates and their allies sailed for Marineford for War and Destiny. For family.

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Author Notes:
According to Oda, Crocodile became a Warlord in his early twenties, and was forty-four when he met Luffy. With that context, his seemingly arrogant comments to Luffy make more sense. Sure it was still arrogant, but he
had been defending his title for two decades, give or take.

If the timing seems off, or too slow, note that Whitebeard was not announced to be advancing until after Luffy had learnt about Ace's fate.

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Recommended fics:

"Breakout" by my dear, dear Beta who helped me write this: Karukyuu

"Siblings" by K.

"5 Ways that Ace Didn't Die" by evilchibis

"Thank you for loving me" by Stelra Etnae

"The Power of Touch" by Sarcasticles

"You Are Not Alone" by Jade Tatsu

"Strays" by ladeste

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