Chapter 9
Tiara POV
"Where are you from?" Whitebeard asked me, and I tensed up a little. What could I say? Should I just tell them any island and lie to them, or should I tell them the truth even though they won't believe me? "I can't tell you that," I replied, not being sure what to do yet. "Can't or doesn't want to?" Whitebeard wanted to know. I thought about it for a moment, until I made up my mind. "You wouldn't believe me," I said. It occurred to me, of course, that they were both wondering about that statement. "Can we talk somewhere in secret where no one can hear us? Then I will tell Marco and you the whole truth." I asked Whitebeard. I was still holding Marco's hand. He gave me the strength I needed. I wasn't sure if they'd believe me, but I didn't want to lie to them. Most of all, I didn't want to lie to Marco. But there was also another reason. If I really want to stop that miserable bastard Teach from killing Thatch because of that damn dark fruit, I definitely needed help. I could never do it alone. "All right then, let's go to my cabin," said Whitebeard, and stood up. Together, we went to his cabin. He sat down on the chair by his desk. Marco and I sit on his bed. "Well, where are you from?" Whitebeard asked me again. "You can trust us," said Marco. He seemed to sense that I was still unsure about telling them really everything. "I know that what I'm about to tell you sounds very implausible, but it's the truth. After waking up I was surprised if this all was just a dream or if it was reality." I started to talk and took a short break. Whitebeard and Marco remained silent and gave me the time I needed. "I am not from around here. Not from the Grandline. Not from any of the blues. Not from this world. How I got here, I don't know. I 'd like to know that myself. I come from another world. But I know this world. In my world there is a series of books about this world," I explained to them and you could see that they doubted a little of what I was saying. "Interesting! Can you prove it?" Whitebeard wanted to know. So I nodded. "Yes, in my pocket is one of those books. "I always carry one of these books with me because I love the story. The story is about Ace's kid brother Ruffy and his adventures with his crew.The Whitebeard Pirates are in it too," I said. "That's how you knew Ace and Thatch's names," Marco said
Marco POV
What Tiara told us was simply unbelievable. Was she really supposed to come from another world? At least it would explain everything. Explain why she knew the names of Ace and Thatch, the fact that she knew about Ace sleeping attacks and that she wasn't afraid of us even though we are pirates. But it would also explain her calm and composed reaction to my devil powers. She knows that they are no threat to her. "Yes, I know the names of all the commanders and which division they lead," Tiara explained. Pops still seemed to be reflecting on what he had just learned. "Can you tell me something only I would know?" Pops asked Tiara. She seemed to think and she looked at me. "Don't you worry, child. Marco can stay with us. You can tell by just looking at you that you need him around to tell me all this. You already trust him for a reason. Even after the little incident between you two, you haven't lost your trust in my son, I can tell." said Pops. "You're right, I really do trust Marco and would always do so. I know that Gol D. Roger offered to tell you the way to the One Piece during your conversation in Wano. But you declined that offer. Your family is more important to you than some legendary treasure." revealed Tiara and I was surprised. On the one hand about the fact that she trusts me although she doesn't really know me and openly admits it. On the other hand what she said about Pops. I wasn't surprised that Pops turned the offer down, but I was surprised that Roger had made him this offer. Pops never mentioned about it. "So what you said is really true. Only Roger and I know about this conversation and I haven't told anyone yet. What do you know?" Pops asked. Pops believed her and so did I. Normally I was always suspicious and wouldn't believe a story like that. But how else would she know about this conversation? "I know about Ruffy's past. I know about Ace's kid brother, his crewmates and a few other people. I also know Ace's past and his background. But I also know the future. If I'm not mistaken, I know roughly what's gonna happen in the next three or four years." Tiara answered Pops' question. "With this knowledge, it could be dangerous for you if the world government finds out." said Pops and seemed to think. "I am aware of this but I don't care. I will change the course of history as I know it. No matter what the consequences are for me. But I just have to prevent certain things from happening," Tiara clarified and I noticed that she became more and more tense. "What exactly are you talking about? To change the course of the future you know would mean that at some point in time you no longer know what will happen and what the consequences of your intervention will be." I wanted to know. Didn't she realize how dangerous this could be? What does she want to change? "I am aware that if I interfere with the course of events some things will change, but I cannot and will not allow Thatch to be killed if I am able to prevent it with my knowledge." Tiara said and I could feel her getting more tense. Thatch should be killed? "Who's gonna kill my son and how?" Pops asked, and you could tell by the tone of his voice this information was upsetting him. But he tried not to show it so strongly so as not to make it more difficult for Tiara.
Whitebeard POV
Tiara was really interesting. Someone from another world who has a lot of information about our world and about certain people. If the marine or world government finds out about her, her life is in danger. I like that she trusts Marco so much and admits this without hesitation. In her presence Marco seems to be able to forget what happened 10 years ago. Maybe she could finally help him to forget everything. Just that he let her sleep at his place is like a miracle. It seems as if her proximity is good for him. Never before has Marco overslept as he did today. Normally he is always the first to wake up. So she has a small influence on him after only one day. Even though I was so deep in thought I kept listening to her. But when I heard her say that someone was going to kill one of my sons, it made me angry. Who would dare? I had to know. "Who is going to kill my son and how?" I asked her and tried to remain as calm as possible. You could see that she had a hard time telling us about it. "It all begins with Thatch finding a devil's fruit. To be exact, it will be the Yami Yami no mi, the Dark Fruit. I don't know exactly when this will happen because it was never mentioned." she started talking and stopped. I remained silent because I didn't want to interrupt her and Marco also remained silent and just watched her very closely. "It will happen in a stormy night. Thatch is standing at the railing with the fruit in his hand, thinking about whether to eat it or not. Someone approaches him, but he doesn't notice. This person had been after the fruit for a long time. He stabs Thatch, takes the fruit and flees. Thatch will not survive because he is found too late." she continued with her story. A few tears ran down her cheek. But it was obvious that she was not yet finished with her story. "The traitor is Marshal D. Teach, or as he calls himself Blackbeard," she said with a distinct hatred in her voice. One of my own sons is to do this?
Marco POV
I couldn't believe Teach, one of our crew was supposed to be the one to kill Thatch? Could that be true? It was always the case that I did not trust Teach as much as all the others because my phoenix becomes more and more alert as soon as Teach is around, which he doesn't do with anyone else, but should we really have been so wrong and never have seen his true self. Does my phoenix sense the danger that Teach poses? Somewhere I didn't want to believe that someone on the crew would betray us and even kill Thatch, but on the other hand, her whole body language showed that what she was saying was the truth. But before Pops or I could say anything, she kept talking. "Ace, despite what you tell him, will go after Teach to avenge Thatch's death. Unfortunately, Ace is going to lose the fight against Teach. Teach will then hand Ace over to the Marines to become one of the Seven Warlordswhere there will be a free place at that time. The Marines then announces the public execution of Ace at Marine Ford. It comes to war between the Marines and you, the Whitebeard Pirates along with your allies. Ruffy will also appear in Marine Ford to save his big brother. With his help you succeed in freeing Ace from the scaffold. But Ace is killed by Akainu. Ace protects his little brother who Akainu wanted to kill when he was too exhausted. Ace dies in the arms of his little brother," she said and became increasingly restless. Pops just listened to her calmly. It was hard for him but he also saw how much Tiara had to struggle with telling us all this. I wanted to stop her from telling any more but I wanted to know what was going to happen. "After Ace died, it will also happen that you, Whitebeard, will not survive the fight. I don't want any of that to happen! I don't want Thatch, Ace and you to die. I don't want Marco to lose the people that matter most to him. And I don't want to see the look of loss in Marco's eyes two years after the war." she added, apparently unable to calm down. It was strange but somehow I knew that Tiara would not calm down easily and that if I let her feel that someone was there for her, that she was not alone, it would help her. I pulled Tiara to me, on my lap and held her tightly in my arms. She was not scared and did not try to get away from me. She just let it happen. I was aware that Pops was watching my actions closely, but I didn't mind. Slowly my flames appeared without me wanting them to and again my flames seemed to calm Tiara down until she finally fell asleep in my arms from exhaustion. None of this was allowed to happen. One thing was clear that everything was the truth. This was not a lie! I do not want to lose Pops or Thatch or Ace this way. But why does she want to change everything for me? How can I mean so much to her? Why me? "Marco, please take her to bed and stay with her. She needs you near her now. We'll talk about it later." Pops said, tearing me away from my thoughts. You could tell he was worried, but also angry and shocked. I did what Pops told me to do and went to my cabin Tiara in my arms, put her in my bed and lay down with her. I could not and would not leave her alone now. Still, I asked myself a question. Why did Tiara have such an effect on me after such a short time?