Summary: What if... Luffy's burst of Conqueror Haki had been too late? Would Ace die because of his lateness? Or did fate already planned otherwise even without the conqueror's will's intervention?
After all, Buggy couldn't just let his captain's son died just like that.
Nakama-feel. Roger was practically the cabin boys' dad. Familial Roger Pirates. Buggy DOES have a heart.
Buggy couldn't believe it when he heard it.
'Captain Roger has a SON?!' Buggy thought in shock.
His jolly captain had been... Alright, Roger was quite charismatic, he also didn't look all that bad, he certainly could get a woman or two—but a SON!? Portgas D. Ace is his son?!
'He did have his grin...' Buggy thought wistfully before shaking his head furiously. No! He couldn't get distracted right now, he could die without protection in this battlefield!
Still, Buggy's mind wandered. He always thought his captain had joked back then when he said he'd have a son, especially since Buggy knew well Roger's health wouldn't permit him from ever seeing any of his possible offspring growing up. His captain had been sick, although he was as strong as ever prior his death, he was still dying.
'Portgas D. Ace...' Buggy shook his head bitterly. 'Ace... Really, Captain Roger? You named your son after your sword?' Buggy frowned. No, Ace is too young, his captain should be dead before the kid even born. His mother should be the one who named him.
If he was really Captain Roger's son, then, it was no wonder that Buggy felt drawn to him the first time they met.
A vision flashed in front of Buggy's eyes, a memory from a long time ago. A tall man towering over Buggy with an impressive mustache and a grin so wide it could have split his face.
"Well, it's been a great voyage, everyone. Thank you for staying with me until the end."
"Captain Buggy!"
The yells from the escapees of Impel Down snapped him out of it.
"Oi, what are you doing?! This is no place to space out!" Mr.3's high-pitchy voice reminded Buggy. "I know it's shocking, but please pay attention! What should we do now?!" He whispered in panic.
"We can't escape this place," Buggy pointed out as his eyes wandered to see a way out. He was a master at searching for an escape route due to always having to do it with his previous captain's recklessness. But even with his expertise, he couldn't find one.
"Captain Buggy!"
Buggy shivered when he heard those adoring prisoners again. It was hard to stay focused like this, he had to keep his lie and life somehow.
Right.
He had no time worrying about his dead captain's long lost son. He didn't need to care for every single soul he encountered out in the sea. Portgas, while a a joyful party partner, was only a person he randomly encountered in the end.
He didn't spend over a decade in East Blue, terrorizing the most peaceful sea and hiding from prying eyes, only to put a large bullseye mark on his back by caring for the Pirate King's son.
"Fight, everyone! Raise hell to the marines! Gyahaha!" Buggy ordered his newly acquired, very dangerous, followers. He leaned to Mr.3 and whispered, "When these flashy fools get distracted, we'll search a way out."
Mr.3 gulped and nodded.
Buggy grinned to himself.
Right.
He didn't need to care.
.~.
"Shanks! Buggy! My boys!"
.~.
"Hm? You want to leave Buggy? Where to? Let's go together then, boys! We're going to sail to whichever island Buggy chose today because I want to!"
.~.
Buggy blinked and open his eyes with a wince. He remembered getting caught off guard and an enemy with giant axe came from his blind side, slicing down at his neck. Did he die? Buggy tried to move but his hand can't seem to reach his neck. Buggy blinked and looked around with difficulty.
His eyes widened at the scene of absolute massacre before him.
Shanks was crying in a way Buggy never see before. Rayleigh was consoling him. Captain Roger... Captain Roger was fuming in the middle of all the chaos.
"Buggy!" Shanks sobbed.
Seeing the scene of absolute destruction and Shanks calling his name, Buggy felt himself sweating. Did he make a mistake and make captain mad? Was Shanks mourning his impending fate?
While Buggy was panicking, he saw a headless body a distance away. Buggy's first thought was 'Poor sod...' followed by 'Wait, I know that flashy outfit!' Buggy choked.
"AAAGHH?! MY BODY?!" Buggy's eyes bulged out.
His voice snapped everyone's attention to him and they all looked at him with eyes almost bulging out. "BUGGY?!" Shanks exclaimed at the slightly hovering head.
"Oh my God. Tell me I'm not dreaming." Someone said.
"You're alive!" Shanks didn't seem to care about everybody else and ran up to him, he didn't seem perturbed that Buggy was only a head and hugged him anyway.
"It should be the devil fruit he ate," Crocus mentioned after the initial shock. His statement calmed down the crew who immediately laughed and cheered even when Buggy was freaking out.
"My body?! How do I get back to it?" Buggy saw his body sitting up and flinched. However, he soon found out that he was still in control of his body although from a different point of view and was soon able to reattach himself.
A wave of dizziness hit Buggy then and he swayed on his feet.
"You okay there, squirt?" Gaban asked with concern.
"Although he doesn't receive any injury, the force of the hit and when his head hit the ground should be the cause of his disorienting balance. He's going to be fine," Crocus observed.
"Wh-what happened?" Buggy finally asked after scanning the place. It was worse than what he initially thought. He leaned over to Shanks. "I'm not in trouble, am I?"
Rayleigh laughed, obviously hearing the whisper. "No worries, boy. You're not in trouble. In fact, we're glad you're okay." He smiled easily as he flicked a glance at the wrecked place. "Captain is just on his overprotective streak," he said meaningfully.
Buggy looked up and saw Roger walking his way, he smiled at Buggy but it was none of his confident grin or mischievous smirk. His smile was somewhat dim although still sincere.
"I'm glad you're okay, my boy. I should have done better. If it isn't because of your devil fruit, you would be dead by now..." Something changed in Roger's tone when he spoke of Buggy's possible death. Something powerful and domineering.
"Captain..." Buggy was touched. To think his captain cared about him that much...
"Yes! From now on, I'll personally teach you and Shanks Observation Haki so you can protect yourself!" Roger decided with determination. "Rayleigh, get me a strong wooden sword later. Oh! And blindfolds, of course!"
"Eh?" Buggy blinked blankly even as Shanks cheered that he'd do his best.
The next few weeks became a hell of getting beaten up while blindfolded. The most infuriating was, Shanks actually developed Observation Haki bit by bit while Buggy was stuck at zero progress so Buggy got beat up for nothing and can only cry and complain when Shanks helped to put salve on his bruises.
"Captain is crazy..." Buggy complained.
Shanks laughed. "His method is a bit extreme because he cares," he shrugged. "Don't you know? When you got your head cut off Captain was livid, he ended those people himself without even letting them a chance to escape or fight back... I think only one person survived."
.~.
Roger grinned as he put his hands on his and Shanks' head. "You two are the closest thing to sons to me. Take care of yourself, alright? It's been a great voyage."
.~.
"Buggy...?" Mr.3 called out. "Are you spacing out again?!" He hissed.
"Galdino..." Buggy called out.
Mr.3 straightened. He had told Buggy his real name but the guy had been calling him 'Mr.3' throughout everything when he also introduced himself as Baroque Works' Mr.3. "H-huh?"
"A change of plan," Buggy said quietly. "We're going to save Portgas D. Ace."
"What?!" Galdino looked at Buggy in disbelief. "Are you crazy? Has all the power over those prisoners make you mad?!"
"No," Buggy's lips twitched. "I owe it to the kid."
Galdino looked at Buggy suspiciously. "Buggy, I've only known you for less than a day and I know you're not one to pay for debts."
Buggy scowled. "I don't just do it to anyone. But this is different..." He's Captain Roger's son... "Think of it. If we can save Ace, Whitebeard will be indebted to us, we can reap a lot from this!" Buggy grinned and laughed out loud when he imagined the Whitebeards' gratitude and the treasures he'd probably win over from them.
Absolutely not because that was his late captain's son and Buggy felt the need to do something.
"Easier said than done!" Galdino hissed.
"You can make a duplicate key, right?" Buggy nodded. "I have a plan, you just have to follow it."
Galdino gulped but for some reason, he can feel confidence from the way Buggy looked at him.
"Galdino-"
"I will do it," Galdino bit his lips and said with so much conviction.
"Wait, really?" Buggy blinked.
"Why are you acting surprised!?" Galdino felt insulted. "I... Mr. 2 already sacrificed himself so we can be free and Straw Hat can save his brother. I'll honor his sacrifice."
Buggy looked at Galdino in a different light now. "For Mr. 2...? You're... quite loyal..."
Galdino smiled bitterly. "I'm mostly a coward to usually go through it."
Buggy felt a sense of camaraderie with the Candle Man. "Alright. Here's my plan." he grinned.
After all, Buggy didn't spend years in Oro Jackson scamming countless members of the Pirate King's crew himself on poker night only for him to fail at this moment.
"Are you sure this will work?!" Galdino hissed.
"As long as you're inconspicuous, you'll be fine," Buggy said.
"But why me?!" Galdino demanded.
A tick appeared on Buggy's temple. "Did you just say my nose is big and red?!" Buggy snapped.
"Who said that?!" Galdino retorted but finally see the reason why Buggy couldn't sneak in there.
"Okay, this is our chance. Those fools and I will make ourselves flashy to attract attention. You sneak in after that," Buggy instructed. "Then, proceed with the plan."
Galdino was still not convinced but helpless. "If I got Ace and freed him, what's next?"
"Don't worry, Ace will protect you," Buggy said bluntly.
"You! At least take some responsibility!" Tears streamed down Galdino's face. "What if we can't go down anyway. That's a Fleet Admiral, you know?!"
"Jump. I can fly. I can catch you," Buggy said with a determination unlike himself.
Galdino looked at Buggy, dumbfounded. "You'll... catch us?" he said hopefully.
"Sure, I'll catch Ace."
"What about me?!" Galdino yelled.
"I'll catch you two," Buggy assured. "But Ace is more important you know? For Whitebeard."
"Your honesty is appreciated but it doesn't comfort me," Galdino wanted to cry even more.
Suddenly, Buggy grabbed Galdino's shoulders and squeezed it firmly. "I'll leave it to you, Galdino."
Galdino gulped. 'Mom, I'll die!'
Buggy had been ready. Even with all his struggles to fight and stabbing all those unsuspecting marines in the back, he always kept an eye out on the execution platform. Galdino was already there, waiting stoically. Buggy was impressive with the guy's poker face, he wouldn't expose himself anytime soon, Buggy was confident of that.
With Straw Hat somewhere in the battlefield supporting a large target on his back for the blood he carried, it became easier to go under the radar.
"Execute the criminal!" Sengoku ordered.
Galdino raised his blade and Buggy detached himself from his feet.
"NO!"
"SENGOKU!"
Pirates all cried out in outrage. Buggy kept his silence, his back began to sweat.
Galdino swung the blade down in sync with the other executioner and, like a spell, everyone held their breaths back, pirates and marines alike. The marines' resistance got stronger while the pirates all stood paralyzed for a split second.
"Stop it!"
"Damn it!"
For a split second, doubt raised in Buggy's heart. Galdino wouldn't chicken out in the last second and really incapacitate Ace, right?
Buggy's worry didn't become reality. As the blades fell, they stuck at the back of Ace's neck and didn't go any further than it.
Buggy grinned but held himself back. He knew it wasn't the time to celebrate yet.
"What?" Sengoku exclaimed and gazed at Ace who also blinked when he didn't feel anything cutting through him. instead, the back of his neck only felt heavy and stiff.
Sengoku saw some kind of white armor on the back of Ace's neck and frowned.
Suddenly, one of the executioners was stabbed by the other executioner and Sengoku's eyes went wide.
Galdino moved so fast with his fear and produced a key in a second. Sengoku exclaimed in anger.
"No!"
The Buddha transformed and Ace suddenly felt all too aware that one of the executioners was his ally and death was looming behind them.
"IIIIIII!" Galdino screamed and created a candle wall out of reflex and The Buddha punched the wall of candle with a force that broke the platform.
Click.
Sengoku pulled back his fist once again and was about to pursue when the atmosphere changed.
"STOP IT!"
A wave of domineering will spread across the battlefield, even making Sengoku lost his focus for a second.
The source of that conquering aura was the young teen that was running towards the execution platform. With that realization, Sengoku felt his heart sank when he saw countless marines fell under the boy's will.
Luffy lost sight of his brother. The marines had been overwhelming. Even with Ivankov's boost, he was still lacking and those marines managed to cover his sight from the execution platform that had never stopped being the center of Luffy's goal ever since he caught the sight of it.
The people around him fell after he yelled, revealing the execution platform yet again. But...
"Ace?!"
The platform was gone. Ace was nowhere to be seen.
"ACE?! ACE?!" Luffy yelled.
A burst of red-orange caught his eyes. A pillar of flame rose to the sky, flaring brightly with life.
Luffy stopped on his track. A grin slowly crawled onto his face. The rest of the pirates also immediately caught up and they all cheered. "ACE!"
"I was wondering who is my saviour," Ace said as flame licked from his shoulders. He smiled brightly at Buggy, recognition fully in his eyes.
"I was gonna catch you two," Buggy informed hastily, a bit bragging. "My plan is flawless!" He quickly said to put his name on the operation.
"Hey, you!" Galdino yelled from his limp state in Buggy's arms.
Ace beamed. "Thanks, Buggy!"
Buggy snorted. "At least you got manner still, unlike that little brother of yours."
"Luffy can be a bit rude. Please forgive him," Ace said indulgingly. "But... why?" he asked in confusion. His eyes glinted with bewilderment, he truly didn't understand why would Buggy free him.
Seeing his eyes, now all too aware he was Roger's son, Buggy could feel his late captain's gaze on him. He closed his eyes and opened them again to see Ace instead of his late captain. "Galdino here wants to honor his friend who stayed behind to send us here for your little brother. And I, well, maybe it's a whim." He smiled bitterly.
Ace's eyes widened and he beamed. "I see!"
"Wait, you won't ask further?" Buggy blinked rapidly.
"No need. I know someone else with worse whims," Ace smirked.
"As expected of Captain Buggy!"
"Captain Buggy saved Fire Fist!"
"How cool!"
"Captain Buggy is really the advocate of freedom! Brother Three is his loyal partner!"
"Captain Buggy! Brother Three! We will follow you till the end!"
Buggy and Galdino looked at each other, seeing obvious nervousness on their faces before Buggy boasted.
"Of course! I can't handle these marines trying to capture us. We're pirates and we're free!" Buggy threw up his hands inciting loud and idolizing cheers from the ex-prisoners.
"Don't move! Portgas D. Ace!" The marines' concentration immediately centered on Portgas D. Ace.
Of course, that also meant Galdino and Buggy were in their encirclement also.
"Gyaa! What are you doing, you flashy bastards?!" Buggy exclaimed as someone shot him and he managed to detach his head in time to not die immediately. Galdino sobbed in his arms.
Before another shot was fired, Ace moved his hands and a ring of flame spread out around him, burning any marines that got in the way and purposefully avoiding Buggy and Galdino.
"I don't appreciate you're shooting my nakama," Ace said and the flame got bigger. Yells of the marines that got caught in it were miserable and painful, Buggy and Galdino felt grateful they were on his side.
"We need to bail!" Buggy yelled at Ace and started to run before the young man even started. If the boy was smart enough, he'd run for sure!
Ace ran, burning every enemy on his path. The pirates' cheer got louder and louder. Some started to run beside Ace to protect him.
"ACE!"
Ace grinned when he saw his little brother and threw another Fire Fist to marines that tried to stop him. "Luffy! Run to the other direction now!" he ordered and Luffy laughed, not moving at all until Ace ran past him and yanked him by the arm to follow along.
"Stop them!"
Whitebeard laughed. "Gurarara! You can't stop us now!" the space cracked yet again as Whitebeard threw a punch in the air.
Somehow, Buggy managed to slip past when all the marines were more focused on preventing the Whitebeards to leave and trying to kill the two 'devil spawns'. Buggy still didn't understand the whole concept that the Navy tried to push. Because their dads are 'evil' somehow the sons became twice more guilty.
While Buggy did feel fear when knowing Luffy's father, it was more like 'Shit, will he tell his father that I scam him? Will Dragon the Revolutioner kill me?' rather than that Luffy was a demon by birthright.
Also for the fact that his captain had been anything but a demon...
Well, that wasn't his problem anymore. He already had Captain John's treasure map and loyal followers that he somehow deceived.
"Captain Buggy!"
"Huh?"
"I was so moved by your righteous feeling of freedom. I've been inspired! No one should be locked or restrained at all!"
"Uh... Yeah, sure," Buggy's lips twitched.
"So I helped to release the Phoenix from his seastone cuff."
Buggy saw the flaming gold-blue bird soaring again after so long not appearing. He distantly recalled that apprentice on Whitebeard's ship and shook his head.
"Whatever. We've had our flashy show here, let's bail," Buggy said.
"Ah! You only come here to brag about your greatness!" One of the ex-prisoners gasped.
"So cool, Captain Buggy!"
"Only want to do one great thing and leaving!"
"That's right! The goal of this war has been reached because of Captain Buggy's plan and Brother Three's bravery, it's a waste of time to do more!"
"Captain Buggy, you're too cool!"
"Of course! Why would I, this great Buggy, fight more when the decision has been made?! Gyahahaha, I'm not on anyone's side. I'm merely helping Portgas because I feel like it and that Straw Hat had despicably tied me to be indebted to him in the Impel Down! Now we're even, I don't have to grace them anymore!" Buggy said. "Whitebeards? Navy? Who cares? I'm going. Who will come with me?!" Buggy pumped up his hands.
"ME! ME!"
"ME!"
"I'm going to follow you even in death, Captain Buggy!"
Galdino looked at this scene and sweatdropped. He admired Buggy's oral capability but his skill in digging deeper grave also can't be ignored. Well, it seemed like they were stuck with these ex-inmates now.
Marco managed to be freed early by someone he didn't even know. Ace had been freed and he knew there would be no more all-out fighting if they could help it so he soared to the sky to inspect the battlefield and prevent any of those damn admirals hurting his brothers any more than this.
Marco shielded Whitebeard immediately but his Pops swatted him aside.
"Go back, Marco. Bring Ace and his little brother out of here. Return to New World."
Marco could hear self-exception there. "What about you, yoi?" Marco demanded.
"My era ends here."
"No, you don't," Marco glared. "I'm not getting freed like this to hear you talking like that. The situation has changed and there's no need for further sacrifice."
"Are you sure?" Whitebeard looked at him blankly.
"Yes. Let's go, I'll help to cover for my brothers with you if you want it."
"No, Marco... This is where I go," Whitebeard said firmly.
Marco felt dread in his heart. He knew it... He knew his Pops coming here with the thought of dying. Dammit! He should've known and stopped him from acting tough by tearing down his medical support earlier. However, flame of anger rose in the Phoenix's heart. He had been useless for almost the entirety of war. Ace's little brother was more involved in it than him and even more useful too.
It frustrated Marco.
He couldn't leave like this. He couldn't just let his Pops die here.
"Marco—"
"No, you listen to me, Pops. I'm your doctor. I'm the one running diagnose here, not you," Marco insisted. "I can't do it right now, so let's go back to New World together."
There was no ripple in Whitebeard's eyes. Marco knew he needed more to convince this old giant to return with them.
"..." Marco sighed. "Fine, I stole the two hundred years old barrels of Sake from that auction house we raided. It's yours if you return with us."
"I knew it," Whitebeard growled. "You wanted to enjoy it for yourself, didn't you!?" he accused.
"Finders keepers, you taught us that!" Marco defended himself.
Whitebeard scowled and finally moved from his spot. He never tasted the so-called heavenly old Sake, there was no way he would die in peace when he knew his son stored it somewhere in secret!
Marco sighed. Mourning the loss of such a good Sake, but at least it was for a good cause.
Shanks had prepared for the worst outcome from Marine's bold declaration of war towards the Whitebeards and also the fact they announced Ace's parentage. Shanks' heart stung at the reminder of his captain and his last words but he couldn't do more to prevent Ace from getting captured in the first place.
Preventing Kaidou from coming over was no easy feat but Shanks could do that much. He prayed to whichever deity that could hear him to make him on time to save Ace and assist Whitebeard. Only, he didn't have to do that.
When he arrived, he could see in the distant horizon that the Whitebeards were leaving. Some of their associates' ships even already set sail quite a distance away while shooting at flashes of light that Shanks could only determine as Kizaru (half-heartedly) attempting to pursue them.
Seeing that, naturally Shanks ordered his crew to turn back. It was only after a few days later his ship met with Moby Dick in Calm Belt.
The old man was on the deck with his nurses fussing over him, he looked worse than the last time Shanks saw him but he seemed quite content.
"Permission to come aboard?"
"Granted."
Shanks stepped aboard, out of courtesy he excepted Whitebeards' nurses from his Conqueror Haki which sent countless people on the deck unconscious.
The nurses all glared at him murderously and he smiled at them sheepishly.
"Well, a little bit of caution on the enemy ship will not hurt. They will be fine, ladies," Shanks assured. Shanks looked back to Whitebeard and sniffed the air. "Smells good, what is that?" he leered at the barrel in Whitebeard's hand.
"Gurara," Whitebeard gloated. "Best sake I've ever tasted, that what it is. Two hundred years kept in the finest wooden barrel floating in the sea. Worth dying for, or not dying for." He glanced at Marco.
"Damn, old man, I'm jealous," Shanks glared. "So it seems you're doing all fine. I heard you even managed to save Ace. Where's the spitfire?" Shanks glanced around and couldn't find the main character of the war from a few days ago.
Marco scoffed and pointed at an island a distance away. An island that any experienced pirate knew as a no-go zone for men. Amazon Lily.
"...Seriously?" Shanks blinked. Ace didn't strike him as someone so impulsive.
"His little brother is there, yoi. Still recovering at that. The Pirate Empress of Kuja Pirate offered her place for a shelter to pass the worst critical moment, seems like she knew Ace's little brother. We got kicked out a few days ago after resting there for a whole day because they still ultimately can't tolerate men. Only Jinbei and Ace allowed there to accompany Strawhat."
"Really? Anchor? Pirate Empress?" Lucky yelled from aboard Red Force, no doubt eavesdropping on their talk.
Yassop hollered in laughter. "Our Anchor is growing up!"
Shanks grinned at his crew's rowdy celebration in the background.
Suddenly, Whitebeard and Shanks perked up, a few seconds after both Yonko perked up, the others also turned their heads. Sensing someone coming to their ways.
"Incoming!" Haruta yelled out as a ball of flame slammed down on Moby Dick's deck and rolled several times before Marco stopped it with his foot.
The ball of flame revealed none other than Portgas D. Ace himself.
"I won. I fucking won. Even without Striker, I can still cross the sea if it is only this far!" Ace cheered victoriously.
Everyone laughed at his antics but Whitebeard and Shanks kept their eyes on the side of the ship Ace came from.
"We'll count it as a draw, Ace-kun." A wet hand reached up and a man pulled himself up onto the ship. "Permission to come aboard?" He smirked at Whitebeard who scowled at him.
"You're already aboard, Dark King," Whitebeard mocked.
"Hahaha, as dry as usual, Newgate," Rayleigh laughed. "Smells good," he glanced at the barrel in Whitebeard's hand who smirked smugly as he enjoyed his sake more.
Marco gazed down at Ace who climbed back on his feet. "Finally decided to come home?"
"The old man wants to see Pops, I don't trust him so I come here," Ace said. "I'll go back to Luffy after this."
Marco rolled his eyes.
"I didn't know you'll be here," Shanks greeted Rayleigh. "It's been a while, Rayleigh-san."
"It sure is, I can't forget that ship of yours, so I can't say the same about not knowing you're here," Rayleigh laughed.
"What are you doing here?" Whitebeard asked in annoyance.
"I was guessing where would Luffy hide to escape the marines. I was just sure Hancock will get him to hide on her home island, also to visit some old friends here. Gloriosa, remember her?" Rayleigh arched his brows at Whitebeard.
"Kuja warrior and queen but quit piracy to pursue a man," Whitebeard nodded.
"Eh, Pops, you know Elder Nyon personally?" Ace blinked.
Whitebeard snorted. "Only passing by a few times. You should try to get to know her, she was head over heels for Garp, that idiot didn't even notice. If things went right for her in the past, she should be your adopted grandmother now."
Ace choked. "How do I erase my memory of the conversation just now?"
"The one who saved me is a friend I met once," Ace said as he snatched the meat that was being delivered and earned a punch in the head for his trouble.
"A friend...? Do we know this friend?" Marco asked. He already ate and just stood watch with two other strong people abroad Moby Dick.
"Nope! Met him while sailing to pursue Blackbeard. Stayed with him for a few days for party, we became acquainted that way," Ace nodded. Recalling how many people he passed and met while pursuing Blackbeard, Buggy was one of a few that welcomed him pretty well after the initial anger of having him crashing over. Ace knew he wasn't a bad guy when he let Ace be on board and even fed him with a party that lasted a few days.
"That wasn't a long time ago, yoi. You bonded with someone while pursuing Blackbeard and the bond is so strong that he wanted to save you and succeeded?" Marco asked in disbelief.
Ace shrugged. "We got to know each other and shared stories for those few days. I didn't think our friendship was that big before but... Well, I was wrong. He's a nakama now," he nodded to himself. His saviour is his nakama, Ace knew how to express gratitude. He even told Luffy to be more polite should he met Buggy again in the sea, knowing that Buggy had some unspoken grudge against Luffy, probably related to his little brother's amazing talent in ruining other people's chances without knowing.
"Gurara, naturally," Whitebeard agreed. "He can even be a part of the family. We won't ever be indebted to someone except we're paying it back as sincerely."
Marco smiled and noted that in his mind.
"Thanks, Pops!" Ace chirped happily.
"But what's his name?" Marco said. "I didn't get to see him and he's gone when we retreated."
"Buggy," Ace answered easily.
Shanks and Rayleigh paused at the familiar name and glanced at each other.
"Buggy? Could it... nah, no way. Haha, impossible," Shanks laughed to himself. "There's no way this Buggy has a clown nose, right?"
"Red nose, blue hair, can split his body," Ace looked up. "You know him, Shanks? Is his nose really real?" He asked curiously.
Shanks and Rayleigh blinked in shock.
Shanks was stunned hearing that. "So it was Buggy..." Shanks laughed. "Fate is a strange thing..."
Rayleigh threw his head back and laughed loudly without any comment. "Well, now at least I know my other boy is doing alright."
Ace frowned when he saw the two's obvious amusement and... nostalgic expressions? He can tolerate Shanks, but he didn't really like Rayleigh- being that man's firstmate and all. How did they know Buggy?
Shanks paused. "So he freed you. Where is he now? Did you see him leave Marineford?" he asked seriously.
"No," Ace shook his head. "He vanished from my side after I reunited with Luffy in the field. I think he managed to escape, though. He seemed confident in running."
"He's always confident in escaping!" Shanks laughed, slapping his thigh with humor. "Man, he's still the same!"
Rayleigh smirked. "People always underestimated him, this might change their view on him now."
Shanks agreed. Recalling his fellow cabin boy of Oro Jackson, Shanks felt a wave of nostalgia. He missed sailing with his previous crew. He loved his current crew and wouldn't trade them for anything else. But there was just a different feeling when it came to the time of the past.
"But how did Buggy help you at all?" Shanks was curious. Though he'd never look down on his old friend, he wasn't exactly the strongest person around.
"His friend snuck in as an executioner. He has... candle power, I think? Anyway, he used his power to shield me from the blade and then make a key from it to free me. Buggy already waited at the bottom to catch us but I didn't need it, I appreciated the initiative, though," Ace smiled.
Shanks smiled back. "He's always a planner more than a fighter," he said fondly. "Always very stubborn and easy to tease too! Dahahahaha!"
Whitebeard took a sip of his sake, seeing from Shanks and Rayleigh's reaction, he concluded this 'Buggy' should be someone from Roger's crew.
"Buggy... Buggy..." Marco frowned. He felt like he should remember that name. "I remember!" Marco's eyes lit up. "The one that always stuck with you."
Shanks smiled sheepishly. "Actually, I was the one who stuck with him more. He just got used to it."
"You were that close?" Ace asked.
"Dahahaha! He's one of the few people I could call my 'close friend', I don't randomly call people my close friends," Shanks laughed.
"Good friend? I think you can say that. He's the closest person to me in my youth days, we parted ways due to different goals," Shanks swirled his sake and shook his head helplessly.
Ace became excited. "Wow. You saved my brother's life and your friend saved my life."
Shanks paused and grinned drunkenly at that. "Yeah, yeah! Awesome coincidence. The sea is such a mysterious place!" he cheered.
"Yeah, I'm glad Luffy had him when he got out of Impel Down," Ace said innocently. "I mean Jinbei is nice, but two is better than one to advise him good things."
Rayleigh almost choked at that and wheezed as he covered his mouth. Ace glared at him but said nothing, only looking back at Shanks .
Shanks snorted meaningfully but nodded cheerfully anyway. He was pretty sure with Buggy's temperament, going to war was only because he got dragged by Anchor's pace. The same as the old days when young Shanks always pulled the terrified young Buggy into his pace.
'Seems like some things never change, huh? Old friend...'
Meanwhile, somewhere out in the sea.
"DAMN!" Buggy screamed while everyone around him cheered endlessly.
"As expected of Captain Buggy!"
"You made it to the front page, Captain Buggy!"
Buggy sweated as Galdino looked at his expression carefully while he stared at the newspaper in front of him.
After further investigation was done. The Navy finally determined the real identity of the person who freed the Pirate Prince; Portgas D Ace. The master behind the scene was actually one of Gold Roger's crewmate when he was still alive. It is suspected the man had come to save his captain's devil spawn and interrupted the Navy's plan to erradicate the evil bloodline.
It opens the public's eyes that the remnant of the devil himself, Gold Roger, are still scattered about. Hiding and biding their time in the dark to do more crimes.
The Navy has issued a new bounty on the dangerous man's head.
Buggy the Trickster. Former crewmate of Pirate King Gold Roger.
350,000,000 Beri.
'I'm dead.' Buggy despaired.
I always wondered how Mr. 3 get into the platform and even disguised himself as the executioner to free Ace and why he did that. I REALLY wonder what would happen if Luffy didn't break the battlefield with his Conqueror Haki. What would he do, then? Will he just swing the blade down or will he stab the other executioner and ran for hell with Ace? Seriously, Mr.3 has no business saving Ace.
Crocodile interrupted the execution once purely because he wanted to fuck with the Marines and Sengoku. He essentially said; "Fuck you, Sengoku. I don't like Whitebeard, but fuck you even more" when he stopped Ace's first (or second?) attempt of execution.
But Mr.3? What was he doing there? What was his plan to save Ace? Just. What? Mystery! Everything is a mystery! So, my headcanon is, Buggy got soft in the middle of the war and asked Galdino to disguise himself and go up there to save Ace.
I almost forgot! The scene about discovering Buggy's DF ability is partly inspired by this fic from Lucynda-Raciak. FF net can't generate link (Which is suck. If anyone of the staff is here, know it, you suck. Let me add links and be more flexible.)