Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece
My eyes are open wide
And by the way, I made it through the day
…
"Yo, Captain!" Aiko called out, walking up to the red head who was looking out at the New World's strangely calm sea. Whenever the New World was this serene, something bad was around the corner. But, at least this time, everyone knew what that bad thing was.
By the time Aiko had been picked up by her mates and brought back to the Red Force, Ace's execution date had come. She knew that Whitebeard and the rest of his crew were well on their way to Marineford. It would be a horrible battle. One she didn't want to see the aftermath of. The Red Hair Pirates were currently sailing full speed as they headed deeper into Whitebeard's territory. They were going to clash with Kaido, the rival Yonko who was going to take advantage of the fact that Whitebeard wasn't there to stop them, so Shanks' had told her that –out of respect for the old man- they'd defend his territory in his absence. She had decided against telling Marco when she had the chance, the Phoenix's Whitebeard Pirate pride would have been wounded, had he known that a rival Emperor was going to help them. The Whitebeard Pirates, one of the feared, strongest crews in the world.
They had decided to postpone her 'Welcome Back' banquet, saving it for after the war and after this fight with Kaido. They had a lot to do today. Clash with an Emperor, intervene in a war and bury whoever died. Aiko clenched her –now healed, thanks to Rho- fists. The Devil Fruit she got as a consolation prize, had already been eaten by one of the crew that was interested in the thing, after Shanks' gave his approval, of course. They never kept Devil Fruits lying around in chests anymore, not after the incident with Luffy. Once a fruit was found, it was eaten by a willing member of the crew. The booze she had brought was safely tucked away inside the belly of their ship, waiting for them after what would undoubtedly be a long day's work.
"Oh. Aiko." Shanks' replied, that easygoing grin on his face as he turned to look at her. The red haired man noticing once again how her scarred hands weren't covered. "We need to get you new gloves."
"I can't afford to hold back now. Not when we're about to fight Kaido" She muttered, looking up at the heavens. It would be starting soon. The bloodshed, that is. "Let's have a drink with everyone once this is over."
He placed his hand on her head, ruffling her thick hair as the two stared up into the sky. The sky that didn't love those below it, the sky that felt no remorse for those about to get hurt, the sky that didn't feel like crying or showing it's tears even with the somber and edgy mood of all those it housed- Pirates and Marines alike. The sky was mute and didn't have anything to say. As if telling them that today would be clear, wonderful and beautiful. Liar.
"How was it?" Shanks suddenly asks, keeping his arm on her head. Using it as his armrest. She didn't complain though, didn't push him away, despite the small frown adorning her features at his action. She never did those things. He was her Captain, after all. "Your time with the first division commander?"
She gave him a negligent shrug and a small ambiguous tip of her head.
"I was rejected." Aiko admitted, recalling how she indirectly suggested that he take her with him to Fishman Island. Though, he was right about her and how she wouldn't be able to give up her Red Hair pirate pride. Sooner or later, she would have returned to her crew. They were home.
"Are you okay?" Was the immediate question.
"It hurts." Shanks closed his eyes in relief. Relief at her honesty and the fact that she wasn't trying to pretend that everything was alright. She was such a good girl, even though she was raised by pirates.
"I hope he didn't make you cry."
Aiko scoffed at the mere thought of the Phoenix making her shed tears. "If he were the type of man that made me cry then he wasn't worth my time."
"Is that so?" He mumbled, ruffling her hair once more in a comforting way. In a way that only he could. "Bah! He's got no taste in woman!"
She smiled up at him, going along with his words. "Right?"
It didn't matter that Marco wasn't around. As long as they were, then she'd be fine. The two pirates grinned in amusement at each other, having this one small moment of peace, before the inevitable shitstorm.
"Oh?" The two pirates turned when they heard the voice, the two seeing Benn smoking away. The rest of the crew fully geared and prepared for a fight behind him. "What are you two grinning about?"
"DAHAHAHAHAHA!" Shanks' laughter filled the air as he removed his arm from Aiko's head and let it rest on the hilt of his saber. "Aiko here was tellin' me all about her troubles! Can ya believe that, Bennie? She isn't even mad that I sent her out with a Whitebeard Pirate!"
"Why would she be mad?!" Yasopp called out, "That Phoenix is gonna be family soon!"
"SHUT UP!" Shanks and Rho yelled at the grinning sharpshooter in unison. "AIKO'S OURS! THE WHITEBEARD PIRATES CAN'T HAVE HER!"
"AHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!" The entire crew broke out in laughter at the two, their minds momentarily forgetting all about the problems of the world outside their ship.
"Stop laughing!" Shanks yelled out. "I'm serious!"
They only laughed more.
"Oi! I almost forgot to tell you!" Aiko said happily, the entire crew giving her their attention. "I saw Luffy!"
"EHHHHHH?!"
"That isn't fair, Aiko!" Shanks flicked her forehead harshly. "What did he look like?!"
"Captain!" One of the navigators yelled out, interrupting the good atmosphere. He was panting heavily as he ran up to where they were, hands on his knees as they all waited for what they already knew he would say. "We've spotted Kaido's ship!"
The screams of marines and pirates alike rang throughout Marineford. Two large frozen waves enclosing everyone. All kinds of powers erupted across the hazardous battlefield. Zombie soldiers, fishman karate, beams, sand tornadoes, haki attacks and even stretching limbs. It was utter Hell. As if to further prove that it was, Strawhat Luffy had just single handedly taken down a giant as Sengoku announced that he was the son of the world's most dangerous man. A man even Marco would admit that he'd have a hard time fighting.
The Phoenix stood beside Whitebeard on the deck of the Moby Dick, his hands on his hips as he looked out at all the destruction, never leaving his Pops' side. He wanted so badly to rush up and fly towards Ace, but his duty was to oversee the other commanders, take care of the ship, relay and intercept messages and protect Pops. Things only he could do.
So, he reigned in his anger and put on that indifferent mask. On standby should his Pops order him. His Den Den Mushi rang and when he answered, he couldn't believe his ears.
"Pops, yoi." Marco called.
"Hmm…?" Whitebeard momentarily took his gaze off of Ace, giving his full attention to the Phoenix Commander.
"The Decalvan Brothers intercepted a message, they said Akagami clashed with Kaido."
"That brat." Whitebeard muttered. "What does he think he's doing? We're the Whitebeard Pirates, we don't need a brats help."
"What if they interfere with the war, yoi?"
"No, that brat isn't that stupid."
Marco emotionlessly squashed the tiny part of him that hoped that the Red Hair Pirates would come. A familiar face flashing in his mind for a brief second, before it was replaced by thoughts of Ace. Whitebeard looked out at the battlefield, seeing Ace's little brother fearlessly jumping into a crowd of Marines officers. "Keep the admirals away from the others."
Marco closed his eyes and grinned. "Roger."
He shifted into his Phoenix form and kicked the nearest Marine into oblivion. His eyes not leaving Ace's banged up form. Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Garp were by his side, the perfect guard dogs. He couldn't just fly in carelessly or he'd be punched to the ground. The blond looked around, trying to find someone that he could cooperate with to get to Ace.
"Marco!" Haruta yelled. "Get your head out of the clouds!"
Just then, three bullets passed through Marco's head. His blue flames eating them up as Marco took a nearby sword and threw it like an oversized dart, impaling the Marine that had stupidly targeted him. The man's blood dripping onto the floor long before his body hit the ground.
"Ace, yoi!" Marco yelled with a hand cupped around his mouth. He watched as Ace scanned the area in search of him, the battlefield seemed to go still at Marco's uncharacteristic yelling. Minor clashes could be heard in the background, but other than that all was silent. Marco could feel the eyes of everyone near and far on him. The Marines around him hesitated to move, while the Marines at a relative distance had just noticed his presence and had already begun trembling in fear.
"M-Marco!" Ace watched with wide eyes as more of his mates died before his eyes. But there Marco was, completely unscathed and giving him his usual indifferent look as if this were just any other day. As if his mates weren't falling one by one. Mates he'd never get to share a drink with again.
"I've got someone I want you to meet after all this, yoi!" Marco shouted. Ace could see the blue flames all the way from where he was. "So stay there and wait for us to get you!"
Ace choked up, not responding.
He heard Izou's loud whistle amidst the noise. "You can't go and miss out on Marco's wedding Ace!"
"That's right!" Jil yelled.
"LET'S GO!" Jozu ordered, turning half of himself into diamond. "THIRD DIVISION CHARGE!"
"YYYEEEEAAAAHHHHH!"
Just this once, Marco could forgive them for taking advantage of his words and teasing him. The Phoenix Commander looked out at the circle of Marines that had surrounded him. From the corner of his eye, he could see two Vice-Admirals and three Lieutenants on their way to his position. Dozens of men behind them.
"I-I-It's Phoenix Marco!" A random Marine ensign yelled.
"Don't be scared! GET HIM!"
Marco let out a sadistic smirk, before Marineford erupted in brilliant blue flames.
"Do you really want to do this?" Shanks asked, drawing his saber as the main members of his crew stood at his side. Fully prepared for a fight. "We won't show any mercy to anyone who tries to take Whitebeard's territory."
Across from them was Kaido's ship, though the Yonko himself wasn't on board. Instead, Shanks spoke threateningly to a Den Den Mushi. Kaido's crew all drawing out their weapons, but there was tension in their movements because of their current lack of a Captain on board. The New World's sea, for once, stood silent as everyone waited for Kaido to answer. His next words would determine the fates of some of the more important members of his crew.
"Akagami, huh? Why are you helping Whitebeard?" Kaido's deep, raspy voice echoed. The Den Den Mushi had on a frightening expression. Donning an intimidating glare that could have put Marco's to shame. But, Shanks met that serious tone and heavy glower head on.
"Don't you see what's going to happen?" Shanks' voice boomed out across the sea. His aura chipping away at the opposing ship. "Attack Whitebeard now and the world will fall to an irreversible imbalance."
"This is the chance of a lifetime." Kaido answered, they could hear heavy, irritated breathing on their end of the line. "The dawn of the New Age is upon us. Whitebeard will not have enough manpower to take an attack from an Emperor. Not now. Not when he gets back from the war. Do you think I could let this slip by? Don't defend someone from the old days, Akagami!"
"The Age of Pirates was started by the death of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger. Will the New Age start the same way? Don't repeat history, KAIDO!"
The transponder snail's eyes narrowed dangerously. "If not for the passing of great pirates, what then should mark the dawn of the New Era?"
"When the young ones have grown, they will rise up." Shanks voice was overpowering, filled with confidence. "Their actions will bring about the New Era! Should Whitebeard fall, his death would only serve as the start of a horrible transition period for Marines, pirates and civilians alike!"
Whitebeard controlled a vast portion of the New World. If something happened to him then all those islands would be pillaged, taken over and brought back to how they used to be. The Marines couldn't save all of those islands. Most would be divided up amongst the emperors, but those left could easily be taken over and oppressed or worse, give rise to another emperor.
Kaido laughed, mockingly. "You sound so confident, Akagami. What makes you think that way?"
Shanks stared unwaveringly at the Den Den Mushi. "I believe that someday, someone will appear. Carrying the history of all those decades on his back…" A strawhat he once had the pleasure of wearing flashed through his mind, "…And challenge this whole world into a fight."
"You're a fool!" Kaido yelled, his men looking ready to attack. "Who will that someone be?! One of the D? One of the Supernova? I won't stand by and let the younger generation do what they want!"
"Come, then." He let his saber rest on his shoulder, tilting his head in challenge. "We'll gladly fight you, if you're alright with losing all these men."
There was a tense moment of silence, before…
"No." Once the word left Kaido's mouth, everyone in the area visibly relaxed. "I will wait Akagami. See for myself what kind of times this war will bring."
Shanks slid his saber back into its sheath. "That's all I ask for."
Kacha.
The large ship turned, all pirates glaring at their rivals until they were out of sight. Shanks turned, eyeing all his mates who stood before him with large grins plastered on their faces.
"What now, Captain?" Lucky Roux asked around a mouthful of food.
"Someone get me a newspaper and turn on the Den Den Radio." Shanks turned to the sea and breathed out a sigh of relief. "Full speed ahead. We're going to Marineford."
"YEAAAA!" The Red Hair Pirates cheered.
"Nice job, Cap't." The bosses of the crew surrounded their red headed Captain, pouring the man a drink.
Benn lit up a cigarette. "We'll be there in no time at all. The Red Force is the fastest ship out there."
Rho nodded in agreement. He sat on the floor, powdered medicines, salves and tonics lay before him as he took out a mortar and began smashing things into a paste. "It'll take us two hours, tops. Which means I have to get ready to treat the wounded."
"Yea," Shanks grinned at him. "We're counting on you, Rho."
Rho grimaced. "The only one I want to count on me is Aiko."
They all smiled at him.
"Captain! You gave me the chills." Aiko said, rubbing her arms and making fake freezing sounds.
"Same here!" Yasopp said with an all too happy grin. "You should show that cool side more often."
"What?!" Shanks' jaw dropped. "You guys don't think I'm cool?!"
With no radios or other news to disturb them, they stood with each other in a moment of happy peace. Ignorant of the situation that awaited them in Marineford.
Whitebeard's fearsome second division commander, Fire Fist Ace, was lying on the ground, donning a smile on his face. He was at peace. The world around him anything but. Whitebeard had gone ahead, leaving Marco, his brothers and the entire world behind with the words that One Piece really did exist. But that wasn't the worst part. The final straw, the thing that had Marco snapping and losing the battle for his composure was Blackbeard grinning wildly amidst all the carnage.
Marco's teeth clenched, veins appearing on his forehead.
Was this really a man he had once referred to as his brother?
"GET THIS OFF!" Marco yelled at his mates, ignoring his injuries as he continued to shake and thrash his hand around. He shouted in irritation, as if that would somehow get his mates to remove the seastone cuffs currently binding him faster. His body ached, having taken multiple direct hits from Kizaru. A man whose one beam could knock out even the strongest of men. But, no matter how much resilience he had, it didn't change the fact that he couldn't use his hybrid form to fly and launch a comeback.
"HURRY UP, YOI!"
It was as if time had slowed and stopped at the worst possible moment.
The entire world shook with chaos and Marco had lost his wits for one impossibly long second. But as the cuffs fell off his wrist and clattered noisily to the ground, he burst into action. He kicked away Akainu who had been aiming for Luffy and with a fierce glare lit up bright blue flames. The strongest of his brothers stood behind him, backing up their first mate. Ready to die and follow their brothers before them.
"All the pests have gathered together," Akainu said, his hand molten lava. "Do you all wish to die for that Strawhat's sake?"
"We've all seen his bottomless tenacity and power." Vista said.
"He's the man Ace protected," Fossa muttered, cigar still in his mouth. "And Pops respected him!"
Izou held his gun close, fully prepared to lay down his life. "It is our duty to send him on to the New Era."
"Every last one of you are fools." Akainu stared them down, smoke clearing as he could fully see all of Whitebeard's commanders standing before him. "Whitebeard Pirates!"
"Akainu." Marco's voice was filled with a barely suppressed fury. He held up his hand alight with a bright blue flame. The same flame he had told Aiko was only meant for healing was about to be used to end the life of the Admiral before him. To quench the urge to fight that burned in all of them. "The great danger you see in trying to kill that boy right now… and the great potential we see in the one we're trying to rescue…"
The Whitebeard Pirates got into their own stances.
"AREN'T THEY THE SAME THING, YOI?!"
No one in Marineford had been expecting this, and so they stood in awed silence.
Red-haired Shanks stood there, blocking Akainu's fist from hitting a navy soldier. His mates were on the Red Force behind him as he announced with all the authority of one of the most powerful men in the world.
"I'm here to…" Shanks picked up the familiar Strawhat that he hadn't seen in ten long years. "End this war!"
"IT'S THE RED HAIR PIRATES!" A Marine yelled, obviously worried that they'd be taking advantage of the situation to wipe out the Whitebeard Pirates and the Navy's best in one fell swoop.
"No way…" A marine whispered out in disbelief. "Akagami just had a run-in with the Emperor Kaido in the New World! And he made it here already?!"
Aiko stood on the ship's railing and stared out at all the bloodshed as Shanks got into his own business with a blue haired clown. Bodies littered the floor, marines and pirates alike. Water was frozen and turned into ice and the putrid stench of blood mixed with sweat and steel assaulted her sensitive nose. Admiral Kuzan suddenly jumped high and used his ice powers, completely freezing the water. Not letting Luffy who was on some atrociously colored submarine get away.
"He's after the submarine!" Lucky panicked as he watched the sea turning to ice. "The sea!"
"AIKO!" Yasopp yelled.
"I'M ON IT!" Aiko jumped from the ship.
Her gloveless hands felt strange, using uninhibited Haki made her hands quake. With a devastating punch, she shattered the ice. Not fast enough. She wasn't sure if it had already frozen the submarine. No. Of course it hadn't. She had recognized that submarine, it belonged to a Supernova. Pirates like them wouldn't die so easily. That was something she had to believe. Admiral Borcelino was next, he threw hundreds of beams into the water. Only stopping when Benn Beckmann pointed his gun threateningly at him. But, the damage had already been done.
Aiko watched as Shanks made his way past the Whitebeard Pirates. No. Past Marco. She tried to assess if he had taken any damage from her faraway position, but he seemed perfectly fine. His blue flames healing him up nicely. The only thing those flames didn't heal was the furious look on his face.
"Akagami." Marco called as Shanks passed him by.
"Marco." Shanks took one look at his expression and said in the most serious tone the Phoenix had ever heard come from the childish Emperor. "Stop fighting back. Just back out nice and easy."
Marco's jaw tightened and his teeth clenched at the order.
Aiko hopped off of the ship along with the other bosses of the crew. She could see some of the more powerful men, like Mihawk, leaving the field. There was no way Mihawk would fight with them, he was a friend. A friend that saw no honor in fighting a one armed man. Shanks walked on ahead, everyone making a path for him as she and her other mates followed slowly behind.
"If you continue desiring more and more," Shanks' voice was loud and clear, an echo through the tired minds of all those present. "It will just increase the damage on both sides purposelessly. Those of you who only want to fight more-"
Shanks unsheathed his saber for the second time that day. The Red Hair Pirate bosses stood menacingly behind him. Serious looks and battle hungry smirks on their usually stupidly happy faces.
"-Bring it on! We're happy to fight you!"
"What do you think, Teach?" Shanks said dangerously as they stood before the Blackbeard Pirates. "No, Blackbeard!"
"Zehahaha." Blackbeard laughed, blood running down the side of his face as he directed Shanks' menacing glare right back at him. "You're more handsome than ever, Akagami. Those scars look good on you."
Shanks narrowed his eyes and Yasopp raised his gun, ready to kill Blackbeard for speaking to their Captain in such a mocking way. Van Augur raised his gun in turn.
"ZEHAHAHAHAHA!" Teach laughed obnoxiously and turned with a grin. "Let's stop this, then." Yasopp and Van Augur immediately dropped their guns at the mention of no fighting. "I already got what I wanted and we aren't ready to fight you guys yet." Blackbeard turned, his crew following suit. "LET'S GO!"
And they left.
After all the destruction, they left without anyone even bothering to go after them.
Shanks eyed Sengoku who stood on the sidelines in his Buddha form. The Fleet Admiral slowly reverting back to normal. Shanks sheathed his saber and stood before the man.
"Everybody, for now… You need to do as I say!" Shanks looked at all the bodies. They were too late. The New Era wasn't here yet. A period of transition was about to start. One that would shake the world off its very foundations. "Whitebeard, Ace. Let us handle the burial of those two. The war was broadcast to the world. I won't let you dishonor their death in public any longer!"
"What are you saying?!" A vice admiral yelled, "We shout our victory by exposing their dead bodies to public view!"
"That's right!"
"Are you trying to bring disgrace to our victory?!"
"We're not gonna listen to a pirate!"
"I agree!" Sengoku interrupted the voices of his subordinates. The men sputtering incoherently at Sengoku's approval. "Only because it's you, I allow it, Akagami!"
Shanks was expressionless. This wasn't a time to smile. "Thanks."
"Treat the injured!" Sengoku's voice boomed. "This war is over!"
The Whitebeard Pirates clenched their fists and openly cried as their losses stung deep within their hearts.
A/N: I didn't want to draw out the war any more than I had to. You guys already know what happens here anyway, so there was no reason for me to divide it up into multiple chapters and add pointless scenes. I hate repeating canon stuff. CHECK OUT MY LIVEJOURNAL FOR INFO ON MY NEW ONE PIECE FIC!
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