Hello everyone! Here is the next, first, real chapter!
This is just a small start, to set things off
Hope you enjoy
Read and relax
Whitebeard sat out on deck, enjoying a good day. The three brothers had left some days ago, and he hoped to hear something soon. He hadn't told anyone they might join them, to both not give false hope, or to make them try and pursue the brothers. He also hoped all of them would join, but he would get it if Ace didn't, although he wanted Ace to join them. Yes, he was an assassin, but he was so kind and caring, he would be a perfect fit.
He was relaxing, when he heard some flapping and saw Dust on the railing, and his children saw it too, and Thatch moved towards the bird. "Hey, Dust. Is everything fine?" Dust gave a caw and nodded. It was a really smart bird. The captain chuckled. "I think that means yes." He could see Thatch give a relieved breath, probably thinking something was up or wrong. Marco then looked at the bird. "Are the kids coming, yoi?" Dust nodded again, which had everyone smile. Thatch gave a hum, looking at the bird. "Are they coming soon?" Dust nodded again with a caw, which had Thatch clap his hands. "Yes! That means I need to make more food." It did, as Luffy ate a lot to say the least.
Thatch then headed to do that, and Izou joined him, wanting to help him out. He wondered if the two would ever get what was obvious to all of them. But they didn't want to push it too early. He would give it some time, before he would think of doing anything.
After that, it was only about 45 minutes before Dust cawed again, and the three brothers appeared. Luffy moved his arms up. "We're back!" They all smiled, glad to see the enthusiastic Luffy again. He always managed to make them smile. He looked at the smiling kid. "Hi, Luffy. You came just before dinner." That had Luffy gasping. "Food!" Then he shot off to the galley, and Ace sighed. "We literally ate 5 minutes ago." SAbo chuckled as he headed after. "It is Luffy." That had Ace chucking as well, and he was glad they were here, and he hoped for good news. Ace did give him a look he nodded to, a promise to meet up during the night.
The day then went on uneventfully, and when night came, he went out on deck, finding Ace at the front, as usual. He then went over and looked at the kid. "Hello, Ace, how are you?" Ace hummed. "I'm good. Just enjoying the night." The captain chuckled. "You are fond of that." Ace nodded. "I am. It is so silent." It was, that was true. And he had a feeling Ace usually worked at night, so he was used to being awake. Whitebeard then hummed. "How did it go with Rayleigh? Did he say yes to take them in? Or, will you join us?" He really hoped they all would join them.
Ace hummed and looked at him. "I won't join you, but they will. Rayleigh said no." Whitebeard nodded. "Is there a reason he said no?" Ace nodded. "Yes. He said it would be a bit too much to train a non pirate." Made sense and he nodded. "Where will you go?" Ace hummed, leaning on the railing. "Back to the Red Cloud, I will mostly stay there. I will visit here as well. They need to be able to make do without me. I will not join them when they set out on their own." Whitebeard nodded, he got that. He would do his best in teaching the two brothers everything they might need to know, before they set out themselves. The world was dangerous so they needed to be trained before they set out.
Ace then hummed. "I won't join you, but I would like to be acquaintances, if you would like that." Whitebeard nodded and smiled. "I would like that a lot." Ace nodded too. "If it would be okay, I would like to place my mark on the boat somewhere. It makes it so I can go to that mark without Dust. Makes travel easier for me, so I can check on you. But only if you approve." Whitebeard nodded. "I do. How about close to where you usually sit? On the main deck?" Ace hummed. "Sounds good. I will make it the next time I am there. And oh, being my acquaintance, means I will watch you. Same will a few more. You mess anything up, you need to deal with me. And believe me, you don't want that." He guessed as much,
Whitebeard nodded. "I know. Are you acquaintances with Shanks as well?" Ace nodded. "Yes. But he is also what we call a 'gray zone'." Whitebeard frowned. "What does that mean?" Ace hummed. "It means he is on good terms with us. He helps us. He is neither with us, or against us. We can, at times, relax on his boat. or have him get us places. He is open to all assassins connected to the Red Cloud." That did make sense. He hummed. "So, you will continue as normal?" Ace chuckled. "Mostly yes. I did decide I want some reputation in my name, so it won't look suspicious when I am here and other places. So, I will get a bounty for some things, both things I have done and not done. So, I can roam and have fun." That he got.
Whitebeard looked at the distance. "But do remember, you are always welcomed here as well." Ace chuckled. "I know. But I won't settle as easily as them." That might mean he would join later. He hoped for that, but for now, he would concentrate on those who would join. And, he had a feeling he wouldn't be able to make Ace change his mind, not right now at least.
They then just enjoyed the night, before he turned in when the clock was close to 3, Ace still out. When the next day came, they had their usual meeting, and as the meeting was coming to an end, he spoke. "Before everyone leaves, I wanted to wait until now. I just had a conversation with Ace. Rayleigh was supposed to take them in and train them, but he had to decline." Everyone nodded, and Thatch spoke first. "What will they do then?" Whitebeard smiled. "They will join us." All of his commanders blinked, Marco speaking first. "All of them, yoi?" Whitebeard shook his head. "No. Ace will not. He doesn't want to join, but Luffy and Sabo will, until they can set out on their own. Ace will visit when he can." The commanders nodded, Izou speaking. "That's going to be cool!" Thatch then gave a small groan. "Imagine all the food they will eat!" Haruta nodded. "True, but they will join us! That will be so cool!" It would be.
The commanders were excited, and he got it. This was exciting, they would get new family members. That was always exciting. They then finished everything before they went to breakfast, having the meeting early. And they then told the news to the others, which had everyone smiling and cheering. And they needed to celebrate, which would be a large feast, perfect for the joining of Luffy and Sabo. A few did ask why Ace wouldn't join, and they just said he was going to do other things and roam, enjoy the world.
When things calmed down, Ace said to his two brothers he was leaving soon, which had Luffy puffing his cheeks up a bit, but didn't say anything against it. He probably wanted to start to get his own reputation, and he was allowed to do that, and as he had said, Luffy and Sabo needed to make do without Ace as well, he wouldn't set out with them. But before he left, Luffy gave a small gasp. "Will you come for New Years?!" Ace sighed, but nodded. "If you want that, yes. I can." Luffy grinned. "Yes! Bye! See you soon!" It was soon New Years, so that would be soon.
Ace then asked to speak with them, just to get a few things right, and most of the commanders joined as well, same with Luffy and Sabo, who wanted to learn things. Or, Sabo did. Luffy was busy checking things out and reading things and checking their wanted posters. And once, he had said with a gasp, looking at his two brothers, "Will we get a poster as well?!" Ace nodded. "Yes, Lu. You will. Did you think you could join them and not?" Luffy gave an excited sound. "Yay! I can't wait!" They all chuckled, Luffy was so happy to become a pirate.
They then spoke a bit more, just going through some stuff, before Ace gave a smile to Luffy and Sabo. "Now, you two, go out and play, or read, or whatever." The two nodded and did, and as the door closed, Ace looked back at them, and he was on his way to speak, wondering why he sent them away, when Ace held a finger up, and kept them silent. It was silent, silent enough for him to hear the footsteps that soon faded. Most likely Luffy and Sabo leaving. As they were no longer audible, being away, Ace looked at him. "Okay, I will say this once." Started Ace, a serious voice, making him nod and Ace continued. "If I, ever hear, or even think, you are using my brothers, or hurting them, on purpose, outside of training, you will be sorry. You will suffer the same injuries, just 10 times worse. If they die, run." They all swallowed as Ace got this deadly aura around him, before the captain nodded. "We will follow those orders. I will protect them as I do with everybody." Ace nodded and looked at him. "You better."
Ace then took a breath, and the deadly aura went away, before Ace spoke again. "I do realize, that my brothers are growing up, much faster than what I would have liked. They do need to learn how to fight, how to defend, how to be a pirate. You are now going to do this task, and I have faith you will manage. Try and do it without angering me, and we are a long way. Sounds fair?" They all nodded, Whitebeard speaking. "Yes. And you have my word, I will protect them." Ace nodded. "Good, good." Ace then sighed. "I also need to leave, to settle a few things. You will hear from me shortly, I will show back up, if you need me, Sabo knows how to get in touch fast. And I want to know of everything that happens to them. If you're unsure whether I want to know or not, just assume I do." They all nodded, the captain speaking. "We will. Be safe, Ace." Ace nodded. "I'll try."
They then headed outside again, and Ace gave a goodbye to his two brothers, hugging them tightly and saying a few words. Ace then left, and they celebrated, but even though, it wasn't filled with booze, probably since Luffy was here, who couldn't drink yet legally. Well, they were pirates, but still. Ace also probably didn't want Luffy to become a drunken person. And, they were all a bit scared of Ace, at least those who knew who he was. Many didn't know he was an assassin still, which was good. The less that knew, the harder it would be for others to find out as well, like people who shouldn't know.
After a small bit, Sabo looked at him when few were around. "Did Ace threaten you?" Whitebeard hummed. "He just wants you to be safe." Sabo rolled his eyes. "He doesn't need to threaten people! My God! He is so difficult at times!" Whitebeard chuckled. "He is your older brother, I expected nothing less." It was a bit terrifying, that if anything happened to the two brothers, Whitebeard might meet his doom. He knew Ace was much, much, stronger than him. If they really had a fight, he would lose. badly. He could only hope he wouldn't anger Ace. He was actually scared to do so.
When night came, a few still out, Claus came with a Den Den and said it was Shanks, which he took. "RedHair, what is it?" The Den Den hummed. "I heard Luffy and Sabo joined you. Congrats. How scared are you to mess this up?" He was very scared actually, but he shook his head. "I don't think like that, Shanks." The Den Den chuckled. "That scared, got it. Good luck though, you'll need it with Ace watching." He was about to speak, when Sabo did, having come up. "And, apart from you, they won't set us on fire. And yes, Ace is still mad about that." The Den Den gave a nervous chuckle. "I see. Have fun, Sabo. Say hi to Luffy from me!" Sabo nodded. "Will do." The Den Den then went back to sleep.
Whitebeard looked at Sabo. "How did he set you on fire?" Sabo hummed. "Magic trick gone wrong." The captain nodded. "I see. How mad was Ace?" Sabo turned to look at Luffy, who was far away, probably so he wouldn't overhear, before looking back at him. "I think it cost him 5 finger nails, 2 ribs, 2 broken fingers, and a small stab wound. Ace was in a good mood. And yes, before you speak, that is Ace in a good mood. He has done a lot worse. He has made people, strong people, be bedridden for weeks." That made them shudder a bit. Ace was terrifying. But he got it, Ace was stern, really stern. He expected nothing less. He could only hope this would turn out well. That this wouldn't be a decision he would regret. But he could only wait and see how this went.
And that's the first chapter! I hope you enjoyed it!
This was just something small to start it off on, things will pick up in the next one
I hope you enjoyed, and if you want to, I do love feedback, so don't be afraid to leave a review, or send a PM!
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