I hope you all enjoyed the last chapter!
~Ace Acting~
Sabo lay back on the lawn chair next to the navigator's attempting to get a tan close to the one Ace had. He was dozing off, a smile on his face as he thought back to the other day, when they revealed him to the crew.
Sabo walked out onto deck as Usopp called out for everyone's attention. There had been a stunned silence, as the crew tried to grasp what they were seeing. Sabo still hadn't put his shirt back on, and was going around with his chest exposed, and with his hair the way it was and his top hat missing, he could accept their shock. It didn't take long for someone to move, and he wasn't surprised to see it was Luffy.
He felt the boy launch into him, clinging tightly to the blonde turned raven. "You look awesome!"
Sabo chuckled. "Thanks Lu."
"You look like-" Nami began before stopping.
Sabo looked at her. "I know, that's the point."
"If you were a natural raven we could definitely see the resemblance between you brothers." Sanji mused.
Sabo nodded. "My biological father," He spat out in disgust. "Had hair a similar color to Luffy and Ace's."
"Really?" Chopper asked in wonder.
"I got my biological mother's blonde hair," Sabo answered the child's wonder.
"Black looks good on you," Nami commented.
Sabo laughed. "I agree. I do prefer blonde though."
Sabo felt Luffy's arms tighten around his neck as the young raven leaned in closer to whisper in his ear sadly. "I prefer blonde also."
Sabo smiled sadly before whispering back. "I know, Lu."
They were currently traveling towards an island that had one of the few marine bases in the New World, and were planning to meet a small party from the Whitebeards as they neared it. Sabo wasn't quite sure how they planned to meet up secretly with the Whitebeard pirates, the marines would spot one of their ships easily.
"I see a boat." Usopp shouted from the lookout.
Sabo sat up as he watched several people run to the side of the boat to find the ship. Franky stayed at the wheel, Nami joining him in preparation for an escape if needed. Sabo stood and joined Robin and Koala at the railing, seeing a boat was indeed tied off to a small clump of rocks off the shore of an island.
He blinked as he saw no one near the boat, and no signs of life around it. Robin was watching also, seemingly unfazed as Nami called out to them to be careful. They sailed the Sunny near the group of rocks and Sabo watched as Zoro and Sanji jumped onto the rocks to investigate. They came back with nothing and Zoro suggested heading for the island for an answer, which Luffy excitedly accepted as a good idea.
As they approached the island to anchor near it, Sabo saw movement in the tree line. He held a hand on Luffy's shoulders as Zoro and Sanji tensed as well. Luffy didn't seem too worried as he grinned out at the island, excited about going ashore for an adventure. Sabo paused as he found a figure walking out onto the beach in a casual way, hands in pockets, eyes locked on the ship.
He looked over the figure taking in the unusual hair style and clothing, before his eyes landed on the man's tattooed chest. He recognized the Whitebeard's mark easily, and the man's appearance finally clicked together. He was shocked to see the first division commander standing on the shore before them.
The man waved to them before turning back towards the forest, seeming to call to the rest of his group. Sabo watched as a taller man came out wearing a suit and a top hat, twin swords at his waist. Next to him was a smaller male figure compared to the top hat wearer. This one it took Sabo a second to see as male, since he was dressed in female clothes.
"Marco the Phoenix, Flower Sword Vista, and Izo," Koala whispered in shock.
Zoro glanced towards Sabo. "Big names came to meet us for this prank."
"Best to let them on." Robin moved to speak with Nami.
The navigator nodded and called for the three on the beach to climb aboard when ready. Sabo watched as Marco easily flew up to the deck of the ship, showing off his spectacular Phoenix form. Izo and Vista easily jumped onto the deck, staring the straw-hats down, the cross-dresser's eyes did flicker to Sabo once though. The gunman held the package he carried tighter, as he examined Sabo.
"So what is it exactly that you wanted, yoi?" Marco questioned.
Robin stepped forward. "We want to play a prank on the world, and Sabo here has kindly offered himself as the prank."
Izo studied the revolutionary. "That is a pretty good dye job."
"You could tell?" Usopp asked, looking at Sabo to inspect his work more carefully.
Izo nodded. "I help the crew when it comes to such tasks."
Robin moved forward to speak with Marco. "We wish to have Sabo approach the marines on the next island."
"How?" Marco watched her carefully.
"I'm sure you've read the paper involving the events of Dressrosa."
Marco nodded. "I have."
"So you know that Sabo here claimed the Flame Flame fruit."
Marco frowned. "I do."
"We decided to see if Sabo really did look like his brothers and dyed his hair black and styled it similar to Ace's. With the fruit's powers and his looks he can pass for Ace." Robin pointed out.
Izo scoffed. "He'd have to have more than that. I've heard stories of the famous chief of staff of the Revolutionary Army. No offense but you sound nothing like Ace."
Vista nodded in agreement. "When you came to Ace's grave I saw nothing resembling you two as brothers."
Sabo sighed as he stepped forward, Luffy staying close to him and not meeting any of the Whitebeard's eyes. Sabo smirked at them, and he saw them falter, as he replicated Ace's smirk.
"What the hell are you guys talking about that I can't copy my brother?"
Nami blinked. "That sounded a bit crass for Ace."
Sabo looked at the navigator. "Really?"
"Ace was really polite when we met him, great manners, how you normally act."
"Ace?" Sabo blinked.
Nami nodded. "Yeah."
"He was crass with us a lot, he acted childish a bit, but respectful." Vista agreed with the straw-hat navigator.
"Ace?" Sabo looked to Luffy for confirmation.
Luffy laughed and nodded. "Makino taught Ace manners!"
"Ace had manners?" Sabo shouted aloud.
Luffy nodded. "Yeah."
"I was gone for ten years and Ace develops manners?"
"It took him a long time to fully get through the lessons." Luffy admitted after a bit.
Sabo stood there trying to figure out a way to prove he could act like Ace. His brother may have learned manners and grown, but he was still reckless as hell. Sabo smirked, a smirk the Whitebeards had seen a lot when Ace was up to something. Luffy blinked as Sabo leaped away from him and towards Marco, aiming a punch at the man.
Marco quickly grit his teeth before dodging, moving to attack the blonde. As he did he saw the young man move to target Vista and Izo as well. He paused as he watched the man fight the other commanders, amazed. He had watched Luffy and Ace fight together at Marineford, and had seen how similar there styles were yet unique. This man hadn't been around his brothers in years and yet his style was still very much the same.
Marco smirked before launching at the boy, using haki to quickly pin him to the ground. The boy was strong, but he still didn't match up to the phoenix in experience. The boy didn't struggle against him, only smirked up at the first division commander.
"You fight like him."
Sabo nodded as he was released. "We trained together. Ace and I were pretty even in our fights."
"I can see that."
Sabo watched Marco. "So?"
"If anything you're just as reckless." Marco laughed before nodding to Izo.
Izo moved forward and grabbed Sabo's face. "That scar needs to be hidden. Also Ace does have a darker complexion then you, not by much though. We'll also need to give you some freckles."
"What about clothing?" Robin questioned.
Izo glanced at her. "I brought some of Ace's clothes that we still had, I also grabbed his knife and hat as requested. Nothing is to happen to them got it?"
"We'll make sure nothing happens." Sabo promised with a nod from Luffy.
Izo nodded. "Show me where I can work on him then. I have a lot to do before we arrive."
Robin smiled. "Follow me."
Sabo allowed himself to be led back inside the ship, and towards the girls' rooms once again. He wasn't looking forward to this guy putting makeup on his face, but it was needed. Luffy seemed reluctant to see him go, but the younger raven had seemed to be understanding. He knew Luffy had to talk with the Whitebeards about something concerning Ace's passing, he felt bad that his brother was facing this sooner then he thought he would.
~End ch. 2~
Yay Marco, Izo, and Vista arrive. I didn't want all of the Whitebeards to arrive, I figured if anything someone is protecting the island where Whitebeard and Ace's graves are so no one defiles it, like Blackbeard or someone just as disrespecting. I'm not sure if Marco is still acting as First-division commander or not, or if he is officially the new captain, seeing as he was first-mate, so I kept calling him a commander.
Next chapter is Izo working on Sabo! Then the real fun starts when they reach the island!
Till next chapter!