~A~

It was pure horror for me. My comrades were falling one by one, including the commanders. Even Marco was having a hard time, especially after they got those sea stone cuffs stuck to his wrist. It pained me to see the beams of Kizaru's light strike him through. And the old man...That bastard Akainu punched a hole in his chest.

I didn't want to watch. But I couldn't look away. As much as it hurt, I couldn't close my eyes and turn away from the sight.

"Now! All of you! Eliminate Whitebeard once and for all!" Sengoku ordered.

I strained against my shackles as some Vice Admiral's attacked the old man.

"Pops!" My comrades yelled.

"Stay back!" he ordered. He took hold of some of the weapons that protruded from his torso. "You think...this is enough to end me?...I don't need help...I'm Whitebeard!" He swung his bisento, effectively knocking back the marines. "If I were to die...What would that mean? I know all to well...I must stay and watch over a bright future for my sons! I cannot afford to die! Isn't that right, Ace?"

I didn't reply. I didn't know what to say.

~R~

"You're still such a weak brat! Haven't you learned anything from me?" Grace barked. "You're useless!"

Her words stung, but I tried not to let them get to me. I was used to her berating me like that. That's all she ever did most of the time. Sure on some occasions she wasn't that bad, but this wasn't one of those times. Right now I think she really means to kill me. How do I come to that conclusion? Well, the answer is simple.

Her hand was around my throat, and she wasn't letting me get very much oxygen. Even if she wasn't cutting off my air supply, it practically hurt to breath anyway. She definitely gave me a beating. I didn't make it easy for her though. I could see the fatigue on her face, even as my vision began to dim. She as bleeding from a slight head wound, had a bruise forming on her jaw from when managed to punch her, and various other wounds and bruises from my struggle. I was in slightly worse shape though.

"See what happened Rory? You went and got involved with pirates and now look at you. The world hates people like you who choose selfishness over justice." Grace said.

"I don't care..." I rasped. "I don't care if its selfish...to choose my friends...over the rest of the world. I only live for people...who actually care about me!" I said.

I felt her grip falter and loosen just enough for me to breathe. I couldn't quite read the expression on her face. Shock, anger, longing, stubbornness...Somehow all those things were present, and so much more. Grace suddenly threw me to the ground. I landed hard, getting the wind knocked out of me. "Why do you have to be so much like him...?" she whispered. It sounded pained.

Who?

I gasped for breath and struggled to sit upright. I looked up at her. I couldn't even begin to understand what she was thinking when she turned away. "Get out of here..." she said suddenly. When I failed to respond she snapped. "Go! Before I change my mind!"

I abruptly stood up, an action my didn't appreciate judging by the spike of pain I felt. I ignored it though. Right now I had a chance to get back in the main battle and help everyone save Ace, so I ran to the battle field. Thanks to Observation Haki I learned how to sort of use, I had an idea of what was happening. A lot of people on Whitebeard's side were wounded, but we were still fighting.

I stumbled once I got back to the plaza. I looked on in awe when I saw the explosion near the platform.

I saw Ace and his brother emerge from the flames. A smile automatically formed on my face. "Ace!" I exclaimed happily. Everyone cheered for Luffy. I was so relieved, I was tempted to sink to my knees and rest, but I knew we weren't out of the woods yet.

After all, for a little while now I was getting that unwelcome danger warning. I didn't even want to think about who it was for. I looked at Whitebeard's wounds and saw how grim they were. He stopped Squard from sacrificing himself, and what he said after that didn't reassure me.

"We have succeeded with what we came here to do. There is no reason for us to stay any longer." the old man said. "Now, listen up! This is my last order as a captain! So listen carefully, crew!"

Naturally no one wanted to hear this 'last order'. I gritted my teeth.

"This where we go our separate ways! You must go and return to the New World safely!" No one wanted to hear it, bit he kept speaking. "I am only a relic of history! I don't have a place on any ship sailing to the new era!" He gathered all his energy into one powerful attack. "Now go my children!"

~G~

That old bastard! He plans to sink the whole island! I cursed him. This is my last chance to cross blades with the man I've been hunting for almost twenty long years. My last chance...

I didn't take it.

Instead I thought about what a certain someone said to me in the past. "Do what you want for once."

I watched in silence as Akainu taunted Fire Fist Ace. I watched the pirate fall. I watched Akainu go after Strawhat Luffy.

"There's nothing wrong with doing something that makes you happy."

I took out my pistol that held sea stone bullets and aimed carefully.

"It's okay to be a little selfish once in a while, Gracie."

I pulled the trigger.

~A~

"Luffy!" I shouted. I heard a gunshot as I leaped in front of my brother, followed by a pained grunt from the magma man that threatened him. I intended to take the hit, but hit but it never came. I barreled into my brother, knocking the both of us out of the way.

"Grace!" Akainu growled. I looked back for a split second to see the admiral glaring heatedly at the woman holding the gun, while he held his own wrist.

"Come on Luffy!" I said. I looked up to where I saw Rory standing nearby, directly across from Grace, on the other side of Akainu. "Rory! You too! Run!" I didn't have to tell her twice. She ran. I got up, supporting Luffy's weight, and followed after her.

I looked behind me, at Grace. She an I made eye contact, and I swear I saw her give me a slight nod. I didn't get a chance to analyze it though.

Searing hot pain bloomed on my back and I fell.

~M~

"Oi! Get them out of here now!" I ordered. Both Ace and his brother received some serious wounds from Admiral Akainu. I wasn't about to let him get away with hurting then anymore than he already had.

Jinbei came and picked up the Strawhat kid while some my crew came and got Ace.

I looked at Rory. "Go with them. You don't need to see this part."

"But-"

"Rory...Go with Ace." I said firmly.

She hesitated, looking towards Pops, but gave in and ran to catch up with Ace.

"I already told you, they won't be leaving here alive!" The magma man said. He moved to attack them again, but Pop's came to the rescue. He was angry. And Akainu was about to feel his wrath.

I stood back along with the rest of the crew as the old man beat the marine admiral with ease. Even with his wounds, he was still the strongest man alive. Anyone could see that. Pops used his earthquake power to create a chasm in the ground. The marines wouldn't be able to follow us, but he was on the other side with them. People started heading for the ships, despite the fact that we didn't want to leave the old man behind.

And then he came. The one that essentially started all of this when he killed Thatch. He's here, and he had some dangerous company.