It was yet another chaotic day in New World, second half of Grand Line where you don't know what's waiting for you the next second. With phenomenons occuring every, what, 30 minutes? There are sayings that the New World is the ultimate nightmare. It's true, though. The Spades couldn't agree more with that saying. It was well enough the death place of a lot of crews, to be honest, but Spades wouldn't take a step back. Never. They already knew what was waiting for them thanks to their captain Ace being there in his ex-life. Ace told them a lot of things, and they had managed to survive through New World long enough for the actual day of meeting Jinbei to come. Though, they hadn't known that. They thought that this was just another New World island but.. Captain proved it wrong.
"Okay, everyone!" The fire user yelled out, gathering his crew's attention. Some stopped and listened to him, waiting for him to continue his speech. Some just continued whatever they were doing aboard, name it be cleaning, training, chatting, just whatever. But they all did keep amd ear up so if this was about something important and not just Ace being an idiot, they could dive into the conversation. Deuce looked up from where he was sitting, his back leaning on to the railings and their cute but dangerous lynx Kotatsu in his lap. He was petting the lynx and though Ace was a little away from them, he could very well hear Kotatsu's purring. The captain grinned and his gaze followed around the ship, looking out for every of his crew members. And then his gaze settled on Deuce's, nodding to the blue haired man he inhaled deeply and continued on.
"Today is the day we fight Jinbei. Though I said we, I will be the one fighting just like I did back then. There will be no disagreements. Now, any questions?" Ace asked. There were a few hands raising up but he ignored them all and grinned mischievously. Deuce shook his head, knowing Ace wouldn't even ask what their questions are.
"No questions? Great!" Ace ignored the many sighs coming from his crewmates as well. He grinned widely and turned to Deuce, who was in the list of those whho sighed. The first mate shook his head and stepped forward to hug him, Ace welcoming the hug happily. After they broke the hug, Ace demanded everyone to not be sad or anything. 'I am not dead yet!', he said..
"Oi, big guy! I want to meet Whitebeard!" Ace declared, as he watched the fishman get closer to him and stop a few steps ahead. The fishman looked at him with an angry expression obvious on his face.
"I'm not going to allow a kid with murderous intents to see Pops-san! I might not be a part of the Whitebeard pirates, but I feel it's my duty to face you!" The Warlord snarled, and took a fighting position after Ace. Smirking, Ace charged forward with a yell of 'Hiken!'.
And so on, the fight begun. Ace attacked, Jinbei dodged. Jinbei attacked, Ace dodged. Sometimes they couldn't dodge in time, and took a hit. They dealed great amount of damage to their opponent- to each other. In the middle of the fight, Ace unfortunately could feel the rising heat in him. Cursing, he continued, ignoring every single pain coming to him Marineford, ignoring every single memory of his family fighting for him. Ignoring all the pain, putting it aside, Ace continued fighting Jinbei.
And, in the end of five days long fight, Jinbei fell unconscious, followed by Ace..
"Ace!" Deuce's voice could be heard, Ace knew it was Deuce, but he couldn't stand up. He was having a hard time breathing. He could feel the pain that 6th level of Impel Down gave.. Shit.
"O-Oi, is that...?" Saber started, staring into a big shade that was coming towards them. Once in vision range, they could see the big whale form in front of them. And on the top, stood Whitebeard and his sons.
"Whitebeard has come!" Banshee said. They all prepared for a fight, taking their weapons out when they heard the strongest man in the world talk.
"Who is the brat that wants to take my head?" The Yonko pirate asked, eyeing them and finally his eyes settled on Ace. Grinning, he jumped down and went to them. Ace was trying to stand up, ignore the pain and continue the fight. Whitebeard effortlessly punched some of the Spades aside and stared at Ace.
"Guys!" Ace shouted for his crew, and in an instant he was up with his fire crawling on his hands and shoulders.
"ENJOUMO!" The logia user shouted as his fires encircled around him and Whitebeard. The fires were crackling protectively, implying Ace's own intentions. He growled, ignoring his crew's calls for him to disable the wall. He ignored them all. He ignored his pain. He ignored the tiredness that his fight with Jinbei gave ignored the pain Impel Down gave him. This was Whitebeard in front of him. Now.. a question came to him. Has he gotten more powerful over those years? He will see.
"What, you gonna run away now?" Whitebeard asked, sounding intimidating as ever. Ace looked up, tried to seem angry, but how could he be angry at the man who changed his life? Who became his father, his family? Behind his anger, there could be seen the hidden love towards the man. He was sure Whitebeard saw it too, seeing the twitch in his eyes.
"I'm letting my crew live. I stand in their place. I won't step back!" Ace answered back, feeling adrenaline rush in his body. Feeling powerful once again. His rapidly crackling and glowing fire was coming back to life, seeming to be more hot.
"What a little cheeky brat you are!" The Yonko declared. With that, Ace shot forward, his fire powers circling on his hand and he yelled with so much determination,
"HIKEN!" The enormous fire punch flied towards its victim. Whitebeard, with almost no effort, hit the fire punch to the ground with his bisento. Ace growled, and ran up to him to try and aim a punch. He was instead met with Whitebeard's bisento. Being cut by it, he fell on his face down on the ground and just laid there. He tried to stand up, fight again, but.. this was all the energy he had left after the five-day fight with fishman Warlord.
"So.. everything is still the same..." He mumbled out, standing on his knees and breathing heavily. He tried to, again, ignore all the pain.
"You still trying to stand up, brat?" Whitebeard asked, enjoying this situation far too much. Ace looked up and met the man's eyes. There was something in Whitebeard's eyes, something that reminded him of old times and old guilt that won't ever leave.
"I'd hate to see you die here, kid. If you still want to fight, then take my name and roam the seas wild and free!" The older captain started with a smile, kneeling down and reaching out his hand to Ace. Ace's eyes widened just a little, his eyes held a gleam one of a nostalgia. He raised his hand, trembling with pain and tiredness, tried to take Whitebeard's hand but failed as he lost his consciousness at the last moment and gave in to pain. He dropped on the ground again, making Whitebeard sigh as he picked Ace up. He looked towards the wall of fire that was only calming down now because the kid passed out. He could see the other crew jumping in and running up to him. But Whitebeard didn't move. There was no need to, he knew his sons would take care of them. So, he turned away from them and walked back to his ship, Moby Dick, with Ace in his hands. On the way he passed some of his sons who were going towards the other crew. He nodded to his first son, the first division commander Marco. The blond nodded back and flew back to the ship. The Yonko captain glanced down at the brat, and could see something in him. Something he noticed very well. The feeling that fighting with this kid gave, was painfully close to someone he had once known, but that could wait until the fire brat woke up. He told one of his sons, the 8th division commander, Namur to not kill anyone and keep them alive and in good condition. The fishman nodded and jogged towards the fight going on.
"So this kid fought Jinbei and actually won?" A woman, most likely to be a nurse if regarding her vibrant pink but mostly white clothes, asked in disbelief. She was talking with their first division commander about the fiery brat that was brought on Moby.
"Yes, he did, yoi. It's fascinating, isn't it? How's Jinbei doing, by the way?" The zoan user said, sitting on one of the many chairs in the infirmary of Moby Dick. Nurse Jas hummed and turned her head away from Ace's asleep form to Jinbei, who was still asleep just like Ace. Though, this was only a few hours after both were brought in and after they were treated for their injuries. Jinbei was in a better shape, on the other hand.. Ace was more hurt, and some injuries might even leave a scar behind.
"He's doing better than the kid. He should wake up today. I don't really know about Ace, it might take up to 2 or 3 days for him." Jas said, making Marco frown. That was way longer than he had expected.
"I see, yoi. I'mma let Pops know about it all. Call me if any of them wakes up." Marco said, and then left after that with a last glance towards Ace. He went to the upper deck and up to Whitebeard's throne, where Whitebeard could be found throughout most of the day with multiple of his sons around him or nurses to aid him. Just like any other day, he found their father and sat with him, on the armside of Whitebeard's throne, his usual seat.
"Yo, Pops." He greeted, and was met with Whitebeard's loving eyes.
"Hi, son. How's Jinbei and the brat?"
"Eh, they will be good, yoi. Jinbei should wake up around today. Not sure about Ace, tho." Marco answered his captain's question, met with a hum from the man. "You are gonna keep him, aren't you?" Marco then asked. He already knew the answer, and was sure when his father grinned mischievously, bur still he asked.
"Of course I will, Marco! Gurararara!" He laughed in his booming tone, making his first son chuckle. He was very happy with the new additions to their crew. The rest of Ace's crew were in their other ship, Moby 2, and all were treated and given the information of their status and where their captain is. Possible ex-captain, but they didn't tell them that.
That night, Jinbei woke up and spoke with Whitebeard a lot. He said Ace was a strong-willed one, really determined and one of his word. He did feel weak for losing to Ace, but acted cool with it. He wasn't angry or anything, it didn't suit for him to be angry at someone who didn't do bad to him. They just fought fair, and Jinbei lost. There weren't any problems. After talking a little more and being given the permission to leave the infirmary, Jinbei took his leave and said he had to go back to Fishman Island. The crew understood and gave Jinbei their good-byes as the fishman dived into the sea below to swim away..
The next day, something unexpected for the nurses at least, happened. Ace woke up. Though, his calculated wake-up time should have been in one or two more days, the brat still woke up and oh was it a surprise.
Head nurse Jas and three more nurses were in the infirmary at that time, because most were aiding Pops' health issues on top deck with Tate in control. The rest, which were really just four of them excluding commander Marco and commander Curiel who were on their duties. They noticed the slight change in their newest soon-to-be brother's vitals, and understood immediately that Ace was showing signs of waking up. So, to not cause any possible future problems, one of them went to inform Marco so he would come. Jas approached him, being the best choice because she already knew of the other crew's situations. She could tell Ace all of them were safe. She tensed as Ace opened his eyes, looking around seeming to aimlessly search for something, or just anything in general. His eyes then settled on her, and he looked like he didn't really care that he didn't know who Jas was or anything. He also didn't seem to care as to where he was. This was technically still an enemy ship for Ace... right?
"...what happened?" Ace asked after a while. Jas didn't even know she was standing right there for five minutes just watching Ace.. creepy.
"You passed out yesterday and Whitebeard brought you here. This is Moby Dick's infirmary and I'm head nurse Jas. I'd like you to not set anything on fire. Your crew is okay, too. They are on Moby 2." The nurse quickly explained, hoping to make it clear there was no threat. Just then, commander Marco came in and walked up to her, watching Ace.
"You have woken up. How do you feel, yoi?" The blond asked as he approached closer, getting a good look at the two and seeming to be relieved. Probably happy the kid hasn't set anything or anyone on fire.
"Oh.. Marco." All Marco could do was stare helplessly, really. Because, this was the same fiery brat he'd met yesterday, who was fighting his father, the strongest man in the world without any fear. And now.. what's with the sudden change..?
"Y..Yea?" The blond tried, ignoring the chuckle he heard from Jas, just staring at Ace. There was a slight change now, Marco could see, but he couldn't fully see what it was. Was he in pain? Or just plain confused? Slowly, he inched back and eyed the nurses, except Jas, and made a move of hand to have them out. And he finished with a glance, and a fast nod towards Jas, which was to let her know he wanted Pops informed. So, Jas left to go to Whitebeard. He then went back to Ace who had been watching silently. Too silently for a D...
"Ace?" Marco tried again. "Are you okay, yoi?" Despite himself, Marco couldn't help but ask. Maybe Thatch was right. He might be a mother hen, after all the worrying.
"Huh? Oh, yea yea! Don't worry.. Uhm.. Where.. are my crew?" Ace finally realized the older pirate was talking to him, and answered back to Marco's fortune. And for the brat's question..
"They are all fine, no worries. Currently all of them are on Moby 2. You will be able to meet them later on if you wish, yoi." He answered somewhat lazily, and could see Ace relax with his words before becoming tense again so suddenly. The kid opened his mouth to talk, the air around the two becoming cold.
"Injuries?" Oh, than tone. The tone alone held so much protectiveness, quite the power and coldness. So, he too could be this intimidating. Though, with those freckles and still childish features, he looked cute to Marco's eyes. Not like he would ever say it. Maybe after Ace joined the family. But, not now.
"Small ones. Those were impossible to avoid, yoi. All of them came clashing with our crew in order to get you back. You have quite trusting crew," Marco said silently. At the nod the kid gave him, he guessed he hadn't touched the kid's nerves. Marco didn't want any fire starting right now.
"Anything else you want to know, yoi?" The commander asked, and watched fondly as the kid went tense, then relaxed, and then gave in with a sigh. After a long pause and blank face, (though the zoan user was sure Ace had a full-fight with himself in his head) the kid looked at Marco. He smiled, 'Well.. I don't have time to play for three months. Might as well take it fast. Deuce and rest would understand... Hopefully.'
"May I talk to your captain?" Ace asked with much politeness. Honestly, Marco was too stunned by that polite change to even answer but hey, he was Marco, so he collected himself and before being able to answer, Whitebeard came in just in time.
"I hear you wanna talk, brat." The Yonko said as he went and stood in front of the two, eyeing his soon-to-be son. Ace felt his heart skip a beat, this was his fath- ex-father and soon-to-be father in front of him. He gave Whitebeard one of his blinding smiles and was returned a wide grin by the man.
"I didn't answer to your question and just fell unconscious." He said, ever so brightly, ever so softly. Ace's words took the two older pirates by surprise, and soon Whitebeard laughed boomingly and looked at Ace with the most welcomimg eyes.
"You're right. Well then, allow me to ask again. Would you take my name and roam the seas wild and free, Ace? Would you be my son and join our family to be our youngest?" Whitebeard asked, love and care all seen in his eyes and once again for the third time, offering his hand for Ace. A smile, soft and nostalgic, creeped on Ace's face. Tears gather in his eyes, as he looks up to Whitebeard. Slowly he inches forward, raising his hand to hold Whitebeard's.
"Yes, Oyaji." He answered. Watched the various expressions on his new -old- family's face as he called his father. 'It never gets old,' Ace thought. 'The happiness of calling you Oyaji, as my father'. He ignored the tears flowing down his cheeks, either they were tears of joy or tears of sudden sadness. Whatever it was, he was here again. As Whitebeard walked forward and hugged him, he felt the warmness increase in him. He was once more in his home. In the arms of his father.
That's it for this chapter! What do you think? I think the talk was lame lol. I tried to make it nicer, but it still turned out to be as boring.. sad.
Thank you for reading! Stay safe! ~