XXX
"I have little time to talk to the likes of vermin today." Whitebeard said as he answered his den-den.
"I assure you, you should make time for this vermin." Came the voice from the other line and something about the self-satisfaction in the tone sent uneasy chills up the old man's neck.
"What did you call to bother me about today?" He demanded.
'You know what this is about,' a small voice at the back of his brain told him. 'You know there are only a few reasons that Teach could be this pleased with himself.'
"I guess if you are busy I can call back later," the man continued.
"Do not play these games Teach, speak or stop wasting my time."
'You already know,' That awful voice nagged again.
'No!' He thought to himself. 'I do not know.'
His first and second division commanders had not checked in for a few days. Which was extremely odd behavior for Marco especially. The last news he had heard was that Ace had gone missing. But that was quite some time ago. Anything could have happened since then. Something that would explain the excited glimmer in Teach's voice.
When the other man still did not speak Whitebeard finally asked, "What have you done with my commanders?"
"That depends on which one you are asking about," the smug tone was back.
Whitebeard clutched the den-den so tightly it threatened to break as he growled, "What have you done!"
"What I told you I would," The other bragged. "You shouldn't have gotten involved old man. This was between me and Ace!"
"You made this between us when you Betrayed My Crew! When you Betrayed Thatch and used our connection to betray Ace and his family. This was never anything other the personal!"
There was a low sound from the other end as Teach began to laugh.
"Is this a joking matter to you?" Whitebeard demanded some of his legendary anger creeping into his voice.
"No, no." Teach assured him. "I guess you have a point. This really is personal for you isn't it? Except you got one thing wrong."
"I told you I have no time for your games."
"Oh it's no game," He assured. "I was simply going to mention that your connection with Ace wasn't the one I am exploiting."
"What?" Whitebeard asked not following.
"No, the recognition I'm after is much… grander than your own," He decided. "It seems like our own little spitfire had some pretty large skeletons in the family closet. In fact he was secret keeping for a few families."
"What do you speak of?"
"Well I guess you will have to ask him that won't you," Teach said matter-of-factly. "After all I'm sure there is a perfectly logical reason that he didn't trust you and your crew enough to tell you."
Whitebeard ignored the goading as he spoke firmly, his tone demanding an answer he asked, "Ace. He's all right then?"
"Right enough," came the flippant reply and Whitebeard felt the worry that had been creeping its way up his spine momentarily cease. That was until Teach continued;
"I can't say the same about the other though."
The world seemed to lurch to the side for a horrible moment. Marco was? No, no that wasn't right.
"You lie!" He growled darkly.
"Nope," Teach told him. "This time it's nothing but the truth. I'm afraid I had my men deal with your phoenix as punishment for getting involved."
"Like your weak men would be any match for Marco."
"Well it seems as if they had a few tricks up their sleeves. I never said it was a fair fight."
"There are no such things as rules in a fight between pirates," Whitebeard snapped. Marco knew that. He would never get tricked by such cheap tactics."
But the satisfaction in his tone never wavered as he spoke. "Well if you are so sure of yourself then where is your commander hmm? Haven't seen him in a while."
The cold dread was back.
"Marco will return." Whitebeard told him. He always returned, no matter how dangerous or impossible the mission was. His most loyal son never failed to come home.
"Well then, if you won't take my word for it I guess we shall see then won't we? Do let me know if your prodigal son returns. Wouldn't that be a neat trick!"
Whitebeard felt his temper flair at the audacity of his old crew mate. After his absolute betrayal and kidnaping of his crew. It seemed like he would go to any length to cause the maximum level of harm. Anything to get his fame. Anything for this idiotic legacy of his.
How had he not seen it all these years? The glimmer of evil residing in that man. All that time spent on this ship and he didn't even understand Whitebeards simplest and most basic of principals; all that fame and fortune was worth nothing if you were alone. You could hold the world in your palm and it might as well be ash if there was no one you cherished left in the world. But Teach seemed content to burn every bridge he ever made. He had abandoned everything the moment he caught sight of his goal. Whitebeard recalled weeks earlier, in the days following the disappearance of Thatch, when Marco had remarked to the crew that this oversight was everyone's burden to share. But if that were true then the bulk of the blame rested on his shoulders. For it was he who had allowed such a heartless man passage on his ship. He had put his children all at risk and he had been ignorant of it all these years. Even now as his precious crew payed for his mistake, suffering and bleeding, he remained wholly intact. The consequences of this so called 'group-over-sight,' seemed to fall on the shoulders of Thatch, Marco, Ace and the kid. No matter how much he wished that were not the case there was little he could do to change that. They were a strong group. He knew that. All of them capable in their own right. Tough as nails and brave enough to withstand what the evil mastermind had in store for them. But that didn't mean Whitebeard worried for them any less.
Moments passed before he spoke again. His tone calm and collected but underlined with fury.
"You are a very spiteful man," He told Teach. "I do not believe you can understand the concept of trusting in others when all other logic fails. Or what it means to put the lives of those you care for above your own. And that will be your undoing."
"My undoing!" He gave a harsh laugh. "Save your worries for your own crew. It is better suited for a wide eyed group of exploitable pirates like the ones you seem to collect. What you fail to realize in all you're preaching of family is that it doesn't make you strong. It leaves you open for blackmail and manipulation. Why look at yourself. A legend like you forced to converse with one such as myself out of fear for your underlings. Look at Ace who I forced to abandon his home to follow my every order, and even Marco who tore after him despite the danger because he couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to Ace. You aren't stronger together. No, it's the opposite. Beating a crew like yours is easier than winning a game of chess. It strategical. Something you are seemingly ignorant of."
"Chess?" Whitebeard laughed at that. "No boy, this is not chess. Not when you play with people's lives as you are. You'll find people make very poor pawns. They don't move about as you've ordered. With an attitude like that it figures that you will underestimate us at every opportunity. You underestimate Marco, you underestimate Ace and you overestimate your own capacity to control situations. And I don't believe I have any more time to play with a snot nosed brat such as yourself."
He was about to hang up the Den-den when Teach responded.
"Is that what you think? Well the next time you see Ace ask him where his loyalties lie. Whether it's with the crew he's known all of a couple months or if it is with his little brother, the one he raised and cared for himself. We will see then who and who is not an obedient little pawn."
The line went dead with a click.
Whitebeard stared in shock for a moment before he too hung up.
'No,' he decided. Friendship and family wasn't like that. It wasn't an all or nothing endeavor. The only rat on his crew was the one who had revealed himself. Now he had to go tell his crew the news. All the while wishing his son's were staying safe and staying sane.
XXX
Hours later as Teach unlocked the captives door, loudly complaining about incompetence, Thatch was waiting for them. The lackeys had unlocked him from the pipe hours ago and in turn he had broken one of their arms and badly bruised the other one's jaw. That had felt good. It had been satisfying to pay them back for their underhanded fighting. But it had meant that they were now too scared and 'injured' to do Teach's dirty work and Teach had been forced to do it himself.
"-should put a bell on you," Teach muttered as he shut the door carefully behind him. He asked louder, "do you want a fight? Is that it."
"No," Thatch told him uncrossing his arms as he gestured for him to give him Luffy. Who lay unmoving in his arms, fresh blood on his face.
"Not that I don't want to knock your smug face into the ocean one of these days. Today it seems like that wouldn't end well for me." Not that he hadn't thought about it. More like fantasized about bashing the man's head in every day since he had woken up in that awful cell. But he knew it was not the time for that. Even if he did manage to win despite not being able to fight off two lackeys without them taking advantage of his still healing injury. Then there would still be a ship full of pirates between him and his goal. Not to mention protecting Luffy and-They Were Still On a Ship! Not many places to escape to here.
He gestured again to take Luffy, more insistently this time and Teach handed the abused boy over. Thatch took him, with much more care then Teach had been using, and laid him down gently on the bed behind him.
"What did you do to him this time?" He asked as he tried to wake the kid up without getting any response.
Teach watched his old crew mate move about. Doing his best to care for the kid whom, up until a month ago, had been a stranger to him.
"You really care for him don't you?"
"Not everyone is as psychotic as you," Thatch responded.
"Why is that?"
"Because you sold your soul already."
"No!" He said annoyed. "Why do you care so much? This dumb brat is Ace's burden not yours."
"Well," Thatch said turning away from Luffy to meet Teach's beady eyes. "I don't expect you to understand this but Luffy is a good kid. Much better then you will ever hope to be. I don't want to see him- nor Ace get hurt any more then what you have already done to them."
The man scoffed at that. "Is that it? You're so incredibly noble. All of you are just so above me. Is that really what you think! Then why is it that you're in here. Where did your nobility get you?"
Thatch only stared at him.
"I could spend a year explaining it to and you would still never understand."
"Then I guess we don't have all that much to talk about do we?"
The man turned back to the door. He still had phone calls to make and things to do. Everything was taking shape before him. His wildest dreams, once too abstract to dare to think of, were now unfolding before him. He could see it like a map in his head. What he had to do to achieve absolute fame and power. And he would do it too. All with the help of the crew he had spent so long traveling with. It were like the heavens themselves were personally arranging his destiny. Everything he needed was lining up neatly in his path.
The boy. He glanced back over his shoulder to where Thatch was still trying to wake Luffy up, patting his cheek and shaking his shoulder. All the while the kids face was deathly pale and he didn't so much as stir. The boy would mark the start of his fame. Teach would use him to open doors to the world government. Separate his name from the hundreds of other power hungry fools on the ocean. All of them too stupid, too weak and narrow minded to do what needed to be done for the chance at true power.
"He is alright," he told Thatch from the door. "But he won't wake up for a while. If he starts to suffocate bang on the door." And with that he left, shutting and bolting the heavy door behind him. After all he had better things to do then converse with his captives. So long as they were still breathing then he didn't care what happened.
Luffy and Thatch were his leverage, tokens to be used like a child at a candy store. He could barter them away. Ace was his trump card, someone who would boost his status just by association, regardless of if he killed the young man or turned him into his follower. And then there was Whitebeard. Taking the old man's head was what would turn him into a legend. The kind that would be remembered long after as someone great. Someone who may one day go on to become the next great pirate king.
XXX
"Sir, this just arrived for you."
The fleet admiral looked up in anger at the officer that dared to interrupt his work. The intruder was young and understandably nervous to be here, even more so when he saw the others face.
"Whatever it is you should report it to your immediate superior," He told him turning back to his work.
"Urm, I did so. He took it up with his boss and his boss's boss. They said you ought to take a look at this."
Sengoku looked up again regarding the young man once more.
"What's your rank and position?"
"Uhh, well I'm just a cadet. I work in the- the mail room."
"Well cadet, why are you wasting my time?"
The man shifted uncomfortably. "We got some mail. Or more like anonymous mail. I think there's information in it. Well of course there's information in it what I meant was- I think it's something you would want to read."
No wonder they put him in the mail room. "Give it here then," He said holding out his hand in permission for the man to hand him the letter. In messy handwriting were the words:
.
What is the only offspring of the revolutionary Dragon worth to you?
- Marshall D. Teach
.
"Sir," The cadet asked.
Sengoku was silent for a moment before he spoke.
"Go, research everything you have on this man. Get the other cadets to help you. I want to know everything."
The man nodded, turning towards the door before hesitating. "Do you reckon its real then?"
"It's impossible to say," He told him stiffly. "Go now."
Without further protest the young man left, leaving the commander alone with his thoughts. He put down his pen pushing the notes away with a sigh.
'Real?' almost definitely. Sengoku would have been much more skeptical if he had not overheard Garp telling a lieutenant weeks ago that his grandson was missing. And when Garp who was an extremely poor excuse for a guardian was worried then it was almost definitely serious.
It was a shame for his colleague. It wasn't that Sengoku didn't feel remorse. On the contrary he sympathized with the man. He too knew what the pain of loss felt like. He knew Luffy was more like a son to Garp then his own was. But at the same time he knew that the same blood that flowed in his father's and foster brother's veins, flowed through Monkey D. Luffy's veins as well. That boy was bound to be a huge amount of trouble if he chose the wrong side. And from what Sengoku could gleam without ever meeting him was that he had no loyalty to the world government.
It would break the vice admirals heart to pieces but it had to be done. Anything to protect the sanctity of the world government.
XXX
So a lot of you were asking what the heck Blackbeard was thinking doing this to everyone so I decided to write a little bit about what was going through his head. At least in this version he is a total self-righteous narcissist who believes everything he does is justified because he outsmarted them. He couldn't begin to empathize with them because their actions seem illogical to him. But even if he could he would prioritize his own goals over everyone else.
Any who I'm sorry about the late update, I have been doing a lot of non-fanfic writing lately. But to make up for it I am currently finishing up chapter 23 so that should be posted sometime in the next few days. And if any of you are thinking; where are you going with this? Get on with it already. Well then you might like the next few chapters. Alternatively if you are thinking; wow this is darker then I signed up for. I hope they immediately rescue them. Then you might not like the next few chapters so much.
Thank you guys for hanging in there.
XXX
Kitsune Foxfire: Well not intentionally. I'm really glad you liked it! Thank you for the kind words!
Sofia Du Ciar: Yea… I promise they will some time! I'm not sure about the other two, I am thinking about them haha. Thank you for the review!
Naliyu: I was going for the feels. I'm glad it seem to work though! Except for the being sad part. Thank you for the review!
SarahPrincess: Is that one of the Whitebeards? Gosh there are so many I can't keep them strait.
Thank you for the kind words! In the cannon I think their friendship was beautiful (tear). They both love each other so much. More on this next chapter! Thanks for the review!
Guest #2: Nothing I am just mean. I shall, I shall. (but it might still keep being sad)
allen p: Aww thank you. That's sweet.
SoulMore: !
Pause143: Wow thank you. I am really glad you like the story. That is kind to say. Luffy is special character. I promise your worry will not be for nothing. They will reunite and it will be sweet. And the Whitebeards will be sweet too (they have to be nice to him now). I promise I have planned scenes with exactly that in there, where they are surprised by how close the two are! Just have to get through the sad stuff first. Garp is coming up next chapter. I'm not sure about Makino and Shanks. I will not! Thank you for the encouragement.
anigirl15" Sorry, but I'm glad you are still with it.
yuzukikuran476: Yes! I promise. And Update I shall.
Guest #3: Who? What's stone?
Mel72000: Aw thank you.
Jordansdevil; Yes! But in a bit unfortunately.
Watching the rain fall: Of course! That's why I'm here. Sorry to make you sad. I made me sad too.
DemonKittyAngel: What? What's a mill? What's an Ace?
Yea, Teach sucks. He is digging his own grave. I agree, Sabo will love Luffy to death.
Unfortunatly not quite. It will go into it next chapter but Ace didn't hear any of that. But he still feels equally awful and is getting his own slice of torment for what's happening. And Thank you! I'm glad someone saw it! I thought I spent a million hours drawing it so my roommate could go 'which one's the girl?'I promise we will! I am excited to write it. Thank you for the kind review.
yukino76: Indeed they will! And thank you.
JJJJ: Yea… it might be a bit. Not that he doesn't deserve it. That guy is the worst!
Guest #4: Aw sorry. Poor Luffy : ( And thank you! Happy B-day. Not quite, but they will be in the next one which I am currently writing.
WolvesInTheNight: I know right! So many things have changed in that time! This story is like a touchstone for me haha. I'm glad you stuck with it! And still like it! Thank you for
Cactus: Haha your reviews were a journey. I'm glad you like it and read it all (very quickly). 1st) off Luffy is such a sweet heart. He and Thatch are sweeties together. And Strawberry smoothie bathtub oddly specific but I like it. 2ndly) Yes! Three years' worth of chapters. This story is going to be long yikes! 3rdly) Yea… more on that a bit later. It gets a bit complicated. And Thank you I'm glad you liked it. Same here. The three of them are too sweet and precious. I promise they will be at the end!
MR97: Thank you! And to answer your question Platypuses can hold their breath for up to two years under water while hiding from lions.
GabyRose-12: Okay, but let me ask you this? Why would the unicorn willingly leave the stable only after dark?
Kjashel: I like to think that death is a state that exists in us all. To be death we must first be alive. And to live is to fully accept our own mortality. For no one can truly feel alive without recognizing the eventuality of having not been. It's a paradox?
choco-muncher100: Thank you! And yes, Luffy's life isn't going to get much easier for a little while. But Blackbeard will get what he deserves! And thank you! Hopefully it won't be too much of a wait before chapter 23.
RedHeadsRock1010: Aw thanks. That's sweet to say. No, unfortunately their not. But thanks for sticking with it.
Bunnyprincess90: No! Luffy loves his brother no matter what! I think that was just reflecting his own fear of Ace leaving him, but it's open for interpretation.
Sakihinata: YES! Of course. He is a tough little cookie. He finds a way to pull through. Dragon will be clued in fairly soon.
Tinajp: Aw thank you. I'm sorry to make you sad. I made me sad too. They really love each other (sniff). No, that's in a few chapters. But I promise there will be plenty of that later on. Thatch is there to give him hugs! Yea, I will try to update a lot on this one this summer. Thanks for the review!
Avalayn: I don't actually know. I'm thinking he might, but nothing is official in the story of not so I still have soon wiggle room. We shall see!
Enjali: It's still a little ways away. Somethings need to happen first. But I hate him too!
MelodiofHope: Indeed! Go Ace.
EmeraldEyed: !