Hello everyone, here is the next chapter
This story is so close to being 1 million words, and I have no clue as to how that happened, and I am so glad some are still into this story as I for some reason still have many ideas and people have requests
Also, if you haven't, be sure to check out Ace of Spades One Shots, where One Shots are posted for this story, both scenes not shown, the past, and different scenes that are different there, and I do take requests!
Or! Come check my new story connected to this! It is called Ace of Spades Alternative! And in this, Ace doesn't join the Whitebeards, but someone else does instead
Hope you enjoy
Read and relax
Whitebeard watched the ocean, them sailing again towards the north, wanting to travel to a new place. Ace did say they could, nothing too bad should meet them, but two islands were in a place where Devil Fruits didn't work, but there were others where it did work, and he guessed they would just head where the wind sent them. They could survive without their Devil Fruits; they had before. And the next day, Whitebeard felt his powers leave him, and guessed they were at the line where it stopped working. There were still some hours to the island here Trevor had said. When he asked if he or the others had been here before, all said they hadn't been there for at least 5 years, when they had helped the island with some small trouble. They had no idea which state the island was in, but hopefully it wouldn't be too bad.
When they did arrive hours later, the island seemed fine, and he and a small group headed on the island, which included Ace and some commanders and people from different divisions. As they had gone a bit far away from the dock, they winded up in a fight they didn't instigate. But as they were fighting, one man managed to get the upper hand on Izou and broke his arm it seemed like and it had him furious. Then, just as he was about to fight the man who did this, a woman threw something towards them which exploded in a green cloud, before things went black.
Whitebeard blinked his eyes open, and was confused for a second, before he remembered what had happened and looked around to see himself on a floor, his children strewn around himself, some awake, but most not. When he looked more around, he saw that he was in a cell, a guard by the door, and Ace was chained out of the cell for some reason, seeming to try and get loose from his chains, being chained to the roof and legs barely touching the ground. That didn't look comfortable. He then got his bearing more right, and it seemed like everyone was fine, as in not more injured. Izou was awake and was favoring an arm, his left one probably still broken.
He then asked if those awake were fine, and they said yes, but were worried about what to do now. He didn't know himself, and heard Ace sigh. "Easy, we get out. How, still trying to figure that out." The guard gave a hum. "You're stuck. Let's just wait for the boss, he has a plan for you." That didn't sound good. More people soon woke up, and he still had no idea why Ace wasn't in with them. Ace did look fine though, still fighting his chains. They were probably seastone, but not the strongest based on how he could move. After a few minutes, the door opened and a man came through, and gave a look to him. "Hello, Newgate. You're a powerful man, and you got some info. But I have a feeling on how to make you talk." Whitebeard didn't like this. And he had no idea what the man wanted either, but he wouldn't tell him anything anyhow. "I won't tell you anything! You just try!" The man chuckled, walking over to a drawer. "Music to my ears. So, you will know what's going to happen is all your fault." Whitebeard frowned, not sure what the man meant, but didn't like it.
The man then took some pliers out of the drawer, and gave a look to him. "Last chance." Whitebeard shook his head, about to speak when the man did. "Fine, that's all fine." The man then moved over to Ace. "Hi there, a little kid on the big pirate ship. You also got a big reputation for someone so young." Ace lifted an eyebrow, and he was sure he wanted info from Ace too. When the man chuckled and looked at him. "You know, I heard that the youngest always has a special place in a parents and siblings' eyes." Whitebeard still didn't know what that had to do with anything. And he didn't know what info the man wanted.
The man then moved his hand to Ace's jaw and pressed down, using the other hand to force the pliers inside. Ace did try and fight against it, but couldn't do too much. The man then tugged his hand and a tooth came out with a small scream. Then it hit Whitebeard, the man was going to torture Ace to get info from him. He didn't want to see this. He didn't want this on Ace.
He tried to think what the man wanted, when he hummed. "Since I am not hearing anything." The man moved a hand to Ace's jaw again and the pliers inside. And it had Thatch yelling. "Stop it! He's a child!" The man nodded. "Which is why he is going first. Younger ones spill first." The man didn't stop and while Ace tried to move his head, the force grip he had was better, before he seemed to force the pliers deeper inside before he pulled it out with a tooth. It had Ace give a loud painful sound. The man nodded and moved to look at the captain. "So, now, ready to talk? Or do I need to take more?" He was about to speak, to ask what he wanted, which info he wanted, when Ace gave a look, before he spit blood on the man's face. It had the man nod as he wiped it away, before he quickly grabbed his jaw again and forced the pliers inside. Many of them screamed out, wanting him to stop. Ace didn't deserve this. The man then pulled another tooth, and Ace gave another pained sound, eyes closed. When the tooth was pulled, Ace panted, and the man grabbed him by the jaw again, and he was sure another tooth would be pulled, when he moved Ace's face towards him, blood dripping down his chin. "Now! Talk!" He was about to speak up, but Ace spit blood in his face again. The man growled and used the other hand, which held the pliers, to slap Ace, hard, and he heard something break, Ace's face moving with the hit as it was so hard.
The man then growled and threw the pliers to the ground, and looked at the guard. "Make sure they stay, just going to let this sink in, and then we will up the game." That really didn't sound good. The man then left, and Ace panted, closing his eyes as he seemed to be in pain. The guard actually looked disgusted and moved so he had his back to Ace, actually seeming to feel bad for the young kid, but still had them in his vision. But as the man had his back turned, Ace soon looked at the man with a stern look, before he carefully moved to slip his shoes off, which had him confused, but he didn't want to speak, and kept the others from doing the same. As the shoes were off, Ace moved his hands to grab onto the chain above him, before he moved his legs up and over the guard's shoulders and used his legs to strange him, the man trying to fight against it, but Ace soon moved his legs in a snapping motion and the guard fell down, most likely dead.
That was good, and as he was about to speak, knowing the man would come back, Ace moved his now shoeless foot to the man's pocket and got a key out, before he, very flexibly, moved his foot with the key up to his chains and unlocked them. As he was loose, he moved to spit blood out, before he moved a hand to his jaw as he unlocked their door and took their chains off. As they were off, Marco moved a hand to Ace's jaw. "Hey, let me look, yoi." Ace shook his head. "No, it's fine." All of them looked at Ace in disbelief, and Ace gave a small laugh . "Okay, it actually hurt really bad, and I think he broke something." Ace then moved a hand to his mouth and a couple fingers inside, flinching, before his fingers came out bloodied. Ace nodded. "Definitely broke something." Ace then spit more blood out.
Whitebeard gave a worried look. "Are you sure you're okay, son?" Ace nodded, moving a hand to his jaw. "Yeah sure, just probably can't eat normally for a while, took back teeth both on the left and right." That really didn't sound good. As everyone gave worried looks, Ace waved his hand. "It will be fine. Just have to get away from this place and I will get new teeth." Okay, that was true and he nodded, and hoped they would get away soon. Ace then massages his jaw. "Although. I wish he took the front teeth, that doesn't hurt as bad." He didn't know that.
They then headed out of the room, Ace trailing a bit behind, saying he wasn't in the mood to fight, and they soon met guards they took care of, before they found some weapons, and got the info from a man where they were and took them, before they got out. When they were almost out, the man from before met them, and there was a somewhat hard fight, but they made it. And when they got out of the building, they met the rest of the family, including Trevor and Mika, who blinked when they saw them coming out. "We were just about to go get you out." Whitebeard blinked, that made sense. Ace hummed. "Couldn't have been half an hour earlier?" Trevor shrugged. "Have been to 4 other buildings. Why do you have blood on your chin?" Ace gave a small sound, hand moving to his jaw. "Damn bastard took my back teeth. And broke something." Trevor nodded. "Nice. Let's get you to Bay." That sounded to be the best, but Ace shook his head. "Not in the mood for infirmary right now." Trevor rolled his eyes. "You're never in the mood." Whitebeard gave a small frown. "Ace, son, you should." Ace shook his head, not saying anything.
Trevor sighed. "Can we meet halfway? Bay comes to you?" Ace seemed to think for a second, before he nodded, but again, didn't speak, which he found weird. Trevor sighed. "You really need Bay. You're not speaking, meaning your jaw hurts. I am sure he broke something." Ace just gave a look to Trevor, and Whitebeard got it. He must be in real pain. They then walked back to the boat, where Trevor asked someone to get Bay to the galley, where they headed. It took a minute, but Bay soon came, and gave a look to Ace. "I am only doing this because I know you hate infirmaries. Don't get used to it." Ace nodded and Bay checked it, Bay asking Ace to open his mouth, which he did and Bay checked it out, before she clicked her tongue. "Broken jaw, not the joint, thankfully. Not a complicated one, you'll be fine, just be a bit careful." Ace nodded. "Okay, I will." Bay nodded, before she put her attention on Izou, who also had a break that wasn't complicated, and got a cast. The rest just had some bruises, Ace was the worst off.
They then rounded everyone up, before they set sail, just wanting away from this island. When dinner rolled by a bit later, Ace took a bite of a bun, and as he had and did the first chew, he closed his eyes with a painful sound and moved a hand to his mouth, making everyone look at him worriedly, when Ace took a painful breath and looked at Trevor. "I forgot about the teeth and bit down and now ithurts really bad." Trevor gave a laugh. "Yeah, I know that feeling." Ace nodded and moved his head down to the table, hand on his jaw. Trevor moved a hand to clap Ace on his back. "It'll pass." Ace nodded and lifted his head, looking up as it looked like he had tears in his eyes. That must have hurt a lot to have Ace almost crying. He hadn't cried when he lost his teeth, which he felt awful for. Ace then took a breath and moved his hands. "Okay, I'm okay." Ace looked okay now, and he felt really bad for Ace, that he was the one they chose to take the teeth from. It should have been him.
The day then went by, Ace speaking minimally, but he seemed fine, which was good. He was also speaking more and more, the pain probably ebbing away. As evening rolled by, he headed out on deck around midnight, and found Ace by the railing, and invited him to his room, Ace giving a small chuckle to it.
When they got to his room, Whitebeard gave a breath, looking at Ace who was sitting down in a chair. "I'm really sorry about what happened." Ace shook his head. "No, it's nothing." Whitebeard shook his head. "Ace, they took your teeth, very brutally, and broke your jaw." Ace gave a weak snort, hand moving to his jaw. "Yeah, cuz it's not like it still hurts." Whitebeard gave a breath. "They did it because of me, not you. I am very sorry." Ace shook his head. "Don't be. I am also glad it was me." Whitebeard blinked, before he frowned. "Why are you like that? That was horrible, Ace." Ace nodded. "Yes, but imagine they went for someone else, like Haruta, or Izou, or Rakuyo. I don't think they could have handled it as well. It does really hurt when they do it, and then it hurts for a while, especially when you eat or drink, or just anything that comes in contact with that place. Not my first rodeo." That was somewhat true. "But even so, I feel horrible." Ace shook his head. "Try not to. It wasn't that bad. They could have done worse." Whitebeard blinked. "Like what?" Ace shook his head. "Just worse. Not that this doesn't hurt, it actually hurts a lot, but I've been through worse." That was probably true. He had seen a bit of what Ace had been through.
Whitebeard sighed. "I am still sorry, I should have given what he wanted." Ace gave a weak chuckle. "You didn't notice how I spit in his face every time he wanted you to speak?" Whitebeard blinked. "Well yes, you did." Ace nodded. "And I did it so you wouldn't speak, so he would be more preoccupied with me than you." Whitebeard frowned. "Why would you do that?" Ace shrugged. "Don't want to give away information to bastards like him. So I made sure you didn't get a chance to speak." Whitebeard sighed. "I wish you hadn't, Ace. All of that was horrible." Ace shrugged. "Again, it could have been worse." Whitebeard nodded, but still felt bad.
Whitebeard looked at Ace. "Probably not an appropriate question, but if you had to choose between this and, I don't know, a brand." Ace hummed. "Brand. That doesn't hurt as bad actually. People just assume it does, and then people are like 'you now have their mark on you', and I don't think like that. It is just a scar, like the others." Whitebeard nodded, it actually did make sense. "You know, if I was just half as strong as you, I would be much more than what I am now." Ace gave a small chuckle. "I don't think I am that strong." Whitebeard shook his head. "But you are. You handle things so calmly." Ace shrugged. "Been through it before. I hate it when there is something new, but thankfully that isn't often." That was probably also true.
Whitebeard took a breath. "Probably also an inappropriate question, what's the newest thing you've been through?" Ace thought for a second, before he nodded. "I won't say when though. But there was this liquid- still don't know what it was- and they make you inhale its fumes, and at first, nothing. But then, it feels like your lungs are on fire, like you can't breathe, like you're underwater, but you're not. And it lasts… I don't know, I couldn't keep track of time, it was just… horrible." Whitebeard nodded, he had a feeling this was while Ace was with them. "I am sorry you've been through that." Ace shook his head. "No, it's okay. I got through it." Whitebeard nodded. "Yes, you did. Which is why I think you are a strong person." Ace nodded. "I met this guy once, who said that if I had common sense, I would curl up and die. And I said 'I don't have common sense'. But I do think he is right. I just never did that, and I don't know why." Whitebeard nodded. "Because you are a strong person." Ace gave a snort, but did nod. "Maybe I am." Ace truly was.
They then spoke about this and that, before Ace blinked. "Did you feel that?" Whitebeard frowned. "Feel what?" Ace chuckled. "We just passed the line, where devil fruit works. Finally! The damn pain will be gone, and new teeth by breakfast." Whitebeard blinked, and yes, he could feel his powers were back. That was good. Ace then moved a finger inside his mouth, before he nodded as he removed it. "Doesn't hurt." That was really good. He looked at Ace. "I'm still sorry this happened to you. I wish they went after me and not you." Ace gave a half nod. "He was kinda right though, the youngest are usually the easiest to get to spill." Whitebeard sighed. "I have a feeling it is not the first time you've heard that." Ace shook his head. "Yeah, you're right. Not the first time I've heard it or the first time they've chosen me." The captain gave a breath. "I'm still very sorry. For everything." Ace shook his head. "No, it's fine." Whitebeard shook his head. "No, it's not. None of this is fine." Ace gave a weak chuckle. "You sound like Benn." Whitebeard gave a small chuckle himself, before he moved his hand to Ace's side. "Are you sure you're fine?" Ace nodded. "Yeah, I am." That was good.
The captain then brought his hand back, and gave a breath, glad things were fine. "What do you want to talk about?" Ace gave a hum. "Don't know. I could probably have sung a song, but my jaw still kinda hurts, since it broke." Whitebeard nodded, he got that. "How is speaking?" Ace hummed. "It might sound weird, but I use my jaw a bit differently between speaking and singing." Whitebeard nodded, he had never really sung much, so that was probably true. "I hope it won't hurt too long." Ace shook his head. "Give it a few hours and it will be fine." Whitebeard nodded. "That's good." Ace nodded. "Yeah." He then sat and spoke with Ace for a bit, before Ace headed to sleep, or relax, needing to do that so he would heal faster.
He still felt bad for everything, and would try and repeat Ace's words in his head. They would have gone for someone that wasn't him anyhow he felt like, and while it was bad it was Ace who was chosen, he had a small thought that agreed with Ace. But, he would try and make this up to Ace somehow, as this was his fault.
And that's the chapter, hope you enjoyed
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