Hello everyone! Here is the next chapter!
I really hope you enjoyed the last chapter's event and found it interesting, and now we are moving on as other things happen
I hope you enjoy
Read and relax
Whitebeard sat out on deck, enjoying a day that seemed good, full of sun. They were in new waters, and he had been told there was some fog here that could hold dangerous reefs, so to be careful. So, they weren't sailing full speed, just in case. He didn't want to risk capsizing. That would be bad. His children were all excited to be roaming, and he was himself. Almost everyone was out, Ace too, but the other two assassins, Trevor and Mika, were on a mission and would return in a few days. It was something missing without them, so he was waiting for them to return.
As he was enjoying the day, he noticed Ace and looked at him. "Have you been here before?" Ace nodded. "Yes. I am familiar with these waters." Well, not that surprising. Ace was probably familiar everywhere to some degree.
As they were sailing and Thatch mentioned wanting to dock, Ace hummed. "Close to us now, there is a somewhat decent sized island we can head to." Whitebeard nodded. "Are you familiar with the island? Can we restock?" Ace gave a hum. "I am very familiar with it. And to a small extent, yes, we can restock." Whitebeard nodded. "Are they bad off?" Ace shook his head. "No. But, only two live there." Whitebeard blinked. "I thought you said it was decent sized?" Ace nodded. "And it is. But years ago, there was a virus outbreak, everyone left, beside them. They are a bit odd, but they are very nice. And, I haven't seen them in some time." Whitebeard nodded, sounded good. "We can visit." Maybe Ace hadn't had the chance to visit them, so this would be nice for him as well.
They then headed the way Ace said, and they soon met very heavy fog, but Ace guided them, before they then docked when they reached the island, and there was a small village by the dock, which had him frown. "I thought you said only 2 lived here?" Ace nodded. "And I am right. As I said, there was an outbreak of a virus, everyone left, beside them, and it became abandoned, but they stayed. They are really nice." Made sense, so they headed to the house there that seemed to have been kept better than the other houses. And the house was a large house, he could fit if he ducked in the doorways. Some other half giants must have lived here before on the island, most houses seemed large. Some even larger than this. Ace moved into the living room and looked around. "Calle? Gustav?" No answer, so he tried again, louder, still no response. Ace then looked at them. "Stay here." He said, before he moved to the stairs and went up the stairs and they looked a bit around.
Haruta then frowned as he went to a table in the living room and lifted a letter. "Pops," She said as she turned to him. "It is addressed to Ace." Whitebeard frowned. "It is?" Haruta nodded and showed the letter, an envelope, and on it, it said 'To whomever find this, most likely Ace'. This might be why Ace couldn't find the two who lived here. He then turned, on his way to call for Ace, when he came down the stairs, a solemn look on his face. When Ace turned to look at them, the captain spoke. "We found a letter, addressed to you." Ace nodded and went over, taking the letter, before he opened and read it, and when he had read it, he closed his eyes as he gave a breath, moving his hand to his face.
It made him frown. "Did they leave?" Ace sighed. "No, or, kinda. Mutual suicide." That made them all blink. "Why?" Asked Thatch, and Ace sighed. "Calle was sick, they didn't want to go on without each other. Now, let's loot, they let me have their stuff, we can take everything. Don't go upstairs, I'll handle that." Whitebeard nodded, and then they went to the chore of taking everything. As he looked around for something to take, he heard Haruta give a small gasp and he turned around as she spoke. "Oh my, so cool!" She said as she moved a hand to play some tangents on a piano. That made him blink, before he made a decision. "Let's take the piano. Why not." Ace really liked to play it, and he had a few more who knew how to play it.
Thatch nodded. "Where do we put it?" Whitebeard thought for a bit, trying to find a place. "How about in the store room next to the infirmary? We can change it into a music room, it is large." Everyone nodded. "Sounds good." Said Thatch, and they then looted the island. Ace knew where everything was, and Ace also handled the second floor, where the two bodies were. Ace said it had to do with respect. And the captain agreed. They must also mean a lot to Ace if he gave them this much respect. But then again, Ace was a very respectful person.
They then looted the island, Ace telling where things were, and where not to go, since there were traps here and there and to be generally careful. And they were. He also noticed Ace seeming melancholy, but didn't want to bring it up while everyone was here. He would talk with Ace later.
For now, they would loot the island.
-x-
Marco walked into Ace's room, where Ace was, and he gave a somewhat worried look to Ace, and he had a feeling this whole thing was weighing down on Ace. Marco looked at Ace. "You okay, yoi?" Ace nodded, before he sighed and shook his head. "You know what, no, I'm not. I don't get why they couldn't have called me. I would have liked to say a proper goodbye. Oh God, I even need to tell Luffy and Sabo. They will be so sad, especially Luffy." Marco nodded, before he got an idea. "Might be a stupid idea, yoi. But what if we give them a rightful death? A funeral, yoi." Ace sighed. "They have already been dead for a long while." Marco nodded. "But still. Let us go ask Pops about it." Ace nodded. "Okay."
They then headed to Pops, and Ace looked at the man. "I know you never met Calle or Gustav, never had one interaction with the island, much less them. Would it be too much to ask to give them a funeral? I think Luffy and Sabo would have liked that, to be able to say a proper goodbye." Whitebeard nodded and gave a comforting smile "Of course we can. We will arrange it. How about tomorrow evening? Unless you want it tonight?" Ace shook his head. "Tomorrow, gives me the chance to get Luffy and Sabo and bring them here." Whitebeard nodded, that made sense.
Ace then went to get them, while they started the preparations. As Ace was gone and most were busy and away, Marco looked at Pops. "Thank you, yoi. I think this means a lot to Ace." Whitebeard nodded. "I felt that as well. I get Luffy and Sabo will be glad to be able to say a proper goodbye, but I feel Ace also will enjoy that." Marco nodded. "I feel he is actually very upset about this, yoi." Whitebeard sighed. "I do too. Hopefully a funeral will help." Marco nodded, he really hoped so.
Ace then went and got Luffy and Sabo, telling that it might take some time as he didn't want to just show up and say 'Calle and Gustav are dead', even though they would know something was up. And he got it. Ace left that evening, and would return in the morning or afternoon, and then they would have the funeral when evening came.
As the clock reached 10, Trevor and Mika appeared, and after welcoming them back, Marco looked at Trevor. "Also, do you know about a Calle and Gustav, yoi?" Trevor nodded. "Yeah. You're not far away…. wait… are we here? Oh yes! I love those guys! Ace loves them!" Marco nodded and sighed. "I am sorry, but they have passed on. We are having a funeral tonight." Trevor sighed. "I see. How did Ace take that? He really liked them." Marco nodded a bit. "Yeah, he says now he is fine. But I asked if he was okay before and he actually said no, yoi." Trevor nodded. "That's not that surprising." Marco nodded and waited for more, when Trevor didn't continue, Marco spoke. "Why? Ace didn't tell me much about them, other than that they are nice."
Trevor sighed. "Yeah. Ace has always been a bit of a loner, he has. But after meeting Calle and Gustav, Ace… bonded with them, especially Calle. This island is their home, the reason they stayed, but they don't want new people to come here, as they like their privacy, and not the friendliest. And Ace liked that, but then Calle did one day have this serious talk with Ace, basically saying 'don't do like us, be social and friendly'. And Ace took those words to his heart. Calle never regretted staying here with Gustav, and Gustav didn't either. But they didn't want people to follow in their footsteps, it is lonely. No one deserves to be lonely. I have a half feeling Ace went here after Azuruko's death, and they made him come back to us. But I don't know."
Marco blinked. "What do you mean made him come back to you, yoi?" Trevor sighed. "Ace disappeared for some days, we were sure he would never come back, at least not come back to us. Then he does. I think I owe that to Calle and Gustav." He didn't know this. Trevor looked at him. "Where is Bunny? I just want to make sure he is fine." Marco sighed "He's getting Luffy and Sabo." Trevor nodded. "They will be sad too." Marco nodded. "Did they really mean that much to Ace?" Trevor sighed. "Yeah, especially Calle. And I don't know if you knew, but he was sick, probably what took his life, maybe Gustav got sick too. Even though it wasn't contagious." Marco sighed. "No. They left a letter for Ace, yoi. It was mutual suicide." Trevor blinked. "They killed themselves?" Marco nodded and Trevor moved a hand to his face. "Oh boy."
Marco now felt he missed something. "Is that bad, yoi?" Trevor sighed. "It may be." Trevor didn't continue, so Marco felt worried. "Why, yoi?" Trevor took a breath. "Calle was sick, but might have lived some more years, although they wouldn't be good. I knew he wanted to go out on his terms. Not the world or the sickness terms, his terms. I am very worried how this might affect Ace." Marco used a second, before it hit him, and it hit him hard. "You think he might… yoi?" Trevor took a breath. "I don't know, I hope I am wrong, I do. But I know Ace would want to go on his own terms as well. And they meant a lot to him. God damn! Why didn't they call! Why do this!" Trevor took a breath and calmed himself. "Just, keep an eye on Ace, in case. I will as well." Marco nodded, and he would.
Trevor sighed. "Also, don't tell anyone I am thinking this, I don't want to worry everyone." Marco nodded. "I won't, yoi. Thanks for telling me." Trevor nodded. "You can keep a better watch than me. You're his husband." Marco nodded, that was true.
Then they readied the last things for the funeral, getting the bodies and preparing them. It wasn't much to prepare, as they had been dead for a really long while. But, everyone deserves a funeral.
When Dust apparead a bit later, before Ace appeared with his brothers, it was a silent reuning with Luffy and Sabo, as Sabo looked melancholy and down, and Luffy was outright crying. Ace was also more silent than usual, and had a neutral look on his face, not giving away any emotions. Beside his eyes, which looked melancholy and worn.
They didn't speak much, but everyone gave their condolences to the three brothers, before evening came and they had the funeral, sending the bodies out in a boat together, before firing a flame arrow, and then watching as the boat burned before there was nothing left. Ace had a few words to say about Calle and Gustav, and they seemed like really good people. He was glad they managed to have a funeral for them. He felt this meant a lot to Luffy and Sabo, but it also seemed to mean a lot to Ace. This was most likely much harder on Ace than he would let on. And Marco got it.
-x-
Whitebeard sat out on deck the next day, enjoying a calm day, almost everyone was out. Luffy and Sabo had stayed until this morning and left a few hours ago. And after a bit, things being calm, Trevor came out and he seemed somewhat stressed. "Okay! Please tell me someone here knows where Ace is, because I can not for the life of me find him!" Whitebeard frowned. "No. He said an hour ago he would work on some paper work in his room." Trevor took a breath. "And I was just there and no Ace." Izou moved a hand a bit. "Maybe he got some urgent work?" Trevor took a breath. "I hope so! I need to speak with him!" Thatch looked up. "Ask Dust? He's there." And they all looked up at the mast, and yes, Dust was in his nest, giving a caw.
And Trevor looked at Dust. "So, do you know where he is?" Dust seemed to be thinking, before he cawed and shook his head. "Trevor nodded. "Please tell me he isn't blocking you?" Dust nodded and cawed, and Trevor gave a swear, making him worried. "Is anything the matter?" Asked the captain, and Trevor took a breath. "I don't get why he isn't here or why he is blocking Dust, but I don't like it." Whitebeard blinked. "Why would he be blocking Dust?" Trevor shook his head. "I don't know. Usually does it when he does something he knows we would disapprove of." That didn't sound good. Not at all.
It was an hour later that Ace came out on deck, looking like his normal self, and Trevor crossed his arms. "Where the hell have you been?!" Ace hummed. "I was at Turu." Trevor blinked. "Why didn't you tell?! And why did you block Dust?!" Ace hummed. "I didn't tell since it was a small emergency which was corrected fast. And I didn't block Dust, Devil Fruits doesn't work there." Trevor blinked. "No, they do. That is not North or in a phenomenon." Ace hummed. "You're right, but they kept the seastone tower, to keep everyone at a more base level." Trevor blinked. "Oh…" Ace nodded. "Yes, 'oh'. Why are you so upset about this? I don't need to tell you my every move, do I?"
Trevor blinked. "Well… no." Ace nodded. "I don't. I don't get why you are so upset about this either." Trevor just shrugged. "I didn't know where you were." Ace sighed. "Again, don't need to tell you each move." Trevor shrugged before the day went on.
-x-
Later that day, Marco sat in his room, working on some paper work, Ace also there as he was reading a book. And as they were relaxing, Ace hummed and looked at him. "Also, what's the deal with Trevor? He freaked out." Marco nodded a bit. "Want me to tell the truth, yoi?" Ace gave a dumb look. "No, I want you to lie. Of course I want the truth." Marco nodded. "Don't tell Trevor I told, as I promised not to, yoi. But basically, he was worried how Calle and Gustav's death, their suicide, would affect you." Ace rolled his eyes. "Are we back again on this suicide thing? I'm fine!" Marco gave a small chuckle. "I hope you get that we just want your best, yoi. We don't want to lose you." Ace nodded. "I know, I know. But still, can we move on?" Marco gave a nod. "We can try, yoi."
Ace shook his head a bit. "You worry too much." Marco gave a small chuckle. "Maybe we do, yoi." They probably did, but he was glad things were calm.
-x-
Whitebeard looked at his children dotting around and enjoying a good day, even those on duty had a smile. Today was just one of those days that was perfect. It had been some sad days, after having the funeral for Calle and Gustav and then Luffy and Sabo being here, Luffy openly being sad, but Sabo trying to act normal, but he could see him being sad too. The same he felt with Ace, he felt this had really affected Ace as well. So, Whitebeard did his best to help everyone through this and just be there for support, but he couldn't make others open up if they didn't want to.
Whitebeard gave a breath, as he thought back to the funeral. Calle and Gustav didn't have many around them, but had a few, who were close. And yet, they hadn't told anyone of their plans. But he got it a bit. Calle was sick, and might not want to be pitied, or end up slowly withering away with the sickness. Keep his dignity. Had this been a year ago, or half a year ago, he wouldn't have understood it like he does now, after the test Bay had done last month, and he had made her promise not to tell anyone about it, not until the time fit. But would there ever be a time that fit?
Whitebeard looked at his children, them unaware of his thoughts of concerns, unaware about what would happen soon, as Whitebeard knew there was no cure, not anymore as it had progressed too far. Whitebeard had very limited time, and he didn't want to worry his children, make them sad or pity him, but he needed to tell one day. Whitebeard felt at a small loss on what to do, he didn't want to tell anyone, but they would soon notice as he was feeling his strength growing less and less, feeling more sick.
Whitebeard was dying, and there was no cure.
And that's the chapter! I hope you enjoyed this
And I know, that end, I know. I am an awful human being and just mean, but I need to torture you a bit too
If you have any ideas, don't be afraid to share them!
I hope you enjoyed, and if you want to, I do love feedback, so don't be afraid to leave a review, or send a PM!
If you also want to, I have a Twitter, my name is Azuruko, and I have a discord, my tag/username is just azuruko, as well as a server (Instant invite: discord . gg / 6hzMhbR) where everyone is welcomed! Updates is also posted there, both on discord and on twitter