Chapter 32

Three Years Later

"Law!" Penguin yelled.

Law looked up from his book as Penguin came charging into the lounge with Shachi. They both looked excited, their eyes gleaming, while Bepo stumbled in behind them, grinning brightly.

"We have news!"

Law sighed and sat down his book. "Let me guess, he's finally shown up?"

Shachi turned the poster around in his hands and laughed. "He's got his first bounty!"

Wanted Dead or Alive – Monkey D. Luffy

Law smirked. "I wonder how long it will take him to join us on the Grandline."

"The little squirt has grown a little bit, huh?" Shachi grinned.

"We all know you've been one of his biggest cheerleaders out of the Heart pirates, Shachi," Ikkaku teased as she walked past, handing Law a cup of coffee.

The angel. Ikkaku was now Law's favourite once again, just behind Bepo.

Bepo was his ultimate favourite in their crew. Forever and always.

"He's a pain," Shachi huffed, crossing his arms. "It's a miracle he's even made it to the Grandline in the first place."

"Or just about too," Law mused. "If my timing is correct, he should be in Loguetown right now."

.::.

Sabo groaned. "Why is Luffy about to be executed by Buggy?"

He stared up at the platform, debating if he should interfere or not. Yes, Buggy was known to harass all East Blue pirates, or at least the newbies, and none of them ever died. Just were probably mentally scarred for life, but still, Luffy was his little brother. He probably shouldn't let a clown bully him too much.

Oh, never mind, it looked like Dragon was going to beat him to saving Luffy. How handy.

.::.

"Luffy's got his first bounty!" Ace cheered. "I can't believe it. He's not even been out for that long either."

"Rahahahaha, he was always quick," Rouge laughed. "Little menace, he's probably terrorised half of East Blue by now."

"So this is your little brother yoi?" Marco peered over his shoulder. "Looks like quiet the happy kid. Look at that massive grin."

"What a squirt," Whitebeard grumbled.

"Everyone is a squirt to you, you fossil," Rouge teased. "But in this case I agree, I can't believe you all choose to sail out at seventeen," she sighed. "Sabo was supposed to be the reasonable one, but he's the one that came up with that stupid promise!"

Ace grinned. "We like to keep you on your toes, Mum."

"At least Law left a bit later." Rouge crossed her arms. "You terrors. You'll give me grey hairs."

"Can a ghost get grey hairs?" Haruta asked.

"Dunno, but somehow these kids will manage it."

"Are Thatch's division still plundering that ship from earlier?" Izo sighed, sitting down on the steps across from Eddy's chair. "They're taking forever."

"Zehahahaha, it's their turn after all," Teach laughed, sitting down next to Ace. He didn't bother to look at the bounty in his hands, instead looked over at the enemy ship that had attacked them earlier today.

Dumbasses. Who would look at the Whitebeard pirates and go 'let's attack them' without some more intel? All the Commanders and Whitebeard himself had been on the Moby Dick too. This time it was Thatch's and his division's turn to plunder the ship, and they were certainly taking their time with it. It had been a few hours now.

"I wonder if Banshee found anything nice," Cornelia mused, sitting down by Ace's other side. "So this is the little nightmare we've all heard about?" she teased, smiling warmly.

"Yeah, he's started off with such an amazing bounty, huh?" Ace grinned.

"How in the world did he get such a big bounty already in just East Blue alone on his first try?" Cornelia sighed.

"He's a bit of a troublemaker," Ace laughed. "But according to the newspaper, he defeated quite a few big time pirates in the area- Hold on, hey Mum, he even got Buggy!"

Rouge groaned. "Really?"

"I didn't know that blue clown was still alive-" Eddy began, but Rouge glared daggers at him.

"Don't be rude otherwise I'll wash your mouth out with soap," Rouge scolded. "Buggy was one of my kids back in the day, and still is now."

Rouge had never told Whitebeard about Buggy testing out newbie pirates in East Blue, or about how he wished to stay in East Blue because it was safer and he wanted to protect his crew from the horrors of the Grandline. It was quiet frankly none of Eddys 's business. She had told Ace not to spill anything either, nor that Buggy was still in communication with Shanks.

Shanks and Buggy kept that quiet for a reason. Neither of them would blow their secret, no matter how much they trusted the Whitebeards.

"As if you could, you little brat," Whitebeard grumbled.

"Wanna put a bet on that?" Rouge grinned.

Eddy looked just as eager, but Marco shook his head.

"No. You're not allowed to fight today yoi," Marco scolded. "If I have to insert those needles back into you again I won't be happy, Pops."

"Spoilsport." Both her and Eddy complained.

"We're back!" Thatch announced cheerfully.

He and his crew were lugging a bunch of treasure and food on to the Moby Dick, but what interested Rouge the most was what was in Thatch's hands.

"You got a devil fruit?" Haruta gasped, racing up to his side to study it. "It looks kinda of angry."

"Oh yeah, it's definitely creepy," Thatch said, wincing. "I was surprised it wasn't sitting in a dark corner cackling to be honest."

"That would be horrific," Izo mused. "Do you know what it is?"

"No clue," Thatch admitted. "Not sure what I'll do with it to be honest."

Rouge went to speak, but froze when she caught sight of Teach's expression next to Ace. He looked like he had been starved for weeks, and had finally found his first meal. Okay, that was weird, a bit creepy to be honest, but maybe Thatch would give it to him or sell it at the very least? She'd talk to Thatch about it later, see what he thought. Maybe tonight? She better give Eddy a heads up too, because it was very worrying that neither he nor anyone else had noticed that look on Teach's face.

"Maybe you'll turn into a goat," Ace suggested.

"Why a goat?" Thatch blinked.

"First thing I thought of admittedly." Ace shrugged his shoulders.

"Maybe a shadow man?" Haruta suggested. "Not like Moria, more like you're made out of them?"

"That would be pretty cool." Ace grinned.

"I wish it was something that would go more with my twin blade theme or my cooking. I hate to be called 'Shadow Thatch' or something else cringy-"

"Shady Thatch," Marco teased. "Scaring people in dark corners in the middle of the night."

"Damn you." Thatch glowered.

"Yeah! Shady Thatch!" Haruta cackled.

"I vote for it." Ace threw him a thumbs up.

"NO!" Thatch squawked.

"Guarararara! Maybe take some time to search on it first, son," Eddy said. "Our library might have some more information, or maybe Haruta and her division could investigate further on it."

"Sounds like a plan, but first things first, I'm gonna make dinner," Thatch said.

"Oh, I can show you Luffy." Ace grinned.

"He's got his first bounty?" Thatch beamed. "Way to go! How did he do?"

Rouge waited until the deck began to clear as everyone went their separate ways before she approached Eddy. Whitebeard glanced over her, and frowned, his brow furrowing.

"What's wrong?"

Rouge stretched out her haki, but nobody was lingering around, and those nearby weren't close enough to hear them except Marco.

"Teach had a strange look on his face when Thatch showed us that devil fruit."

Whitebeard's frown deepened. "What do you mean?"

"The best way I could describe it was as if he was a starved wolf who had seen his meal for the first time in weeks," Rouge said softly. "It made me nervous of all people."

"Perhaps it's a fruit he is after?" Eddy mused. "I'll talk to them both about it soon enough, perhaps tonight when people are settling down. That will give Thatch a bit of time to think more on what he wants to do with the devil fruit."

"Fair enough I suppose." Rouge nodded, crossing her arms. "I just have a weird feeling something is about to kick off."

Whitebeard sighed. "I had it the moment that fruit was brought on board, but we shall wait and see. I'll have a chat with Teach and Thatch tonight when Ace's division begins its patrol. I'll have Ace send Teach to me first."

"Sounds like a plan." Rouge grinned. "And if they fuss too much I'll just boot that devil fruit overboard and save you a headache."

"Guarararara, sounds like an even better plan!" He turned to Marco who had been listening the entire time. "Can you call Ace back over for me once he's done telling everyone and anything about his brother?"

"That will be a while then, Pops," Marco snorted, amused. "And I'll keep and eye out on Teach and Thatch too yoi. The seas forbid they start fighting over a piece of fruit like unruly children."

"Would be amusing sight to see," Rouge chuckled.

"Atmos, have you seen my brother's bounty yet?" Ace's voice called out from outside the kitchen way.

Marco groaned.

"I know right? I'm so proud!" Ace yelled cheerfully, and headed their way. "Gotta find Deuce-"

Pops grabbed him before he could wander too far, pulling up to the arm of his seat. "Before you do that I need a favour, Ace."

Ace blinked then grinned. "Sure, what's up, Pops?"

"Before you send Teach out for a patrol tonight, can you send him to me?" Pops asked. "Him and Thatch actually, if you bump into him first tonight."

Ace tilted his head. "Sure." He eyed them all. "Is everything alright?"

"It will be yoi," Marco said. "We think Teach is interested in that fruit Thatch got though, so we just want to check up on them."

"He is?" Ace paused. "Thatch always said Teach would like the invisible one, but guess he was wrong. Oops." Ace laughed. "Well Thatch would probably just give it to Teach to be honest. Thatch keeps complaining that the fruit was freaking him out the entire time I was in the kitchen. He even said it looked like it was going to eat Luffy's soul from the bounty poster. That's how bad it got."

"He is a bit dramatic yoi," Marco sighed.

"Guarararara, surprised anyone wants it in that case."

"Banshee threatened to launch it overboard if it kept making her nervous while she was cooking, so Thatch had to chuck it in a drawer," Ace explained. "None of the chefs have went near it since."

Marco groaned. "They are supposed to be grown pirates..."

"So Deuce is your next target to show off Luffy's poster to?" Rouge asked.

"Yeah, already ambushed Finamore with it on the way over here." Ace grinned.

"He should be studying in the medical bay," Marco offered. "Have fun yoi."

"Thanks!" Ace jumped down from the arm of Whitebeard's chair. "I'll send them both to your room tonight before patrol starts."

"Thanks, son."

"Do I need to be there too as Teach's commander or shall I just start patrol immediately?" Ace asked.

"You can stay on patrol," Eddy said, ruffling Ace's hair. "It won't take long."

Hopefully not, but if both Rouge and Eddy were dreading something that had just stirred in the world, then she had a horrible feeling things were just about to get worse.