Hi guys! Here is another chapter!
I know, I haven't touched this story in 4 years, I know. But I kinda abruptly ended it since I was unsure of my writing and ideas, so, I am opening this story again and finishing it as I had planned to
We will also meet some other characters later, not in this chap though, but they will come into play as I had planned all those years ago
I hope you will enjoy this
Read and relax
Thatch walked towards the Hell trees, Ace with him. And Ace was looking around and seeming interested in the surroundings. When they came close to the Hell trees, they were also close to a pit, where souls were, in their eternal doom and pain. When they could see it, he saw Ace looking a bit shocked, so Thatch did his best to avert his attention to him, to not focus on the damned. And Ace then gathered some flowers and leaves, before they went back, Ace having a smile. Ace actually smiled very little, and he loved to see the smile.
A couple weeks later, things went normal. He did his best to bond with Ace. Ace also spent a lot of time in Marco and Ace's room, as well as sleeping in a lot. Ace was probably just settling still. This was a lot for him, suddenly being a demon and all that. He really liked Ace, and was glad Marco had found him. Ace was just lovely. But still, a thought in him felt Ace deserved more. If he hadn't sold his soul, he could be in heaven with his brothers. He tried not to think of that, but still, Ace could live in eternal happiness and not be down here in Hell. He felt a bit bad for Ace, but would try not to think of it.
-x-
Marco hummed as he ran into Thatch in the hallway, and asked how Ace had been, as the two had been together earlier, and Thatch said it went fine and they had fun. Marco was glad Ace was opening up, growing more sure in himself and getting confidence. Ace was so timid, but he was getting better.
Marco looked at Thatch when he spoke. "Also, I love Ace, I am very glad he called on you and you accepted and all that. And I still regret everything I did to him at the start. But I also sometimes think it might have been best if you hadn't answered. So he could have eventually gone to heaven and be with his family." Marco got that thought, before he sighed. "Ace… wouldn't have gone to heaven if I didn't answer or accept, yoi." Thatch blinked, before he frowned. "What? Why not? He had a pure soul, that's like the whole reason you got called and not a random demon. Like, you need to be utterly pure and a good person, a clean soul, to manage to summon you." Marco didn't know how to respond, when Thatch moved his hand a bit. "Okay, what am I missing?" Marco gave a breath, before he decided to tell.
Marco looked at Thatch. "You can't tell anyone about this, yoi. Okay?" Thatch nodded, looking confused. "Okay, I won't, I promise." Marco nodded and sighed. "You've said Ace seems… shy and careful, yoi." Thatch nodded and Marco continued. "That is since he has been very depressed, and still is a bit depressed. Losing his brothers, it was hard on him, and then his friends thought he needed space and therefore stopped texting him, yoi. Ace felt so alone, was sure no one cared about him, and had no one to reach out to at all as he didn't want to seem like a bother- common with depression- but then he decided to try and call a demon, to sell his soul so he could just get a friend."
Thatch nodded. "Okay. That makes sense, he seems a bit depressed at times, he stays a lot in your room and sleeps a lot. But still, if you didn't answer or declined, he could go on until his death and get to heaven." Marco sighed. "Here comes the part you can't tell anyone, yoi. If it didn't work, Ace was going to end it. He was going to kill himself, as he saw nothing ahead of him."
Thatch took those words in, before he looked at him shocked. "But… why?" Marco sighed again. "Because he saw nothing ahead and felt like a burden, and didn't want to burden anyone anymore, yoi. You know suicide is a sin, it would have landed him in Hell, and he knew it. But it would have been better than living in his mind." Thatch blinked. "But… only those trying to escape their crimes or accountability commits suicide. It is a sin, and everyone knows it. Only those who have committed heinous crimes or other sins commit suicide, the reason it is a sin, to punish them." Thatch was right, the reason it was a sin.
Marco nodded. "I know, and there are still many who do that, commit heinous crimes and then kill themselves to escape the world, yoi. But the world has changed, God gave up on most. There is poverty, natural disasters, victims of predators or murderers. Many lose everything and can't see a reason to live on, even pure ones. Ace is with them. He lost his family, he lost his friends, he saw nothing ahead, and in his mind, being in Hell was better than being alive, yoi. It wouldn't be as painful emotionally."
Thatch blinked, taking that in. "Oh my Devi. He felt that? He would rather be here than alive?" Marco nodded. "Yes, yoi. He said this to me, that if I didn't answer or said no, he would kill himself. The pain was too great. The only thing keeping him alive was me." Thatch blinked. "And I… was so mean to him…" Marco sighed. "Yes, but you have made amends, yoi. Ace likes you, likes to hang with you. He is still getting out of the depression, but he's getting better." Thatch looked utterly guilty, for misreading the whole situation. Marco gave a smile to Thatch. "Think of now, yoi. Ace is getting better, he now sees hope and feels happy, and I know you give him a lot of happiness as well." Thatch nodded, but still looked shocked. Marco moved a hand to Thatch's shoulder. "Don't mention this to anyone, yoi. Ace wouldn't want it." Thatch nodded. "I won't." Marco nodded. "Thank you."
Thatch then nodded and went on with his day, and Marco was still a lot worried for Ace, but he really was getting better.
-x-
Thatch walked out of his office, having just finished his last bit of meetings, and he still felt so shocked by the conversation with Marco. Ace had planned to kill himself, to commit suicide, as in his mind, a life in Hell, was better than being alive. He was in so much pain and sorrow, and he felt it was better in Hell. Then he thought back to when he had taken Ace to those Hell trees that were close to a pit, and Ace had looked a bit shocked at it. Thatch thought it was since of their eternal suffering, but maybe… maybe it was since it would have been better than how he had had it when alive, before he called Marco.
Thatch went and found Ace, who was in Marco's room, looking at him with a smile. "Hey, Thatch. What's up?" Thatch swallowed, before he did his best to act normal. "Remember two weeks ago? When we visited those Hell trees?" Ace nodded. "Yes. I loved the colors of those." Thatch nodded. "You weren't… bothered by the pit?" Ace tilted his head a bit. "No, I wasn't. I mean, yeah, it was a bit bloody, but not that bad." How could Ace even think that? Ace looked at him. "Why would it bother me?" Thatch blinked. "Oh, no reason. Many can't take it, as it is a bit gruesome." Ace blinked. "Well, yeah. But still, they also probably have a reason to be there." Thatch nodded. That was true, then another thought entered his mind, before he looked at Ace. "Yeah, I just wanted to know, so I wouldn't feel bad for bringing you there again." Ace nodded. "I wouldn't mind." That was good.
Thatch then left, before he headed to the level where those who committed suicide went, and he looked down. And there was a mix of groups. Those who fought and yelled, those who seemed to have given it all up. But then, he noticed some who looked… content. They looked happy, in Hell. So, he took their numbers and searched it up, and was horrified. Many of them had pure souls, had done nothing wrong at all, but had lost everything and given up. They all knew they would wind up in Hell most likely, but it was probably better than being alive. Has the world really gone this much to shit? Apparently it had.
Thatch swallowed, before he went and found Pops in his office, really needing to talk with him.
-x-
Whitebeard sat in his office, when Thatch knocked and came in, looking upset, which made him halt his work. "Thatch, is everything okay?" Thatch sat down and shook his head. "No. And I know I promised Marco not to tell… but I need to." Whitebeard nodded. "Okay, what is it?" Thatch took a breath, before he explained his talk with Marco. And he had to agree when Thatch first started, that Ace could have ended up in heaven with his brother. But then Thatch went on, and said how Ace had planned to commit suicide. Which he found shocking. Yes, he had noticed Ace being a bit depressed and reclusive, but not that bad.
As he had finished talking, Thatch looked at him with emotional eyes. "Ace knew he would wind up in Hell, but he felt that would be better than living in the pain he was in. And, I went to the pit where those who commit suicide goes, and I searched a few up, those who looked… happy. Almost all of them had pure souls. They all knew they would end up here, but it was better than being alive. Why is suicide a sin?"
Whitebeard blinked. "It is a murder, yes, the one they murder is themselves. But it was made for those who committed sins, to escape accountability. And, it is viewed as an attack on God, because they, humans, are God's creation. And they are killing it." Thatch blinked. "Screw that! Attack on God?! How selfish is he! These people are in terrible pain! They feel Hell is a vacation! We need to change it!" Whitebeard blinked. "Change it how?" Thatch moved his hands a bit. "I don't know! But suicide shouldn't be a sin! They are pure! Screw God's ego! These ones deserve to go to heaven! I don't mean everyone who commits suicide, but those who have done nothing and have a pure soul. Ace could be rotting there if Marco didn't answer or said no!"
Whitebeard thought for a second. "You are right. The world has changed, I have noticed. But going against God's wishes, that will be a tough battle." Thatch nodded. "I know, but we need to. People like Ace don't deserve to be in Hell." Whitebeard nodded. "I will bring it up at the next meeting." Thatch nodded. "Thank you, Pops." Whitebeard nodded. "It is nothing. But do know, Marco will know you told me this." Thatch nodded. "I know. But I can't let this go." Whitebeard was actually very proud of Thatch. He had a huge heart. And Whitebeard would do his best here, but he knew this would be hard. And, they had just had the meeting, which was every month, so, it was almost a month until the next one, and he would try and talk with some others, as well as Marco, as Whitebeard needed more insight.
But hopefully, they could change this.
And that's the first chapter where I continue this story!
I hope this was interesting and more will happen in the next one, and I hope I will see you in it as well!
And in the next one, we will meet Shanks! Who's neither a demon or angel, or a human for that matter
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
