(Bellamy POV)
The show never went deeper into it, but chaos sparked by Luffy had left lasting marks on Sabaody. Collapsed ruins, burning wrecks…a horde of refugees on the streets. Even Sabaody Park, that giant entertainment district had been reduced to rubble.
Now, to be fair, Luffy could not have caused this much wanton destruction by himself, even if the fun-loving kid had wanted to. Neither could the supernovas be held accountable for more than a small fraction of it. I was one of the supernovas and I had fought alongside three others against the third greatest destructive force brought to the achipelago by the marines and all that had resulted was one house being remodeled into a single floor residence.
No, what I was seeing was much more the consequence of the marines deciding to engage in a bit of early spring cleaning. What should be immediately obvious is that the targets of said spring cleaning were armed to the teeth and composed of individuals who had problems with central authority…to put it mildly.
There is no denying that Borsalino is a frighteningly powerful individual and the best suited to cover a wide area. But even he can't be everywhere at once and his stamina has limits. With thousands and thousands of pirates, ruffians and bandits on the archipelago, the admiral can't catch all of them without some support.
That the support came in the form of his marines need not be said, but consequently hundreds if not thousands of individual engagements broke out all over Sabaody with a corresponding amount of collateral damage. All while the admiral blitzed about the archipelago putting out fires, chasing down the bigger targets and surviving against Rayleigh, thus unable to aid his marines.
Kuma probably went back to Marineford after dispatching the Strawhat crew and being the whimsical man-baby he is, Borsalino likely did the same after he got tired of trading blows with old man Rayleigh. Akainu would have stayed and fought to the death, but thankfully for most involved, Sparkles is not so focused on doing his job right.
As for how I know all this?
Shakky told me after Urouge and I walked into her pristine bar.
"You're back, Hyena-chan."
"And it's like I was never away, Shakky-san." I greet her, accepting her trademarked overpriced beverage. "Did you miss me?"
"I sure missed your wallet." Ouch. "Just joking with you, Hyena-chan. After what you did for me, I couldn't take your money."
"Who are you and what have you done to Shakky?" I rear back, pointing my finger at her, my overly exaggerated expression and dramatic voice making it abundantly clear that this is not a serious accusation. Shakky certainly seems amused, though it is debatable whether the responsibility lies with my amazing sense of humor or with a certain cute little junior pirate bracing for a fight. "Urouge, put the pillar down!"
In the face of my sudden and growing panic, instead of sheepishly stowing his weapon away, the big guy starts grinning while our hostess leans against her counter with an indulgent smile.
…they were having me on. Well played.
"You should have seen your face!" my companion starts guffawing, leaning against his pillar for support and he is even wiping non-existent tears from his eyes. "Come one, midget. Hyenas are supposed to smile."
"Hardy har har." I snark back. "I nearly had a heart attack, you overblown pufferfish!"
"It's not nice to play pranks on a lady, Hyena-chan." Shakky admonishes me, sending my friend (?) a conspiratorial wink and causing my jaw to drop in outrage.
That's not fair. You started it!
Rayleigh hadn't come back yet, though to be fair the two weeks weren't up at this point in time. Then again, I wasn't in a rush to get my ship coated.
Like I had told Urouge, my crew wouldn't survive the New World as they were and Paradise had plenty of opportunities left to grow stronger. Maybe I could even convince Rayleigh to change his mind after the war.
Speaking of which…
"Firefist's execution is in a few days, isn't it?"
"It doesn't take divine foresight to see that that isn't going to happen as planned." Urouge huffs, gazing deep into his bottle. "Whitebeard will intervene."
"His territories have gone suspiciously silent last week." Shakky concurs, lighting yet another cigarette. Her third for the afternoon. "It's not only his main crew but dozens of his allies who have dropped off the grid as well. Rumor has it that the emperor Shanks is patrolling those waters instead."
That's because most of them are travelling underwater towards Marineford, bypassing most of the marine's outer layers of defense. Whitebeard is a cunning old fox when he wants to be and there are scant few things that will motivate him more than the life and safety of his sons.
"The question though is, does the emperor have enough?" And do I do something? My position had taken a dramatic shift in just the last two weeks. I wasn't safe any more, for a very generous definition of word. Not with what the world government were pinning on me.
"Personally, I wouldn't bet on the marines being able to stop the strongest man alive." Knowing what I do, I don't share Urouge's point of view. Yes, Whitebeard is the strongest man alive. Just as Kaido ist the strongest beast alive and Big Mom is the strongest monster alive. Shanks? Shanks is going to outlive them all by virtue of being several decades their junior. It didn't stop the marines killing him and Ace, though much of that is due to Ace being an damned fool.
"The marines are certainly worried, if the way they have stripped their bases of all personnel lieutenant rank or higher is any indication. Worldwide, near a hundred thousand marines are being mobilized compared to Whitebeard's few thousand."
"Bah, fodder won't do much when facing Whitebeard's veterans." Urouge claims before setting down his empty bottle hard enough to rattle the counter. It's a miracle or very good workmanship that the bottle doesn't explode into a zillion shards.
"Is there any news from Impel Down?" I ask and get a shake of her head in response. Did Luffy break in yet?
"Not anything more than the usual." Shakky replies, tapping her chin in thought. "Though the marines did recently imprison the warlord Jinbe for being overtly critical of their decision to challenge Whitebeard."
Then again, that news wouldn't spread so quickly, would it. The world government certainly would be motivated to suppress the truth as far as humanly possible.
"If I were Whitebeard, I would hit the prison convoy before Firefist reaches Marineford. Wouldn't even need all that many men to do it." My increasingly drunk companion grumbles. Piled up next to him are the drained and devastated remnants of a casket of liquor. "Right, that's got to be easier than targeting Marineford head on…"
I tune him and Shakky out, opting to sink into my thoughts instead. Up to the moment I head read the morning news, my plan had been to stay on the sidelines and harvest devil fruits. But if one considers Bonney's reaction to Whitebeard's death, intervening would allow me to score a lot of points with the glutton as well as Whitebeard's remnants. And that came with a lot of potential new benefits, benefits my new status more or less required to stay alive and furthermore, reach my next goal of dethroning Doffy.
But…even if I wanted to do something, was there anything I could do? Rushing into battle would be much more likely to result in me being a burden rather than anything else, just like Luffy had been.
Really, Luffy's charge may have been a temporary boost for morale but you have to remember that Whitebeard pulled the majority of his commanders from their positions to escort him to the platform. Commanders who should have been commanding their divisions and protecting their men instead of getting trapped deep behind enemy lines.
Even with all that support, Luffy was only able to reach the execution platform because of three reasons.
One, Hancock turned into a first-class troll, smashing into marine lines like a wrecking ball and sowing confusion everywhere. Not only that, but she actively protected Luffy a few times.
Two, Dracule Mihawke had no intention of hurting Luffy and let him go on purpose. Nothing against Vista, but are you truly trying to convince me that the world's greatest swordsman could not swing his sword fast enough to cut down pre-timeskip Luffy? I think not.
And finally, a shit amount of deus ex machina to unlock conqueror's haki at just the right moment.
Now, if someone else, like let's say a certain hyena themed pirate, were to attempt the same stunt, the most probable result would be a dead hyena themed pirate and bunch of very out of position pirates.
No, Plan Luffy is most definitely crossed off the list.
Another option could be to stick close to Whitebeard for a bit. Just long enough to stop Squard from stabbing a foot-wide nodachi through his pop's heart. While I am convinced that Whitebeard fully intended to die that day, not having one of his most vital organs be bisected could only be helpful.
It is my belief that Squard only managed to touch the old man in the first place because Whitebeard's whole attention (and haki) was focused on the wider battlefield. Hence, if I brought part of his attention back to his immediate surroundings, he should be able to protect himself or at least minimise the damage.
Barring everything else, I could also try and stop Squard myself. I wouldn't even need to beat the guy, just block one blow I knew was coming. That's it and Squard's ambush would fail, Whitebeard would be more energetic by the time Blackbeard turned up and Akainu may even get himself killed, which would solve a whole host of issues for me. Lazy justice may be less inclined to send higher tier officers after me than the mad dog's absolute justice.
Plus, the spot right next to Whitebeard may as well be the safest place on the whole battlefield. None of the big hitters are going to pay little old me any attention with the biggest prize right there. And I'm confident that I will be fully able to deal with anybody below the rank of vice admiral.
Apart from a couple of minor issues, this is a much better plan. Issues like how I was supposed to reach Whitebeard in the first place.
I'd have to sail past a conflict zone filled with pacifistas and Whitebeard's allies, run across a frozen bay again riddled with combat ready individuals to board the Moby Dick without Roger's strawhat. Would Whitebeard's allies and crew even allow me to do so or would they try and stop me? I bet it is going to be the latter.
Never mind how I'm supposed to stop a haki infused strike from a New World veteran.
I could straight up tell Whitebeard that Squard is going to drive a sharp implement through his heart in a temper tantrum, but…yeah.
Whitebeard is more liable to turn me into paste for daring to accuse one of his children without proof than believe me, which is sadly understandable.
But if one ignores these minor issues, it's the perfect plan to save Ace.
...
Not. Happening. Period.
Also, did I really want to save Ace? Kid is a hotheaded idiot whose pride was more important than his common sense, whose act of idiocy made a mockery of his adoptive family's sacrifices.
…and he's not my brother.
Then again, the chance to make a favorable impression on the remaining Whitebeards and Jewelry Bonney.
Risk and potential reward.
What would be a way I could participate…tangentially, with minimal risk while still reaping all the benefits?
It takes a while but the beginnings of an idea start coalescing within my brain, gaining more substance with every moment. Until at last, I have about half a plan.
"Hey, Urouge?" I ask, bringing his attention back to me. "Wanna crash a party?"
(Urouge POV)
They called him the mad monk, but damn if the midget wasn't batshit crazy. Not sure why he's trying to convince everyone he's normal when his new friend is anything but. He's not fooling anybody. Anybody who could come up with half the stuff he came up with, never mind be willing to put it into action had a couple hundred screws loose.
Crash a party indeed.
But as he is going along with the midget's hare-brained plan, it's not like Urouge has a lot of room to talk. To be honest, it isn't like Urouge made it to where he was now by being the most well-adjusted person around. When the world was unhinged in its very nature and her residents nuttier than a fruitcake, it's the sane individiuals who are insane.
Either you adapted or you went mad, this was the choice forced upon them by this world. Accept the absurdity of the world order, her rules and her regulations, or jump off the proverbial cliff and do the irrational thing.
Fight.
That's not to say that every crook calling themselves a pirate had this motivation. No, most of them were acquiescing to the local rules in a slightly more dishonest manner. Not like those who sought the truth or a better world.
Not like Urouge and his clerics.
A world where tyrants like Enel had no place. Where children could be children and live without a slaving authoritarian regime breathing down their necks.
A place deserving of the name…Paradise.
Which is also why Urouge is currently committing an act of lunacy by sailing both his ship and crew to Marineford. If your dream was infeasible by normal means, abnormal methods were required.
If the midget's plan panned out, they'd have struck a mighty blow against the darkness and brought themselves that much closer to a better future. And if he were completely honest with himself…
…it sounded like too much fun to pass up.
Author's note:
Bellamy decides he to do more than stay on the sidelines...yay?
Also, many thanks to everybody who offered music suggestions!
P.S. as always, please leave a comment and a like. It's free and feeds me motivation.