Chapter 36

Thatch returned to the Heart Pirates a week later. Law looked healthier now, and much more rested thankfully. Now they were all out on deck, the Polar Tang in the middle of the ocean. Law sliced a scalpel across his fingertip. The rest of the Hearts were watching closely, their eyes all focused on Law and Thatch. Law had already explained that this was a summoning spirit spell, one specifically made by Rouge to summon her and her alone.

"So this symbol was created by Rouge?" Thatch crossed his arms as Law drew it on the deck, blood dripping from his finger.

"She was the one who showed it to me," Law said. "She told me if I was ever in trouble I could use it to summon her. It would be a weaker version of herself, but it would help her manifest."

"Thank you for letting me help," Thatch said softly.

"And you shouldn't feel so guilty," Law scolded. "Ace and Rouge wanted to protect you and they did. Teach took advantage of the situation and took Ace in response, but at least we have a chance to get them back if we work together."

"I'm the big brother though," Thatch insisted. "I'm supposed to protect Ace, not the other way around."

"That doesn't always work sadly," Law sighed.

"Experience talking?" Thatch asked casually, or tried to be casual, because he could see Law's shoulders growing tense.

He could feel the Heart pirates glaring daggers into him.

"A long time ago." Law's tone was cold, so Thatch instantly shut his mouth. He wasn't going to prod that road. Not when Law could cut off his head and attach it to Thatch's ass. The Heart's glares were getting more murderous too, so yeah, Thatch needed to keep his mouth shut.

Law finished drawing out the symbol and stood up, grimacing. He took a vial out his pocket filled with blood and dripped a few droplets at the centre of the symbol. Law raised his hand and closed his eyes, and Thatch swore he felt some weird pulse of energy flicker at the edge of his haki.

"I summon the ghost of Portgas D. Rouge, bound to this earth by the blood of her son," Law said.

Thatch startled. His voice had echoed, as if there was a hundred voices behind it, all speaking at once. Ace had never used a spell before, nor had Rouge in fact, none that Thatch had seen at any rate. Was this what always happened when they used one?

Law continued after a small, pained hiss. "Come to me, and fight once more, to save Portgas D. Ace, as you have done once before."

Nothing happened. The symbol glowed, but there was no Rouge.

There was sweat gathering on Law's brow and his voice was beginning to grow strained. "I summon you. Portgas D. Rouge."

Penguin straightened up. "Law, if you can't summon her then stop."

Law ignored him, panting. "I summon the ghost of Portgas D. Rouge, I can feel you, I know you're there. So get over here now!"

"Law-" Bepo reached out for him, but Law held up his free hand, gasping for breath.

"Stay back!" Law snapped. "I can feel her. I just need a bit more time."

"Sorry..."

Thatch shook his head. "No, he's right, Law. We'll find another way."

Law ignored them both, gritting his teeth stubbornly.

"You're making yourself sick. You can't-" Penguin protested.

"I summon the ghost of Portgas D. Rouge, and you better get over here before I get annoyed, Rouge-ya, otherwise I'm squeezing Ace's heart-"

A burst of energy exploded from the symbol on the ground, the blood glowing brighter. Thatch covered his eyes, yelping, before the sudden blinding light disappeared. Law wavered on his feet, breathless, and a very familiar woman caught him in her arms as he collapsed.

"Thanks for holding out, Law," Rouge said softly. "I'm sorry I took so long."

Law smirked warily up at her. "We'll call it even."

Bepo approached and helped Law over to a deck chair. Law slumped into it immediately and laid his head back to close his eyes. Penguin hovered just behind him, looking unimpressed, while Ikkaku approached Rouge.

"What the hell happened? Why couldn't Captain get a hold of you?"

Rouge scowled. "I've been trapped in an endless abyss of darkness since the moment that fucker's blood touched the Portgas grimoire. I don't know what's happened to Ace, or where he is, nor do I know what the fat fuck is doing with my kid."

Ikkaku's face fell. "Shit. We were hoping for answers."

"I know, a shame I have none to give," Rouge grumbled. "And I don't know if I'm under his influence now either, or if I've been spared from becoming Teach's minion." Rouge softened. "What I do know is that I owe you a big thank you, Law."

"You've done me more than enough favours over the years." Law dismissed her.

Rouge rolled her eyes, and then she met Thatch's eyes and breathed out a sigh of relief. "Thank the seas you're okay."

"Ace saved my life," Thatch said, slumping. "I probably wouldn't have made it if he hadn't managed to heal me. The stab wound had been deep."

"I'm glad he managed to," Rouge said. "I admit I hadn't expected Teach to do whatever the fuck he did. I don't know exactly what happened, only that it brought out this bone deep terror inside me. Whatever happened terrified me to the core, as I could feel it within my ancestors. They were scared too."

Thatch shivered. "I won't pretend to know about witch stuff, but that doesn't sound good."

Law snorted weakly. "Good observation." He opened an eye warily. "I could bind you to a talisman, Rouge-ya. That would mean you won't be reliant on that circle on the floor nor completely tied to Ace's magic, which we both know will be under Teach's control now."

"I would be grateful, though you look like you could use a rest first," Rouge said softly.

"Eh."

"Don't 'eh'!" Penguin scolded. "You're going to get some rest. We all told you not to push yourself, Law, and you went ahead and ignored us. I swear-"

His voice trailed off, and Thatch smiled when he noticed why. Law had dozed off, falling asleep against the deck chair.

"Dammit." Penguin shook his head.

"So," Rouge drawled out, long and relaxed, but Thatch wasn't fooled, those eyes were cold and sharp. "Thatch, why are you here alone?"

Thatch winced.

.::.

"DUMBASS!"

Penguin plugged his ears the moment she screamed, Ikkaku yelping. Thankfully Bepo had taken Law back to his room to sleep off the magical drainage he would be suffering from. He didn't need his rest disturbed.

"You left the Whitebeard Pirates without permission, no, not even that, were forbidden from going alone, after you had just been stabbed by the shit stain that had just kidnapped Ace!" Rouge lectured. "How reckless are you? Did you not think for one second the problems this will cause? If you are caught by the marines, or Davy Jones forbid, killed by Teach when you catch up to him-"

"I plan to spy on him!" Thatch protested.

"Sure, and how long will you keep spying on him when you see him ordering Ace about? Because I sure as hell wouldn't be able to hold myself back, and I have my doubts you could either," Rouge scolded.

"I couldn't sit there and wait while Ace suffered!" Thatch snapped. "I am going to rescue him, Rouge, and I don't care who gets in my way. I'm bringing him home!"

Rouge sighed. "I know, Thatch, but we can't afford to be reckless here. We don't know his devil fruits capabilities, and we obviously don't know Teach's true nature. We will find Ace, once Law can help secure my spirit within a talisman."

Penguin glowered.

Rouge held up her hands. "I'll owe him a lot of favours after this. I'm sorry, Penguin, but it's a desperate time."

Penguin sighed. "I know." He shook his head. "But Law just recovered after collapsing from a fever when he heard what this Teach guy did to your grimoire. He's been dreaming like Ace did after Sabaody."

Rouge startled. "He did? And he has? But you've not been anywhere near Sabaody!"

"That's why we're worried," Penguin admitted. "And Thatch just chased off one of Doflamingo's men last week. Law is vulnerable right now, while Ace's heart has been perfectly healthy."

"I forgot you had his heart..." Thatch shivered.

Rouge breathed in deeply and shook her head. "Alright, when Law is feeling better I would like him to bind me to a talisman, then Thatch and I will go track down Ace, kill Teach, and take Ace home. Hopefully once Thatch and I leave things will return to normal for your lot and Law can recover easier. I could stay until he is recovered, but that would involve more work for Law to make that possible-"

"It might be better just to keep on track with our current goals," Penguin said. "Once Law has recovered, we shall work on binding you to a talisman and then you can go and get Ace back, before, I don't know, Sabo decides blowing things up and committing more acts of chaos is a good idea."

Rouge snorted. "He does like to create a good bit of chaos."

"He's the type to get even worse when someone he cares about is in danger too," Shachi sighed. "Actually, I think all three of your kids are prone to going overboard. I wouldn't be surprised if Luffy invaded Impel Down one day."

Penguin groaned. "By the seas, I hope not."

Rouge laughed. "It would be a pretty ballsy move."

Thatch snorted at the idea, but it was just an idea. Luffy wouldn't actually ever do that. It was insane after all. Sure, Ace's little brother did sound crazy, but nobody was truly that crazy in this world.

Thatch frowned and looked out towards the seas. He wondered where Ace was, and if he was alright. He hoped Ace was alright. Thatch would never forgive himself if Ace was hurt.

.::.

Rouge sat out on the deck, watching the stars. She was stuck in the summoning circle for now, and honestly Rouge wouldn't risk leaving it until her spirit was bound. Rouge did not want to sink into that endless darkness again.

Ikkaku had joined her outside, cuddled in a blanket, and Rouge took the time to play with her hair, typing it in a braid while Ikkaku slept. Ikkaku's hair was so much more curlier than her own though, so it was difficult. Rouge gave up with a sigh, then glanced over at the den den mushi.

Rouge reached over and dialled it.

"Who is calling my personal den den mushi?" Eddy growled.

"An old friend," Rouge greeted softly, placing the snail on her knee.

"Rouge, I'm glad to hear your voice again. Are you alright? Where are you-"

"Before you go on a triad of questions, I'm going to let you know that I don't have many answers," Rouge admitted. "I don't know where Ace is. I don't know how to get rid of the blood from Ace's journal, my best bet is killing Teach, and I was trapped in an endless abyss of darkness until Law pulled me out with a summoning spell."

Whitebeard remained silent for a moment, taking in that information.

"How are you holding up?"

Rouge bit her lip. "I'm pissed. I didn't protect Ace like I usually do, and because of that, some little rat stole my son from me. When I get a hold of Teach, I can't promise you that there will be anything left for you to deal with, Edward."

"I wouldn't blame you. You said Law saved you-"

"After Thatch saved Law from some of Doflamingo's goons," Rouge said. "Some springy shit."

"Springy?"

"I don't know." Rouge shrugged. "But I'm with Thatch too. We're both aboard the Polar Tang."

"What is your plan?"

"Well Thatch won't call off this hunt, and in all honesty, that is exactly what I want, so our goals are aligned. I'm going to help Thatch find Teach, and then we're going to gut him and bring Ace home."

Eddy sighed. "I wish you would both wait, but I understand. I do feel better knowing you're there to watch Thatch's back, but are you sure you can't resist doing whatever Teach wants you to do if you see him?"

"That is why Law is going to bind me to a talisman to stop that from happening. I shouldn't be affected by him after that," Rouge said. "We will lay protective charms over it and put Law's and Thatch's blood inside it to keep Teach's influence from me."

"If you put that talisman around Ace's neck would that break Teach's hold on him?"

"I don't think so. It works for me because I'm dead and a spirit bound to this world to protect Ace. The talisman will hold my soul to it."

"And if it's destroyed?"

"No worries. I'd just go back to Ace, or well, more likely if Teach isn't dead, then that endless darkness I was trapped inside." Rouge shivered at the thought. "I'm hoping Teach will be dead first."

"We'll try to get you both as soon as we can."

"I know, Eddy." Rouge smiled softly. "I'll do my best to help Thatch too."

"And how is Thatch doing? I haven't heard from him yet..." Eddy admitted, and he sounded pained by it.

Rouge sighed. "He's blaming himself a lot, and I think he misses being home, but he won't go back until all parts of his home are safely returned."

"Could you try get him to call me?"

Rouge nodded. "I'll do my best, Eddy. Stay safe."

"You too, Rouge. Keep yourself and Thatch safe, and when you see Ace, tell him his family misses him, and that we want him home immediately."