"That brat again!? It's just one thing after another what is with that family!?" Furious, Sengoku scowls slamming said report down on the ground glaring at the desk below, blood boiling, bubbling, burning at the familiar namedrop.
"According to our information she also took out vice admiral Draw." The solider swiftly salutes reporting the news as the sound of a newspaper is turned, showcasing said woman winking printed standing by a familiar exasperated exhausted looking pineapple fellow with the title of, former vice admiral and commander of whitebeard pirates together!?
"Draw!? I knew she had problems with the man but to take it out on a celestial dragon does she want the death sentence!?" Scowling, Sengoku couldn't help but ponder.
"Fire Fist Ace has been seen there too and from the information both have refused the warlord invite." The solider adds as the sound of a newspaper is turned once again.
"That brat…that was the only way we could save her!" Sengoku snarls scowling slamming his fist down on the desk below brow furrowed, he had worked hard to give her that spot and she does this!? Tense, Sengoku couldn't help but fume from the pirate's cockiness.
"We can't get in contact with anyone from the human ship eh employment stability office…I don't think they know what had occurred…" The soldier swiftly corrects himself.
"Sounds like Ann-chan's finally done it this time what with hurting one of the world nobles so there's no way we wouldn't take action right Sengoku-san? Even if she was once one of our own you gave her chance after chance to come back but she doesn't seem to get the memo…" Mischievously, the man behind the newspaper calls out, folding said paper on his lap.
"Kizaru…" Sengoku scowls at the gaudy gold suit wearing fellow.
"Guess I'll go…I'll be right back. Do not worry…" Kizaru arises from his seat smirking.
"You have to get back to the ship before more marines arrive with the admiral." Ann turns towards her student, betrayed by the one she believed in sunk to her knees in despair and pitiful, they couldn't leave her like this. The spreading flames were already burning out, soon the slums would be back to the way it was before.
"I can still…" Grunting, Ace begins but…
"You need to go. Now." Assertively, Ann snaps scowling at her newly awakened brother lying in the lap of Isuka.
"What!?" Ace scowls.
"An admiral is going to come. They have haki." Ann reminds him.
"I can deal with it." Ace argues grunting as he tries to stand but…
"No you can't. You really can't not in your state." Seriously, Ann argues as Isuka helps him up.
Who says I can't?" Ace sneers.
"She's…she's right Ace." Isuka joins in, steadying him.
"I can…" Stubbornly, said boy repeats but…
"Ace just let me handle this…please." Pleadingly, she cradles her brother's cheek swiping scarlet from his side as he sighs bowing his head, turning towards the marine.
"Isuka…board my ship! Of course I won't make you be a pirate to do it. Be a bounty hunter. You're strong so it'll fit you just right yeah? And it's fine if you're always after my head. We'll be on the same ship." Smiling, Ace offers his had to her.
"You stupid idiot you'd hold hands with a bounty hunter after your head." Wiping the tears and sniffling, Isuka laughs.
"Sure would." Ace gave her a wide grin.
"Yeah, yeah great you too can smooch later right now you guys getting out of here is what we need to do!" Done, Ann orders the two.
"O-OI who said I'd kiss her!?" Angry, Ace roars.
"What's with me!? You'd be lucky to have me!" Mad, Isuka roars as the two turn to argue with one another as Ann simply stares scowling, was this what Smoker felt when they had to deal with her and…no! Now is not the to think about that! Ann shakes her head, grimacing at the sharp sting to her chest, dismissing it, now wasn't the time for that, grabbing the two, the three fled the slum running across the city of fanning bubbles.
There was already a large amount of battleships lined up in the port and offshore they had gathered to prevent the spade pirates from setting sail. No matter how you looked at it, it seems the Marines didn't want Ace to go to the new world…leaving the backstreets and staying out of Marine's sight, Ace and Isuka followed Ann across the island jigging left from right, her having to hold back her speed now and again for the two to catch up.
"There's a small cape up ahead it has to be there!" Ann calls out to the two.
"Right!" The two others chorus as just then, Ann's hues fericly flashes raw red seeing a certain smug man perched upon a cannon ball.
"RUN!" Ann roars taking the two aback as she next she knew, she kicked them forward.
"Ann!" Ace cries out to his sister concern clear in his tone towards her only for his hues to widen when three sets of cannonballs were aimed at her but that wasn't what alarmed him what did was the man perched proudly upon one smirking smugly down at Ann.
"Only you…would do something so stupidly flashy." Fondly, the amused Ann smirks smugly at the man in gold, Kizaru…
"I like to call it funny…" Kizaru smirks stepping down, hands shoved into his pockets.
"You hear anyone laughing?" Ann asks as she gestures about the place.
"So mean Ann-chan the again you've been quite naughty since leaving the marines." Mischievously, the man in gold smirks smugly at Ann.
"Have I now?" Ann's heated hues narrow.
"Attacking a celestial dragon, it's like you're asking for us to take your head." Kizaru draws out his blinding blade from his palm.
"I didn't harm the old fool; he just got a bit wet is all." Aloofly, Ann huffs drawing out her own blade brow furrowed.
"That all? I'd heard on occasion that you had been sighted on these islands, I guess those reports were true still what could you be doing all the way out here?" Curious, Kizaru swiftly slams said blade down upon her.
"Who knows…still for old times sake couldn't you overlook those kids for me Kizaru-kun?" Amused, Ann argues as she easily blocks said strike of light, sharp spears of fierce flashes of light clash against the two, duelling before the people of Sabaody.
"Give me a break! You never agreed to have an innocent date with me why should I do anything for you?" Kizaru scoffs pushing her back but she comes rushing back, lunging at him, blade reeled back.
"Not my fault you're like thirty years my senior!" Smirking, she slams said heel upon the bright beaming blade of light delivering a swift kick to his head.
"I thought you liked older men!" The older man stands crouched from said strike to his heat, crimson currents come gushing out of his head, however he remains unfazed despite his crouched form. His forefinger glowing gold at her, aiming at her head however…
"Not that old." Smirking, she reels her head back by the bright blaring flashing light narrowly dodging said strike ignoring the explosion erupting behind her taking the house with it.
"You're really hurting my feelings Ann-chan." Childishly, Kizaru whines while she throws herself back spinning in the air as he lurches lunges forward chasing after her almost as she with ease and grace, brushes each strike aside as if it were nothing…
"I'm sure my heart bleeds for you Borsalino." Bemused, she smirks swiftly kicking him back down but he quickly disperses into light as her hue glows red before dispersing just as the light particles form from where she once was.
"Come on now Ann-chan gimme a break if I don't catch those kids then we at Navy HQ wouldn't be able to face the Tenrubito, you already embarrassed us enough with your tantrum and refusing to become a warlord!" Whining, he stretches his arms out calling out to the woman seemingly vanishing from his eye, his hues narrowing behind his glistening gold lenses at the still silence he receives in return.
"Not my fault I'm not the type to be silenced." Smoothly, she appears behind him, her heel bashing into the side of his head hitting throwing him into the side of a nearby tall, towering building that comes crashing down with him.
"Guess I'll have to silence you myself." Musing, he forms back into his body light particles returning to his body as he reforms before her, above her to be exact, blade raised about to strike her down…
"ANN!" Anxious, Ace cries calling out to the woman, her back turned to him.
"Ace we have to go!" Isuka tugs him forward however…
"No! She'll be killed! ANN!" Ace screeches scared, fierce flames feasting upon his body taking Isuka aback at such fierce frantic flames fearful almost for the woman dealing with the admiral as Ann dodges said strike however her hues soon widen when her and Ace's eyes widen when the bright blast of light from said slash aims at Ace and Isuka or so Ace had thought, tugging Isuka behind him, Ace attempts to use his fierce flames to protect them both but…
"I already told you, you ain't passing!" Ace's ears perk up at Ann appearing before them, the bright blaring light seemingly being absorbed into the lighting looking blade conducting it.
"Oooh I'm in trouble here…then again with you involved nothing ever is easy." Kizaru coos over at her newest toy forming another blade as both blades clash, sparks spewing out between both of them.
"Admiral Ann is much more capable than you realize. Trust her." Isuka hisses harshly holding Ann's arm attempting to tug him back but…
"Captain Ace!" Ace perks up at the voice as in a heartbeat, the ship appeared, delighted voices rose up and down from the deck, the spade pirates having already set sail for them.
"Masters hurry!" Skull says waving his arms at them, they had no time to stop, they had to jump.
"Isuka let's go!" Ace said ad jump but…
It was only Ace jumping.
"Why…!?" Ace's eyes widening when turning to see Isuka having remained on the cape.
"I'm still a Marine Ensign…I can't go with you." Isuka gave a powerless smile as she stood on the cape alone.
"Why are you doing this!?" Ace was pressing up to the rail of the ship he'd jump onto but the distance to the cape only got wider…
"Because…I want to help my mentor." Isuka smiles softly at the thought of her mentor, a part of her finally understanding what she meant back then…
"Your mentor?" Ace furrows his brow.
"I think…I think I finally understand her words now… Don't die Ace. Thank you." At peace, she bows her head watching them off. The distance to Isuka widens. The ship didn't stop. It couldn't stop.
"Was it okay for us to be connected like that?" Ace whispers sagging down recalling his hand in hers.
"But I guess it can't be helped…I can't hold her hand. I'm a pirate and these hands become flames…" Ace pulled his hat over his hues.
"Ace you…" Deuce didn't know what to say to his friend, he usually acted like he thought he was an unlovable existence when confronted with this, Ace's face, his eyes, always held a dark shadow. But surely, she, Isuka, didn't think that. It wasn't just Isuka.
Ace was the only one who didn't notice that.
Ace is a man like the sun. Everyone is drawn to Ace. Enemies were at a loss with him. Ace was always at the heart of the group but because the sun shines too brilliant, it's always alone. No one, no one at all can snuggle up to the sun because if you stand next to it, you burn….
Ace made a place for his crew to belong, but could they really become a place for Ace to belong? Or in the New World ahead could they find a place with Ace that he could gently smile from the bottom of his heart. No one knew the answer yet today they could only forge ahead…
"You're enjoying this…" Teasingly, Kizaru points out noting the glint gleaming in her heated hues.
"And you're not going anywhere." Amused, Ann snaps smirking seeing said male's body shift into light attempting to lunge ahead as Ann swiftly slams her heel down, kicking Kizaru down, pinning him to the ground below.
"Come on just let me pass pretty please?" Pettily, he whines while having his head hit the ground pinning his head to the ground below.
"Yeah no. Hm?" Humming, Ann perks up seeing shade spade ship long gone only for her hues to widen when noting the light balls spewing out into the open air as the figure below disperses making her lurch forward slightly just as Kizaru appears behind her, noting the figure below long gone.
"Seems your time's up." Kizaru draws his bright blade out about to behead the woman while his hues soon widen when once again his blade clashes into her own.
"Seems so. Ciao." Cheekily, she winks before bashing sharp sparks soon shoot out of her blade, light hitting light as the absorbed light clashes with Kizaru's fiercely flashing blade, blinding both admiral and marines as Ann lunges forward, diving deep into the washing waves below.
"Magatama!" Once recovered from said fierce flash blinding him, Kizaru leaps up into the air as bright beams of light fires into water below, but it does nothing as said shadow swiftly snatches up the shadow of Ann, taking off heading off to who knows where…
"That girl…she really is something else..." Rayleigh smiles softly, Shakki by his side sipping his flask, pride prevalently in his hues after watching that match, a part of him proud to see the swordsmanship he had taught hadn't gone to waste while watching her head off to who knows where…
"HAHAHAHAHAHAH!" Haughty, the boisterous bellow of laughter echoes throughout the office of the fleet admiral.
"What's so funny Garp!?" Growling, Sengoku snarls scowling at the giddy Garp chewing his snack still smiling laughing at the latest news of his troublemaker of a daughter.
"This is a catastrophe that might throw all the oceans of the world into an uproar! That granddaughter of yours has caused all sorts of trouble! Thanks to her people are questioning their faith in the marines she was to be an admiral! For her to tur traitor on us like that, to take away what could have been our key to the ancient weapons! The Gorosei were not pleased! Then there's her joining the yonko red haired Shanks! For our admiral to turn traitor and join the crew of a yonko is unpresented, unheard of and now this with the celestial dragons and to escape Kizaru and the vice admiral Draw at that! To even refuse to join the warlords to avoid such strife! Both those incidents were completely unheard of!" Seriously, Sengoku reminds Garp gnawing away at his snack smiling.
"HAHAHA! You didn't really think she'd join back up with us did ya?" Garp cackles chuckling at the thought towards Sengoku.
"We wouldn't be hunting her down!" Sengoku snaps slamming his firm fist down on the table below.
"Yeah but with joining a yonko would you anyway?" Fairly, Garp points out.
"GARP! Why is it your granddaughter Garp!?" Scowling, Sengoku demands from Garp.
"I'd expect no less from my granddaughter!" Garp bellows boisterously.
"Dammit it Garp quit fooling around if you weren't a marine hero you'd be taking full responsibility for the crimes of your family!" Fuming, Sengoku scowls at Garp.
"Hahhaa she really has played you all. I knew my granddaughter could be quite tricky but this is next level, this situation is too serious to be resolved with just one old man taking the blame! Hahah!" Hollering, Garp cackles.
"This is nothing to laugh about your daughter has brought great shame to the navy countless times already! We're the laughing stock thanks to her! How much work do you think I have to do before all this is settled!?" Scowling, Sengoku shouts at Garp before reaching out swiftly snatching his pack of snacks.
"Hey those're mine! Give them back!" Brow furrowed, Garp glares glowers at Sengoku snuffing Garp's snack.
"Be quiet!" Sengoku snaps.
"Sengoku sir!" Akainu strides in incensed, glaring glowering at Sengoku.
"What is it Sakazuki?" Sengoku turns towards the admiral.
"Allow me to hunt her down!" Determined, Akainu exclaims.
"You?" Sengoku raises a brow by his words.
"Kizaru was too feeble to go after the traitor but I am willing to do so, to bring back faith to the marines I'll drag her down for a public execution!" Angrily, Akainu promises poisonously.
"…No." Sengoku answers as Garp's hues narrow.
"No?" Agitated, Akainu seethes steam spewing out of his heated form.
"She is part of the yonko crew, the right hand as much as it pains me to say this we cannot risk a war not right now not to mention you going after her will lead to in fighting with Aokiji and a fair few other marines…" Tiredly, Sengoku sighs, since her departure the idea of her leaving had sparksed some controversial forms of judgment some refusing to believe their vice admiral would betray them, many siding with Aokiji that wasn't even going into the infight of Aokiji and Akainu…they couldn't afford further in fighting…he hated to admit it but that that woman…has played them all.
"Marco join my captain's crew!" Cheerily, the amused Ann winks at the bored blonde simply staring scowling almost at the brightly beaming blonde boarding the Moby Dick many eyes on her some fearful, some interested, some confused over who the blonde even was making such a bold bash move on the yonko's ship.
"Woman I told you once don't make me tell you again!" Annoyed, Marco huffs furrowing his brow by the bemused blonde.
"Aw you're no fun let's at least go out for a drink first." Flirtatiously, the blonde playfully presses.
"You're so pushy." Grumbling, Marco rubs the back of his head exasperation etched into said single sigh.
"And you're so funny to mess with." Amused, Ann places her hands on her hips happily.
"If that isn't a face a blast from the past I don't know what is…" Friendly, a familiar pompadour person approaches.
"Thatch been a while." Ann waves at him.
"Yeah last I checked you were wearing the whites of a marines." Smirking, he leans in, twiddling with his goatee as a fair few jolt up at the news.
"A marine!?"
"Now that I think about it she looks familiar!"
"Holy shit that's vice admiral Ann!"
"Vice admiral Ann!? "
"I heard she was going to be an admiral!"
"The hell are one of them doing here!?"
"Yes well I thought of a change." Cheekily, Ann smiles unfazed by the death glares sent her way.
"Clearly he's ready to see you now." Thatch tells her pointing to the door behind him.
"Thanks." Smiling, she waves him off heading inside or attempting to until arching a brow by the group of men in her path.
"O-Oi you're not going near pops!" Perturbed one raises a shaking sword to Ann arching a brow by the trembling blade.
2Am I not now?" Innocently, Ann quirks her head to the side softly setting her fingertip upon the tip of the blade befuddled.
"Stay back guys." Marco sighs shoving his hands into his pockets.
"Huh? C-Commander Marco?" One of the men mutters.
"She isn't a person you can handle." Honestly, he tells them.
"B-But…!" Worriedly, one of the men exclaims however…
"It'll be fine let her pass." Marco tells them.
"Aw thanks Marco I owe you a drink." Dubiously, she winks.
"So persistent…just get in there." Tiredly, Marco huffs at the amused Ann entering the room.
"What brings you here brat?" Grumbling, the man tied to tubes eyes the blondish pink haired woman before him.
"Hello to you too uncle." Amused, Ann chuckles taking out from her bag a piece of paper.
"What's this?" Whitebeard arches a brow by the paper presented to him.
"Someone who I think could be your second commander." Coyly, she tells him, his hues narrow snatching said paper as she eyes the tubes and all sorts stabbed into him, her hues softening slightly sad to see such a figure once strong so fragile now…so old now…
"Cheeky little brat you know who our last commander was." Whitebeard's hues narrow at the unfazed Ann.
"And I think this guy can fill those shoes quite well." Unfazed, Ann repeats resolved.
"That so…a kid with some strength has shown up in the Grand Line!" Whitebeard looks down impressed at the bounty before him.
"He also turned down an offer to join the warlords." Amused, Ann throws in.
"How old are these kids? Why do the young ones always have to be in such a hurry?" Huffing, he asks Ann.
"This young one is someone I think you can help." Honestly, Ann tells him.
"…How so?" Whitebeard arches a brow befuddled.
"Do you not see the resemblance?" Ann sighs on her tippy toes, gesturing between both of them.
"Resemblance?" Raising a brow, Whitebeard scratches his beard.
"Geez seems your health isn't the only thing deteriorating you should get your eyes checked he's my brother." Bluntly, Ann leans back hand on hips.
"That so…so he's related to…" Whitebeard begins but…
"Yeah but keep it a secret would ya?" Ann asks as she places a finger to her lips.
"Hmm…what does this brat have to do with me?" Mumbling, Whitebeard demands.
"My brother…he's never had much of a place to call home, a family even at that I've tried what I could for him but…I know I could have done better, been better." Bluntly, Ann admits, she could have been better to a lot of people, briefly her heart aches at the thought of a certain long haired raven child and another with purple hues, heart aching pondering how they were now…? Were they safe? She hoped so…she knew she could have done better but she didn't, she supposed she really was just like him…
"We all could have at one point Ann." Whitebeard exclaims.
"I know, I know I just…if you allow him to become a son maybe then he'll find a place where he feels like he can belong please." Pleadingly, she begs bowing before Whitebeard.
Whitebeard's hues narrow at the girl her head hitting the ground, a part of him unable not to see Roger before him just like long ago as she bows before the yonko.
"Let my brother join your crew, he's strong, he's one hell of fighter and he's the most loyal person you'll find among these seas! Sure he's a pain in the ass but deep down he means well!" Pleadingly, she begs beseeches him. A still silence hanging heavily between both of them before Whitebeard snitches some bottle by his side downing it, slithers of alcohol leaning out before smashing said bottle bemused by the blonde below.
"Gu ra ra ra ra…You really are your father's daughter." Amused, Whitebeard smirks down at her laughing.
"Are you serious captain!?" Concerned, Deuce couldn't help but gawk gape at the serious Ace making his way up the snowy mountain, the blazing blizzard hitting his crew climbing up the snowscape of the mountain above holding his hat tightly as the wild wind brushes through his coat, crew following behind him heading up the mountain.
"I want to meet them no matter what! I never got to thank her last time and I want to meet him too! Red Hair Shanks!" Seriously, Ace vows determined making his way up smiling as the group make it to the top, entering the dark depths of the cavern, crew surrounding their captain.
"The Spade Pirates? The famous Super Rookies…have come for me?" Smirking, Shanks draws out his blade bemused.
"No that's not what I'm here for! My little brother owes you his life and he never stops talking about you! I just wanted to meet you and say thanks also to thank my sister Ann for what she did at Sabaody for me!" Smiling, Ace waves his hand about as smoke spews out of their lips from the crisp cold air as he explains himself smiling sheepishly as a fair few members of the crew perk up at the name.
"Eh? Wait a minute…now I look at those freckles you're Ann's little brother aren't you!?" Smiling, Shanks recognises.
"Do the freckles give that much away?" Ace asks shyly scratching his cheek coyly.
"The nose doesn't help either." Benn tiredly throws in.
"Man I haven't seen you since you were a kid clinging to your sister's leg!" Smiling, Shanks recalls, smoke spewing out of his lips also from the frozen form of the air around them.
"O-Oi!" Ace whines, a part of him grateful for the heat rushing to his cheeks.
"I never knew Luffy had a brother!" Smiling, Shanks exclaims.
"Didn't Ann tell you?" Astonished, Ace arches a brow befuddled.
"Nah! Ann can be forgetful sometimes, she assumes you just know something she knows one time we were at this new island and wanted to go into this cave she didn't want to go in so Buggy called her a scaredy cat an went on it next we knew we were running, being chased out by some huge dinosaurs. She simply stared at us with a baby dino by her side saying I thought you knew!" Smiling, Shanks recalls the tale fondly of the deadpanned look of Ann acting as if they were the idiots which to be fair they were leading to Buggy teary eyed yelling at the lost Ann attempting to comprehend how she was supposedly in the wrong according to the crying clown child.
"Sounds like Ann. Is she here?" Fondly, Ace smiles softly his grip tightening on his hat as he asks.
"Ah I'm afraid not she had some business to tend to." Shanks smiles at Ace.
"And you just let her go?" Ace arches a brow befuddled by Shank's simple smile alongside a fair few other crewmates.
"Ann is like the wind." Yassop throws in befuddling Ace.
"You can't control her when she had her heart set on something." Munching, Roux adds.
"Ann's a free spirit, she may be a part of my crew but sometimes her leg sorta starts itching, she has to go on her own. I trust her, I know she'll be back." Bluntly, Shanks admits to Ace, Ann was as free as him, she couldn't stay in one for too long probably the pirate blood within her.
"There's no stopping her!" Smiling, Gab hollers raising his glass.
"It's the way she is." Stoically, Benn adds as he silently sips his drink, a stern stoic look on his furrowed features.
"Sounds like her…" Ace smiles softly at the thought of her as before he knew it…
"Let's have a party!" Shanks smiles raising his glass as next the spades knew they were sharing drinks with the red-haired pirates…
"Ah apologies about my sister fighting the admiral it may have caused trouble." Tentatively, Ace smiles shyly at Shanks, a part of him feeling guilty about it all.
"Ann fought another admiral?" Hongo sighs softly exhaustion etched into his fatigued face from it.
"Of course she did." Smirking, Limejuice adds amused.
"Was it bike boy?!" Bemused, Yasopp adds amused.
"…Bike boy?" Befuddled, Ace arches a brow as Benn gives Yasopp a stern scowl swiftly shutting him up.
"Ah don't sweat it, it's fine. We're used to Ann's antics." Shanks smiles assuring Ace.
"Antic?" Ace arches a brow by his words.
"Once you mess with her nakama there's no way Ann's turning her back to ya!" Roux hollers.
"One time a guy spat at Benn and she just decked the guy in the mouth, had no clue he was a celestial dragon." Limejuice reveals to Ace.
"She hit another one!?" Ace gawks gapes at the news, this wasn't the first time…
"You think it's the first time she's hit one?" Shanks smirks as a fair few of the crew cackle.
"We had to practically drag her away from being arrested." Building Snake smirks.
"We were on the run for a whole week…" Hongo huffs sweat sliding down his tense temple at the memory.
"Sounds like her…So how's Luffy still talking about being the pirate king?" Shanks smiles as he holds his cup of sake, his crew cheering surrounding the fierce flames of the fire as both crews converse chowing down on meat and enjoying their drinks.
"It's pretty much his catchphrase well I feel bad for Luffy since I'm the one who's going to be the Pirate King!" Arrogantly, Ace proclaims proudly downing his cup cockily.
"Oh is that so?" Shanks smirks.
"First I'll make every sea recognise my strength!" Smirking, Ace dictates.
"Oh? And how are you going to do that?" Shanks probes.
"I'm gonna defeat the so called strongest man in the world!" Ace announces.
"You're gonna take Whitebeard's head?" Shanks catches on, smirking curious to see where this rookie will go…
"Hey big guy I wanna meet this Whitebeard!" Ace roars raising his voice before the fishman, a large blue whale shark fish-man to be exact.
"I'm not gonna allow a kid with murderous intent to see the old man!" Jinbei dictates determined.
"Captain! That's Jinbei!" Deuce calls out anxious.
"Really? One of the Shibukai? Well that's gonna be a problem I may not be a member of the Whitebeard Pirates…but I feel it is my duty to face you!" Ace dictates determined as battle between both fishman and fire user begins…
"It's been five days and they're still fighting! They might both die at this rate!" One of the crew call out as Deuce watches worriedly while the battle between both of them continue util…
"Ace!" Deuce panics perturbed as their crew's captain collapse before them all alongside the fishman standing guard as before the group knew it, msit had filtered in as a shadow soon approaches.
"What's that?" One of the crew ponder perplexed by the ship shadow approaching as Deuce's heart drops seeing the Moby dick.
"Where's the kid who wants to take my head? As you wish I'll take you on!" Whitebeard proclaims proudly standing on his ship before both collapsed captains.
"It's the Whitebeard Pirates!" Panicked, one of the crew cry out as Ace jolts up at the voice shakily standing awake from the announcement swaying slightly from side to side drained by his fight with Jinbei.
"I'll take care of this myself." Whitebeard stands smirking making his way over towards Ace attempting to stand swaying still as Whitebeard couldn't help but smirk slightly seeing the familiar hat upon the boy's back.
"That hat…brings back fond memories." Whitebeard pokes said hat with his blade.
"Don't touch it!" Incensed, Ace angrily roars raising his voice to the amused Whitebeard seeing for a brief moment a familiar figure from the past as before Ace could do anything with a simple huff his men scream thrown back before the yonko.
"You guys! Flaming net!" Ace jolts up alarmed at his men thrown back beofre forming said net of fierce flames around the two trapping them together.
"Captain! Captain Ace, what are you doing!?" Deuce cries calling out to him.
"Run you guys!" Ace roars raising his voice to them.
"Captain!" His crew cry out to him.
"What? You gonna run away now?" Whitebeard stares down at the boy below.
"I'm letting my crew escape; I stand in their place…I won't run!" Resolved, Ace declares determined.
"What a cheeky little brat you are, you really are her little brother." Bemused, Whitebeard smirks slightly seeing a young pink haired girl before him, blade in both hands behind her are two trembling boys one with red hair the other blue clinging to one another as she stood in front of them protectively…
"Eh? ARGH!" Ace soon screams as before he knew it, he was beaten with one swift slash…
Quietly, Whitebeard stoically stares down at the battered beaten bloodied Ace as he lies flat on his front lying on the cracks from the crater, his hat casted to the side, the fierce flames surrounding them swiftly snuffed out as he reaches for the hat however…
"Don't…touch…you can't…take…my…treasure." Ace's fingertip twitches towards the hat attempting to reach out to the hat.
"Hm?" Humming, the unfazed Yonko watches on stopping himself as Ace attempts to crawl over it to almost.
"This is the man whose strength rivalled his…I'm…" Ace begins brow furrowed clutching cradling said hat close to his chest digging his fingertips furiously into the ground, glaring at the man above as he puts his hat on, shakily standing or at the least trying to…
"You still tryin' to stand up? I'd hate to see you die here kid. If you still want to fight then take my name and roam the seas wild and free! Become my son!" Smiling, Whitebeard bellows getting on his knee offering his hand out to the boy before him.
"You've gotta be kidding me!" Angrily, Ace cross curses before going limp falling into the dark depths of his subconscious…
"Hey Ann…" Ace furrows his brow looking out at the washing waves of the sea before him, a brisk breeze brushing through his ruffled roots of black.
"Hm?" Humming, Ann turns to face the boy by her side.
"Where did Ace come from?" Frowning, Ace asks alarming Ann.
"Oh boy I should have known this talk would come one day when two people get quite drunk…" Ann mutters brow furrowed fatigued.
"No not like that!" Tense, Ace snaps scowling at Ann.
"Oh thank god…" Relieved, Ann sighs softly placing her hand on her chest.
"No I know they come from stalks…" Ace answers as a tense tick mark appears upon Ann's tense temple.
"Cabbages." Curtly, Ann corrects Ace.
"…Eh?" Ace blurts out.
"Cabbages they come from cabbages." Cross, Ann corrects Ace annoyed almost.
"But…" Brow furrowed, Ace begins but…
"No buts. Now I take it you're talking about your name!" Scowling, she snaps sharply sternly switching the topic.
"Yeah…" Ace draws out brow furrowed.
"Uh…well…" Ann smiles strained sweat sliding down her tense temple at the murky memory.
"Ann!" Scowling, the young girl groans as she is being softly shaken trying to sleep as the boat rocks her back and forth.
"Hmm…" Whining, she turns her back to him however her attempt at trying to sleep….fails.
"Ann!" Animatedly, the giddy grin of her father forces her awake as she blinks a fair few times trying to handle being pried awake, rubbing the sleepy dust out of her hues, her hues narrowing at her father fuming from him waking her up to tell her…
"Your sword…you're going to name it after your sword…" Scowling, the younger Ann eyes her father flabbergasted
"Yep!" Roger reveals brightly beaming unfazed by the twitching eyebrow of the annoyed Ann.
"You woke me up…for this?" Tense, Ann's eyebrow twitches tense.
"Ace has always been strong and reliable just like I want my son to be." Beaming, Roger reveals to his little girl, hands on his hips happily telling her the news.
"I dread to even ask where you came up with my name." Ann mutters head in hands.
"Oh it was your mother's idea!" Roger reveals to her.
"…Thank god for that…" Tense, Ann grumbles glaring to the side.
"You going to answer or not…?" Impatiently, Ace swiftly snaps Ann out of her thoughts.
"Uhhh… Ace when you're older just remember this" Ann snaps out of her thoughts turning to look down at the boy before glancing to the side sheepishly not quite sure what to explain.
"…What's that?" Ace arches a brow befuddled.
"It's nice to have fun and all that but be careful when it comes to planting those cabbages." Curtly, Ann attempts to begin her explanation.
"…What are you?" Ace begins but…
"You also need to be careful when it comes to making sure those cabbages don't get sick or infected." Ann curtly cuts Ace off.
"Sick infected what are you…?" Ace's hues narrow lost.
"And also don't forget to ask whether you can plat said cabbage into the path that isn't your soil that's someone else's after all." Ann quickly cuts in.
"…I'm so confused." Ace blurts out lost.
"Good." Ann mutters.
"Have you ever…?" Ace begins but…
"Children can also be born out of treasure chests!" Curtly, Ann cuts Ace off.
"…Eh?" Ace blurts out lost as before he knew it…
"You're leaving?" Ace furrows his brow at Ann.
"…I have to." Ann sighs softly at Ace keeling down pained to leave him like this but with the marines with him around, she had to…
"But…" Ace bows his head.
"It's not safe for me here anymore Ace." Ann admits the fact firmly, wishing she could say more, explain more but…
"Cause of him?" His hues narrow briefly by the thought of him.
"Cause of much more…" Anna asserts queuing Ace's shoulders.
"But why?" Anguished, Ace demands pained making Ann grimace guilt gnawing away at her.
"It's complicated but listen the road you'll go down it won't be easy but you'll get through it I know you will." Ann reaches for her hat something seemingly clicking.
"H-Huh?" Ace's hues widen when feeling something plop on his head.
"Whenever you feel sad, whenever you feel alone, whenever you feel as if the whole world is against you, clutch this hat, you're never alone I'll always be in yours and Luffy's corner." Softly, she smiles down at her baby brother placing her hat on him, the orange hat with the blue smiley faces oddly fitting him despite how big it is…for now.
"Ann…!" Ace whimpers weakly, tears threatening to fall.
"Take care of yourself, I'm excited to see what sort of nakama you make!" Ann beams brightly at her baby brother, pecking his temple.
"I will I'll form a nakama it'll be stronger than yours, better!" Ace vows making Ann smile.
"I'm looking forward to seeing what future you make." Ann smiles softly at Ace before turning on her heel heading out…
"Hey Marco have a drink with me!" Merrily, Ann boards said ship smiling once more as she sits on the railing as her boat to the side rocks with the washing waves attached to said ship as she gets the message loud and clear noting a shocked Deuce watching on from afar as he sits on the Moby dick…
"…Woman I've said it once I'll say it again no." Stubbornly, said male crosses his arms over his chest glaring playfully at the bemused blonde.
"Aw you're no fun…so….how did things go?" Smiling, she turns back to Whitebeard after that dejection.
"How do you expect them to?" Tiredly, Whitebeard crosses his arms over his chest, her hearing his beeping monster by his side.
"Well for one my brother's ass kicked." Casually, Ann places a hand to her hip.
"He was defeated and we've taken him on board." Bluntly, Whitebeard answers.
"Aw gramps I knew you'd listen." Pleased, Ann smiles.
"He's a stubborn little brat doesn't know when to quit reminds me a bit of you…" Whitebeard points out.
"That so?" Smirking, she smiles.
"The hat doesn't help either." He huffs.
"Aww I thought the hat would look nice on him just be kind to him would you? He's been through hell enough with our blood." Bluntly, she tries to warn him clasping her hands together.
"Heh he'll be my son no matter what." Whitebeard announces almost as if it were a war declaration.
"I thought you'd say that." Pleased, she smiles before turning on her heel heading to her boat.
"Won't you wait for him to awaken!?" Deuce finally speaks up as Ann seemingly stops inn her tracks turning to him.
"Ah…Deuce sorry for getting you involved in this." Smiling, she tells him.
"Why won't you wait for him!?" Deuce demands from her.
"…Thanks for being patient with him. Whitebeard look after this crew they're good." Ann smiles at Deuce before turning to Whitebeard.
"Hmph cocky brat." Whitebeard huffs.
"Still thanks again for standing by Ace Deuce. I know how stubborn he can be but this…this will be good for him. Give him a consistent parental figure and all that…so thanks for putting up with my selfishness." Smiling, she tells Deuce dismisses him before turning on her heel, swerving over the railing, landing onto her ship swiftly taking off leaving the lost spade pirates in Whitebeard's care
Ace you may hate it at the first but this is something I could only wished to have given you, this family will finally be a family where you can smile freely…Ann smiles sadly at the fact of the matter as much as she'd love to help him, she could only do so much the rest was up to Whitebeard as selfish as it was…
"Okay let's start today's lesson of how to express gratitude." Merrily, Makino smiles softly at the trio before her, Ann standing by her side.
"Yeah let's get started already!" Ace declares determined.
"Oh you got it Ace!" Luffy cheers him on.
"No that's not right you have to say thank you in advance on that occasion." Makino smiles softly showcasing said no with forming an x with her fingertips.
"Oh that wasn't right? It sounded cool though…" Luffy argues.
"Ace wants to learn this because he wants to say thank you properly to Shanks, it doesn't matter if it sounds cool Luffy." Ann fills Luffy in.
"To Shanks?!" Surprised, Luffy gasps.
"Yeah I will be a pirate by the time I see Red-Haired as a pirate and as your older brother it's my job to thank him!" Ace beams brightly.
"Now let's do it pretend that he's right in front of you." Makino tells Ace.
"I'm Ace who the hell are you?" Ace blurts out taking Ann aback.
"The hell kinda hello is that?" Tense, Ann angrily demands from her baby brother.
"Was it wrong?" Innocently, Ace ponders perplexed.
"It's not nice to say the hell." Makino calmly intervenes.
"But you do it half the time." Ace points to Ann.
"Yeah well I'm a pirate." Pointedly, Ann deadpans.
"So I'm going to be one as well and Shanks is one too." Ace argues.
"Yeah but to people you respect you don't say that especially if you're first meeting them." Makino fills Ace in.
"Is it who the heck are you?" Ace tries again but…
"Booh." Together, the two adults boo.
"Eh?" Astonished, Ace blurts out.
"Give me your name." Ace tries again.
"Booh." Together, the two chorus again.
"You have to say you fool!" Luffy smiles.
"Who are you, you bastard?" Ace attempts to speak however…
"Booh!" Together, the two chorus again.
"Who is this?" Ace tries again.
"Booh!" Together, the two repeat.
"Whom is this?" Ace tries.
"How do you even know what whom is?" Intrigued, Ann arches a brow befuddled, impressed almost.
"I heard it from some guy at the terminal." Ace shrugs.
"Sabo said. It too!" Luffy adds.
"Course…still booh." Bluntly, Ann delivers.
"Still!?" Scowling, the annoyed Ace growls glaring.
"So much for raising you two right, ah I knew raising you with bandits was a bad idea." Ann places her hand to her head.
"I heard that!" Dadan roars from within.
"And you're going to be hearing it a lot more!" Mad, Ann barks back.
"EEPP!" The bandits squeal scared.
"You're bugging me by saying stupid things! Go away!" Ace roars at Luffy.
"Ace don't blame Luffy for you getting it wrong." Ann intervenes brow furrowed.
"Eh?" Ace blurts out.
"Listen Ace I found an anaconda's next filled with big eggs! Let's go get some!" Smiling, Luffy unfazed offers.
"What? Big eggs?! No I can't!" Eagerly, Ace goes for it but soon stops when eyeing the two women before him.
"Huh?" Luffy blurts out astonished.
"I wanna learn how to pay respect." Resolved, Ace reminds himself.
"I could get hurt if no one's there and the anaconda finds me! But I'll be safe if you come with me! So…" Luffy tries to argue before both boys head into the forest.
"You two…" Ann smirks shaking her head at the two taking off, Makino smiling softly by her side watching the two head off…
Groaning, Ace holds his head, brow furrowing fatigued from it all almost as he holds his head, heading out of the room he had found himself in, hearing the soft sound of the washing waves watching the boat he is found upon rocking slightly side by side.
"Hey! I'm commander of the fourth Division…Thatch! Since you're joining our crew, I think we should be friends." Friendly, Thatch approaches the lost Ace furrowing his brow by the strange ship he had found himself on.
"Shut up!" Angrily, Ace yells glaring at the unfazed Thatch.
"You sure woke up in a bad mood. Oh yeah do you want to know what happened after you passed out? Your companions came to get you back…so we beat them all." Merrily, Thatch smiles propping himself upon the railing of said ship seeing said boy glare glower at him.
"What? It's not like they're dead we're keeping them here on this ship." Sighing, Thatch assures Ace.
"Are you sure you should leave me like this, without any locks or shackles or anything?" Annoyed, Ace's hues narrow at the man.
"Shackles? We don't need those!" Thatch chuckles at the thought.
Snoring, Whitebeard's snot bubble goes up and down as he rests in bed, unaware of th stoic silent Ace, blade in hand raised as he lurches forward fierce flames spewing out of his back but before he could do anything…
"Hey, hey what d'ya think your doing?" Annoyed, a whitebeard pirate furrows his brow at the figure being thrown through the wall hitting the railing, blade tossed to the side as an astonished Ace gawks gapes, holding his battered bloodied beaten nose, crimson currents come gushing out of it as he stares stunned at the sleeping whitebeard.
"You should be more considerate at this time of night!" Another angry voice joins in as Ace shakes at the man in a world of his own…
Angrily, Ace appears behind the awake Whitebeard sat simply staring ahead as axe in hand, Ace appears behind him about to take whitebeard's head however…
"Oi he fell overboard!" A voice hollers as said devil fruit user is thrown overboard.
"And he can't swim either!" Another adds.
"Someone go save him!" Marco sighs as someone dives down to do so.
"Every day he does this. He has real persistence..." Amused, Vista twirls his moustache.
"More than a hundred times now isn't it?" Another adds.
"Yup pretty sure it is." Marco confirms calmly.
"He really is his sister you got to give him that." Thatch tells Marco while stirring said soup below bemused by Ace's antics at attempting to kill Whitebeard while pouring some soup into a bowl, handing it over to Marco.
"In what regard?" Muttering, Marco scowls, grumpily taking the bowl brow furrowed.
"His persistence, this is what? 100 times now he's almost catching up to Ann's score of asking you out!" Teasingly, Thatch points out much to the blonde's dismay, that girl was quite the troublemaker, teasing people persistently, he could see the apple didn't fall far from the tree.
"You're hilarious." Huffing, Marco mutters turning towards the door.
"I try my best." Beaming, Thatch smirks watching Marco head out of the room…
Loudly, the crowd cheer as Ace watches on from the sides seeing some of his crew converse with those on Whitebeard's acting all happy as Ace couldn't help but furrow his brow by the sight, the soft sound of footsteps snapping Ace out of it as he eyes the bowl below him seeing steam spew out of it.
Ace simply stares at the soup as Marco simply sighs turning his back to join his brothers but before he could…
"You guys…why do you call him your father anyway?" Ace asks out of the blue breaking the still silence between both of them.
"Because he calls us his sons to the rest of the world we're all just outcasts. It makes us happy. It's just a word but it makes us happy. Hey how long are you gonna keep riking your life like this? Make up your mind already. You can't possibly take the old man's head the way you are now…Ann sacrificed her pride for you to be here." Honestly, Marco admits to Ace astonishing him.
"…Ann?" Ace perks up at his words.
"How do you think you survived Whitebeard? Ann came to us, bowed her head for you to join our nakama." Marco informs Ace, his hues dilating from her words.
"She…she did that?" Tense, Ace whispers weakly.
"Ace…your sister loves you a great deal for someone of her power, of her seniority of her influence to bow her head to Whitebeard…the right hand of a yonko…you understand the situation she put herself in for your sake do you not?" Seriously, Marco's hues narrow at Ace.
"Ann…" Ace bows his head, his voice cracking, tone trembling…
"She wants you to be happy, to have a nakama that you can smile freely for. So are you gonna get off this ship and start over…or are you gonna stay here and accept whitebeard's mark?" Marco demands from Ace brow furrowing at the boy's lip trembling at the question proposed…
"You're Douma right?" Casually, Ace leaps down from Striker standing on the opposite ship as immediately the men on board arm themselves, a wooden looking puppet like man stands, blades either side of him with a armed monkey as Ace simply raises his hand, fierce flames consuming them as with one swift strike…
"Wow Ace did it again!"
"He made Douma's crew surrender all on his own!"
"Me, become the second division Commander?" Astonished, Ace jolts up at the thought.
"We've been missing one for a long time." Smiling, one of his brothers tell him.
"The others would surely accept you!" Eagerly, another joins in.
"You've been here a lot longer than me right? Are you sure it's okay?" Ace asks eyeing Blackbeard by his side stuffing his face with cherry pie.
"It's fine don't worry about it. I don't have that kind of ambition anyway. Go ahead Commander Ace!" Blackbeard boasts.
"Old man can I come in?" Anxiously, Ace asks as he comes in as Whitebeard allows him to sit bowing his head ready to tell him the truth…
"Really? What a surprise! So that's how it is? You don't really act like Roger though…your sister on the other hand practically extrudes his charisma…despite how different she looks to him…" Humming, Whitebeard downs the glass in his hand eyeing the boy before him, seeing her clearly in him.
"Did she…did she really bow her head to you?" Anxiously, Ace asks as his grip tightens around his knees, nails scraping against his kneecap anxious.
"Aye she did. You know you look like her a lot though the nose and…" Whitebeard confirms calmly.
"Freckles right?" Ace smiles solemnly pointing to his face.
"…" Silently, Whitebeard stares down at the boy on the verge of tears.
"Ann…" Ace whimpers weakly, his voice cracking having no words, to think his sister would do this for him…
"She cares about you a great deal Ace don't be angry at her for being concerned." Whitebeard tells him.
"…I'm not. I just wish she didn't have to do this sorta shit for me." Anguished, Ace bows his head.
"Then what sort of older sister would she be?" Bemused, Whitebeard argues as Ace goes silent from his words.
"…Weren't you two enemies? Hell weren't you and my sister enemies too? She was on his ship…you're not gonna throw me out?" Ace argues.
"When you said you had something important to talk about I thought it would be bigger than this…it doesn't matter who your parents were. Everyone is a child of the sea…as for Ann…she's my daughter how could she be an enemy of mine?" Merrily, Whitebeard beams brightly.
"Daughter?" Astonished, Ace jolts up at his words.
"Yes Roger and I have battled time and time again our crews have fought against one another but that girl…despite all that has never shown hostility towards me, whenever we'd meet she'd be as polite as always, her mother's side I assume. She is a child of the sea just as you are." Whitebeard smiles softly at the merry memory of his attempt at capturing the child to make her join his crew as Roger had taken Oden from him, leading to quite the trifle of battles between both yonko's of the sea.
"And now Ace is officially the Second Division Commander!" Cheering, the whitebeard pirates raise their glasses to their newest second vision commander.
"Hey this is a celebration for you! Why are you spacing out? Here!" Marco drapes his arm over Ace handing him a pint.
"Here you go, hey hey the food isn't gonna run away you know! Beside the parties in your honour you know…" Thatch joins in as just then…
"Zzz…" Ace slumps forward, snores soon slipping out of him.
"HE FELL ASLEEP!" The pirates gawk gape at the snoring sleeping pirate that was their second division commander.
