Chapter 52
"It is highly unusual to see so many witches together," Brook mused, startling them all. "My bloodline dried out quite some time ago, even though I am still the head of the clan, but even still before my death I had never seen another head witch."
Robin had to admit, it was fascinating. Brook was the head witch of the Rose Clan of Illusions. He had died as the head without an heir, but despite how he came back because of his devil fruit, he hadn't regained his grimoire.
Robin was a bit jealous. She didn't have a grimoire. They looked interesting, and all the other clans seemed to have them apart from her, the living ones at any rate.
"Is it really that strange?" Chopper blinked.
"It is," Robin confirmed. "Most head witches don't meet one another ever in their lives, which is why I was surprised to find out that Sanji was a head witch too."
Portgas D. Rouge seemed to be the exception to that rule too. After all, she had brought Law and Ace together, and Robin had met her back in Flevance. Also from what Robin had heard from Chopper, Rouge had brought Ace to Dr. Kureha before too back when he had been a Spade Pirate.
The question was, were the witches gathering together because Rouge had set something off? Or was Luffy the accidental culprit behind all this?
"Meanwhile this one knows a lot of head witches," Usopp said, jerking his thumb at Luffy.
"Shishishishi!" Luffy grinned.
Nami huffed. "You met Ace when you were a kid, then Law, Sanji, Vivi, Dr. Kureha, Robin, Paulie and now Brook. That's an insane amount of witches!"
"It usually means some big event is about to happen," Brook said.
"A big event?" Usopp frowned. "Like what?"
"That I'm unsure of," Brook admitted.
"Maybe a party?" Luffy beamed. "Like an epic, magical party!"
"It's hard to say," Robin said. "History books are unclear, but the last time all the head witches got together was during the Void Century."
"EH?! THAT WAS A REALLY LONG TIME AGO!" Usopp screamed.
Sanji winced. "At least we're not all together then. We've only got three on the Sunny."
"Agreed, but it's strange how we're all meeting through you, Luffy," Robin said, staring at him, but Luffy shrugged.
"Gramps put me in the bandit house with Ace, and Sabo, and we became brothers, and then we found Traffy, and we became brothers too, even if Traffy will never admit it! Shishishishi!" Luffy grinned.
That answered none of her questions unfortunately, but something was definitely stirring in the world. All the witches were gathering together again, and Luffy was charging through the Grandline fast. Most people didn't do that. No, in fact, Robin couldn't think of anyone who did that.
Luffy might not be aware of it, but he was shaking something in the world, and it was going to cause a big reaction soon. Robin could feel it deep in her bones.
.:.
"There will be a war."
Ace startled, turning around, where a blonde woman stood before a dark haired woman. The dark haired one had freckles and grey eyes, while the blonde woman had bright blue eyes, although her fringed did almost cover one of them up. The dark haired one was lying back, floating beside the blonde in the air with her arms behind her head. The blonde had her arms crossed and was tapping her foot.
"You don't seem at all concerned by that, Ann!" the blonde scolded.
"I'm thinking, Sora," Ann admitted. "I've already told Levi that I want to do something about it."
"With our blood bound I don't know if we can." Sora frowned. "At least I haven't thought of anything yet."
Ann grinned. "That's terrifying. You're usually very clever too."
"Why do you sound so cheerful about that?" Sora scowled. "We might be forced to fight our friends, Ann!"
"I trust Joy Boy." Ann's face faltered, and the grin left it as she tilted herself upright, lightly landing on the ground again. "And... and if it comes to it..." Her face hardened, eyes burning with resolve. "If it comes to it then I want him to kill us to save the world. Lili already agreed with me!"
Sora looked away at the ground. "I don't think he can do that...you know he would want to save us, because we're his friends..."
Ann sighed. "Probably."
"Maybe one of the samurai can..."
"That Ryuma friend of yours. Do you think he could do it?"
Sora hesitated, then laughed bitterly. "He'd just want to save us too." She shook her head and smiled shakily. "All because I keep giving him food. No, better not to let him know. He's so far not been getting involved, and I'd hate for him to suffer too."
Ann laughed, a sharp, barking laughter. "Those stubborn idiots."
Ace sighed. Yeah, a bunch of stubborn idiots. He knew how that felt right now.
He wished he could save Thatch.
.:.
"We're arriving at Marineford, Captain," Laffitte said.
"Good." Teach grinned, but Ace saw his eyes land on him and Teach grimaced. "Oi, Ace, you keep your hood up the entire time, got it? We don't want these nosy bastards learning about you and trying to take you away. They shouldn't because you're one of my crew, but better to play it safe."
Ace nodded and tugged his hood up to hide his face. Thatch shifted beside him, frowning.
"He was the only pretty face on this ship apart from me," Thatch huffed. "Now I have to look at all your ugly mugs instead."
He swore he caught Ace's lip curl up at that, but the small smile was gone as quick as it appeared, much to Thatch's disappointment. Dang it, he had to try harder. This was Thatch's only form of entertainment at the moment. He had been trying to make Ace laugh and smile every time he saw him. It was better than thinking about the chains binding his arms to his sides, and the cuffs digging into his wrists behind him. Those things better not ruin his hands. He swore to Davy Jones, otherwise there would be even more hell to pay. People shouldn't mess with a chef's hands dammit.
"Don't look so glum, Thatch." Teach smirked. "You should enjoy your last rays of sunlight while you can. You'll be getting locked up for a long time after this."
Thatch growled. "You bastard. I can't wait for Pops to get a hand around your neck, even if I don't get to see it."
Thatch really hoped that he got to see it though. It would be a beautiful sight. Something Thatch could fall asleep to every night.
"Zehahahahaha, the old goat should realise that if he keeps sending his sons after me, then he's going to lose them all." Teach smirked. "Besides, we both know how weak he's gotten over the years. Ace never saw him in his prime, but you and I did. He's gone soft with age."
Thatch scoffed, "Soft? He doesn't fight as often anymore, sure, but you're calling him soft?"
"He's an old fool who relies too heavily on his devil fruit these days. The danger in him is long gone," Teach said. "And if he comes after me, he'll realise that his devil fruit won't work on me once I get a hold of him. I'll relish in his shock when I shoot him down. Zehahahaha!"
Thatch growled, but Burgess had a hold of his chain and yanked him back.
"Think he was about to try throttle you there, Teach!" Burgess grinned.
"Zehahahaha, naive fool. It's too late for that now, Thatch. You already lost our battle twice now, once on the Moby Dick, with my dagger dug into your back, and now on Banaro Island," Teach mocked. "You think you would have learned when I stabbed you the first time. You're a weakling. The only reason you caught me off guard on Banaro Island is because you had Portgas D. Rouge with you. She is the real threat, and only grows stronger again as Ace does, and with me? Ace is going to become powerful."
"They've got a big crowd gathered, Teach," Ace warned them, startling them. "A lot of strong people too, including my gramps."
Teach frowned. "Your gramps?"
"Monkey D. Garp."
"Fuck!" Teach cursed. "Of course, forgot about your relation to Dragon."
Thatch threw Ace a baffled look. Relation to Dragon? He and Luffy weren't blood brothers. Ace had told him and Marco who his father was when he had first joined, all nervous and worried, but they had been quick to reassure him. Ace threw him a small wink the moment everyone's attention was off them and locked on to Marineford, and Thatch couldn't help but grin.
Rouge was right, Ace really was being petty. Atta boy.
.:.
Ace kept his hoodie pulled up as their ship weighed anchor. He desperately hoped his gramps wasn't seeking out everyone's haki, because he was going to discover Ace instantly. Sengoku was at the head of the group of marines, his eyes cold and hard, while Ace made sure to stay behind Teach the entire time. Laffitte and Burgess beside Teach. There were twenty marines on deck, all armed.
"Well, it looks like you did manage to take me by surprise," Sengoku mused, eyeing Laffitte. "The Blackbeards, was it?"
"Zehahahaha, yes indeed! We've brought you a prize worthy of becoming a Warlord, right?" Teach grinned, reaching out for Thatch's chain and yanking him forward.
"Bastard-" Thatch hissed.
"I would have rather you brought him to the nearest base instead of parading him around here, but I suppose you pirates can rarely be subtle," Sengoku scoffed. "But congratulations, scum of the earth, you're now a Warlord. We'll take Twin Blade Thatch into custody and get the paperwork written up. You and your crew will now be in partnership with us."
"Zehahahaha, sounds good, Sengoku!" Teach grinned as two marines came up and took Thatch by the shoulders, leading him away into their gathered company.
Ace bit his lip at the sight.
"At least you guys look so much prettier than these assholes," Thatch said cheerfully to his escorts. "They hardly bathe, so they stink a lot too, and they are so rude!"
Ace barely held back a groan. At least Thatch was amused, or at least trying to enjoy himself, Ace supposed.
"Any bounties on your crew will now be frozen," Sengoku began, eyes growing sharper. "Except for one who I want to personally question."
Ace saw Thatch tense.
"And who might that be?" Teach scowled.
"Portgas D. Ace, lower your hood," Sengoku ordered.
"Shit, how did they know?" Burgess hissed.
Teach cursed. "Oi, oi, he's one of my crew mates!"
"We got information that you had kidnapped a Whitebeard Pirate aboard your ship and forced him into your crew months ago!" Sengoku snapped. "If that is true then we'll be taking Portgas D. Ace into our custody effective immediately."
"I love how you add this on after you get Twin Blade," Teach growled lowly.
Ace lowered his hood and stepped up beside Teach. "I'm a Blackbeard Pirate," Ace said firmly.
"And how do we know that exactly?" Sengoku scowled.
"Because I'm currently handing over a Whitebeard Commander to you with my Captain," Ace said, and couldn't help but look away from Sengoku and watched as Garp approached, making his way through the crowd of marines with a grim expression.
Shit, he looked ready for a fight.
"Laffitte is a known hypnotist," Sengoku said coldly.
"I couldn't keep someone as strong as Ace under my control forever," Laffitte insisted.
"Where is your grimoire, Ace?" Gramps asked quietly, staring him down.
Sengoku nodded. "Show us that you're in possession of it, and that your jolly roger has been removed from your back."
"Really? You're asking a lot from someone who is your ally," Teach complained. "Oi, Ace, you can bring out your grimoire. You have my permission."
Gramps' eyes narrowed further at that.
Ace could see the tension growing in his shoulders. This was bad, but at least Teach had given Ace verbal permission to summon his grimoire back. Teach had laid down that rule the first day he had taken Ace away from the Moby Dick. Ace had not been allowed to seek out his grimoire unless he had Teach's permission. Ace began to focus his magic and spread it across his back. He needed to cast a minor illusion. His back would appear to be burned instead. Hopefully it would be enough to fool Sengoku and gramps. Ace turned around and began to lower his jacket from his back, but lowered his voice into the quietest whisper he could.
"I shall cloak the jolly roger upon my back from prying eyes, and I summon my grimoire from Marshall D. Teach's hidden place with his full permission."
Thankfully Burgess chose that time to laugh loudly and cheer the moment Ace began whispering. He felt his grimoire again, a solid presence within him, so Ace summoned it quietly into his arm.
"See? It's now burnt off my back," Ace said, ignoring Thatch's sharp, shaky inhale.
"Teach, what the fuck did you make him do?!" Thatch yelled, thrashing against the marines, but they held him steady.
"He made me do nothing, Thatch," Ace said firmly. "It was my own choice." He glanced over his his grandpa and turned around again, shouldering his jacket back on. "As for my grimoire, it's right here in my arm."
"Zehahahahaha, see? Ace is apart of my crew," Teach said, patting his back.
Sengoku eyed Garp and muttered something to him. The pair looked grim, but Sengoku nodded.
"Fine. We'll believe you for now," Sengoku said. "But if we find out otherwise, we will be taking the Portgas heir into our custody."
"Well there is no need to worry," Teach scoffed. "Ace is apart of my crew."
"You're lucky then pirates," Gramps sneered. "Because if he hadn't been, I would have crushed all your necks right now for kidnapping my grandson."
"Well they didn't, so you can relax, Gramps," Ace said.
"Grandpa!" Gramps insisted.
"Gramps." Ace stuck out his tongue.
"You disrespectful brat-"
Ace winced back when Garp raised a fist, but Sengoku grabbed him first.
"No, Garp!" Sengoku protested. "You can't just beat a head witch up!"
"He's a dirty pirate and a disrespecting grandson!"
Ace hid behind Teach. "Save me..."
"Blackbeard Pirates, you go back on to your ship, except you, Marshall D. Teach," Sengoku yelled over gramp's ranting. "We will arrange the paperwork. Garp, stop squirming, you're embarrassing the Marines!"
"I'll kick his ass!"
"You're insane, Gramps!" Ace hissed.
"And you should mind your manners!"