"…I see you haven't changed at all…" Ann sneers scowling at Akainu, magma droplets of ruby red dripple descend down from the glistening gold blade before her, hearing the soft sound of the ice burning beneath her feet.
"Hibiscus…!" Akainu angrily growls glaring at the woman before him.
"You're still murdering one after another all in the name of your so called justice…" Ann sneers disgust dripping down her tense tired tone.
"Do not speak to me of justice you traitor!" Akainu roars rushing her back as she pushes him back, both distance themselves from the fallen figure between both of them.
"And do not speak to me of justice you murderer!" Ann replies repulsed by the sheer sight of him.
"So you've come…Hibiscus Red Haired." Garp eyes both red haired and Hibiscus side by side.
"It's the Red Hair Pirates!" A marine says scared seeing said ship appears before them all.
"Captain! Captain! We'll be attacked if we don't dive right away! I'm begging you close the doors!" The polar bear begs his captain standing slumped against the doorframe of the sub, simply staring watching a certain pink haired woman…
"…Sure." Stoically, he stares out at the woman, he had been searching for, his grip tightening around the sheath of his blade, he was so close now…soon he would get the answers he had been searching for…all he had to do was help Mugiwara doing that…he would final get the answers he needs from her.
"No way! Red-Haired and Hibiscus had a run-in with Kaidou, another one of The Four Emperors, just yesterday in the New World! And they made it here already?!" The marines gawk gape at both the stoic Shanks and aloof Ann, brushing a stray strand of blond behind her ear.
"Sh... Shanks?! Ann!? Why the hell are you two here?!" Surprise filters across both of them.
"Buggy?" Ann arches a brow baffled to see said flying head however Shanks has other plans as he throws it up to him.
"The straw hat?!" Befuddled, Buggy catches it.
"Give it back to Luffy!" Shanks orders him.
"Why should I?! I refuse! I was just trying hard to fade out!" Buggy refuses.
"You mean flee again?" Annoyed, Ann places a hand to her hip.
"I DO NOT FLEE!" Buggy bellows.
"ALL YOU EVER DO IS FLEE YOU IDIOT!" Incensed, Ann barks back at the moron.
"WHO THE HELL YOU CALLING AN IDIOT!?" Buggy yells back.
"I AM YOU IDIOT!" Irritated, Ann snaps.
"IDIOT!" Buggy growls.
"IDIOT!" Ann snarls back as the marines and pirates alike couldn't help but gawk at the childish squabble between both of them.
"Look I don't wanna draw their attention anymore!" Buggy tells the two how it is despite having all eyes on the trio.
"I think it's a bit late for that." Tiredly, Ann scowls seeing the numerous eyes on the trio.
"I refuse." Buggy refuses.
"Fine guess I'm looking for some legs then." Ann hints her hues narrowing as Buggy flinches fearfully.
"You wouldn't!?" Buggy's hues narrow at Ann.
"Wouldn't I?!" Ann arches a brow making Buggy let out a small squeak scared.
"Really? That's a shame. I had a treasure map I wanted to give you too…" Shanks sighs turning on his heel.
"Really!?" Buggy perks up.
"Yeah it leads to a great treasure trove!" Shanks smirks.
"Oh come on. That's way too good to be true! You think you can fool me with a story like that?" Buggy glares down at Shanks.
"Alright guess I'll give it someone else then." Shanks turns away.
"Wha!? Oh crap wait! I'll do it! I'll give it to him right away!" Anxiously, Buggy goes to do so.
"Hibisucus…!" Sengoku scowls glaring glowering down at Ann.
"Aw what's wrong Sengoku scared about the bloodline of the person you vouched for? I mean how pathetic must you be so judge someone on blood alone? Oh yeah you are, I mean how would the marines react? No the world react to the person you vouched to be admiral all those years ago to have the blood of the pirate king in their veins?" Amused, Ann asks smirking smugly.
"WHAT!?" The marines gawk gape at the news.
"Oh well I guess we're getting your answer aren't we Sengoku?" Smirking, she turn to the glaring glowering Sengoku.
"Aokiji-san!" Worried, his men call out to him.
"Are you alright admiral Aokiji-san!?" Another, a variety of marines turn to Kuzan, his hand over his face trying to process it all, trying to process everything as his cool grey meet a pair of sherry red as just like that…rage freely flows through Kuzan, his blood boiling bubbling burning how could she hide something like that form him!? How…he looks over at the bloodied boy before him as just like that the tense tornado of fierce flames festering was swiftly snuffed out, a ice cold slap of realization hitting him hard at the sad reality of it all. He could feel the bile burning his throat, trying to crawl upwards as he forced it back down, ignoring the agony of pain in his chest, the answer staring straight at him for her lies.
Ann simply looks over the man going over the stages of grief not even fazed her focus firmly on Akainu. Marco meanwhile stares sympathetically at the admiral, a pair of gleaming gold doing the same to the mess that is the normally calm cool composed blue pheasant thinking back…
"So…you went to Roger's execution…" Kuzan furrows his brow at her.
"This again? Well yeah…it was a big thing at the time you know? A whole era was changing…it still is changing I suppose, I wonder what the future will bring?" Ann couldn't help but ponder to herself.
"More scummy pirates after that treasure he mentioned." Akoji's grip tightens around the anxious Ann grimacing glancing to the side scowling.
"You really think all pirates are scum?" Shyly, Ann asks as she removes herself slightly from Kuzan, his brow furrowing from her words.
"All they do is cause trouble I wouldn't have this job if it weren't for them." Kuzan argues.
"Do you…do you think Gol. D Roger is scum?" Softly, Ann asks Kuzan.
"He's king of the scum." Kuzan asserts as Ann couldn't help but grimace.
"Ann!" Sengoku snarls seethes tick mark clear on his furious face, seemingly snapping Ann out of her thoughts.
"…You failed Sengoku. This war for the betterment of the future has only become the exact opposite. All of this, this bloodshed can you truly condone one life for all this? Tell me Sengoku. Do the ends of thousands of lives of people with friends, families, loved ones death justify the death of one boy…? Through these lowly means that you delude yourself into calling justice!?" Severely, Ann demands from Sengoku going silent surprising a fair few marines.
"Captain we'll be attacked if we don't dive right away!" Anxiously, the polar bear argues as Law remains rooted looking out at the fleeting figure of Marineford as Hayami joins in, scowling, ready just in case a fight would ensue.
"AHHH!" Someone screams.
"Wait a sec." Law hesitates.
"We can't wait anymore!" Bepo argues as the two turns to the clown rushing forward.
"You forgot this! Here catch!" Buggy throws the hat that Law catches.
"This is…" Law furrows his brow by the straw hat in his hand.
"Captain, hurry! Hurry!" The polar bear bellows.
"Sure!" The three descend down the stairs shutting the door behind them as they dive down…
"Alright let's get started. This one's chest is pierced he's on the verge of death. Straw hatter has severe external injuries too, but the worst injuries are deeper." Law looks over at his patients strapped to the IV's.
"Do you need anaesthetics?" The polar bear asks.
"Not necessary. They're both so badly injured they can't even feel pain. No matter how bad it gets they shouldn't have the energy to complain… this should be a fun operation." A sadistic smirk crosses Law's lips as the operation begins…
"Do not speak of justice traitor! Hibiscus you bastard! You let Dragon's son get away!" Angrily, Akainu blames Ann.
"Lowly mongrels like you should really know their place." Ann sneers scowling down at the man above as before he knew it, crimson came coughing out of him startling everyone as the admiral, the red dog, Sakazuki fell flat to his knees bowing before Ann on his knees.
"He…He's knocked out!?" A marine gasps.
"H-How!?" Another asks anxiously.
"A-Admiral Sakazuki!" His men cry out concerned.
"You demon what did you do to him!?" Horrified, a marine says scared.
"S-She didn't even touch him!" Horrified, another anxious voice squeaks scared.
"The colour of the supreme king…" Sengoku's hues narrow at the woman.
"So she got it from him…" Garp's brow furrows.
"Ooh a conqueror…" Kizaru shoves his hands into his pockets bemused by the sight.
"She really is from another world!" A marine whimpers weakly.
"She isn't human!" A marine says scared.
"Demon a real demon just like her devil of a father!" Frightened, another anxious voice throws in.
"So you had it all along…Ann!" Sengoku scowls at Ann.
"I couldn't show all my cards now could I?" Amused, Ann flips her locks bemused by his ice cold glare.
"To think you kept this from us all these years…" Sengoku seethes snarls shakes.
"It was a challenge but where would the fun in that be?" Bemused, Ann argues amused almost as just then…a familiar admiral of white and purple leaps up into the air, Ann's hues meet Shanks silent pair, no words needing to be shed as they have their backs to the admiral.
"Ice Age!" He sprouts said ice into the water encasing the sea in ice.
"He's after the submarine! The sea is gonna be frozen!" Roux panics perturbed as Aokiji lands, ice coating his cheek, his hues dead set on Ann who simply stares ahead, not even batting an eye to the ice coated man slowly standing staring scowling straight at her.
"If they're still alive now…then they're really lucky. We'll just have to give up on them now." Kizaru deduces after firing numerous balls of light crushing breaking the ice.
"Huh? Why is that warship sailing out alone?" Astonished, a marine takes note of the ship departing.
"You must hurry! Follow the submarine!" Hancock orders.
"Follow it!? It's at the bottom of the sea I doubt it even survived the admirals attacks just now…" The marine argues however.
"No they are without a doubt alive. Listen well as one of the warlords I shall definitely chase down straw hat Luffy and finish him off! Report this to the navy!" Hancock insists.
"Y-Yes mam!" Meekly, the marines comply crimson cheeked.
"But where should we go?" Another adds.
"Just advance!" Angrily, Hancock points towards the sea.
"She's crazy but she's so beautiful!" Beaming, the merry marines comply crimson cheeks burning as they follow the submarine…
"Oi Chief. You haven't seen Luffy for years. Don't you wanna see him?" Roux calls out biting into his meat on a bone.
"Yeah, maybe... I wanna see him but... If I see you now, it means I fail to keep the promise, doesn't it, Luffy?" Shanks smiles looking out at the sea.
"Hibiscus…" Marco calls out to the shadowy face of the woman making her way over his siblings standing by his side all of them looking anguished as Ann simply stares stoically ahead.
"Marco…please don't fight any longer, Ace and Whitebeard wouldn't want you to throw your lives away to such scum." Seriously, she tells Marco.
"…Ann I'm…" Marco begins brow furrowed, trying to stop the crack of his voice but…
"Don't." Ann coldly curtly commands.
"What?" Marco's eyes expand when hearing her rigid robotic response.
"What happened was not your fault the failure is on my part for not stopping my brother when I should have." Honestly, Ann explains to Marco.
"Ann…" Touched, Marco whispers weakly.
"Marco as first commander your siblings turn to you for guidance, you mustn't falter do not allow the enemy to see such weakness, shed your tears when you are alone and not when the enemy can see and take advantage of it…if so you've already let the marines win." Ann places her hand on Marco's shoulder.
"Hawk-Eye where are you going?!" A marine calls out to the swordsman turing to leave.
"I agreed to fight Whitebeard, fighting Red Haired and Hibiscus was not part of the agreement. I'm leaving." Mihawk asserts.
"Vice Admiral…" A few tearful marines whisper.
"Big Sis Ann!" Some of the pirates burst into tears.
"A woman respected among the rank of navy and pirate alike…she truly is a terrifying force to be reckoned with…" Sengoku couldn't help but furrow his brow at the sight of the woman.
"If you people keep fighting both sides will suffer more pointless casualties…" Calmly, Ann begins as she feels all eyes on her until she turns to look towards Shanks standing by side.
"If anybody still wants to fight….then come we will be your opponents…what do you say, Teach? No Blackbeard!" Shanks ends as he draws out his blade by his crew's side standing ready for whatever would come their way.
"You're looking more handsome than ever Red Hair that scar suits you nicely as do you Hibiscus you've truly bloomed back into the beauty I once saw you for with those wicked wrathful eyes of the conquerors…" Coyly, Blackbeard smirks smugly at both Hibiscus and Shanks scowling at him.
"Go to hell." Ann sneers scowling at the brute.
"As fiery as always. Zihahah! Let's quit now. I already got what I wanted. And we're not ready to fight you guys yet. Let's go, guys!" Blackbeard and his crew leave.
"Shanks…" Ann turns to her captain watching Teach off, hand still on his blade.
"Yeah." Shanks nods getting the message clear as Ann steps forward.
"Sengoku we will handle the burial of those two. I won't let you dishonour their death in public any longer! Is that understood?" Strictly, Ann demands from Sengoku standing before him as she announces this, Shanks stepping to the side to allow her to do just that.
"Ann…" Garp's watery hues soften sadly at the resolved woman.
"V-Vice Admiral Ann is making such a statement to the fleet admiral!?" Amazed, the marines gawk gape at her bravery.
"…That's our vice admiral for you." A marine smirks slightly as hues of sherry stare straight at Sengoku…a still silence of a stare down between both the fleet admiral and the marine traitor.
"Our? She's a traitor!" A mad marine barks back at the fair few.
"Eep!" The marines meekly recoil back.
"That's ridiculous! We raise a shout of victory by exposing their dead bodies to public view!" The vice admiral roars as Ann remains unfazed staring straight at Sengoku.
"Vice Admiral is right! Are you trying to bring disgrace to our victory?! We're not gonna listen to a pirate! No less a traitor!" Another angry voice bellows with a fair few others shooting curses and such towards the woman standing her ground unfazed by the curses sent her way.
"…" Ann stares at Sengoku.
"Very well." Sengoku allows.
"Fleet Admiral-dono!?" The group gawk gape at their leader.
"Only because it's you, I allow it, "Hibiscus! But...! I will take the blame on myself!" Sengoku dictates crossing his arms on his chest.
"…Thank you." Ann whispers softly sombrely, her tone trembling briefly but she catches herself, composing herself as the tremors course through her body but she remains firm.
"Treat the injured now!" Garp orders his troops rushing over to do just that as Garp glances over at Ann standing strong despite it all as she approaches Whitebeard.
"Look it's vice admiral Ann!"
"Fool she's a traitor!"
"Not to mention the daughter of that devil!"
"How dare she walk around as if she owns the place!"
"She should be the one dead!"
"S-She's going over to Whitebeard!" A scared marine points out seeing her place her hand on the leg of the tall towering tower that was Whitebeard.
"What a mess…eh old man…?" Silently, she breaks the still silence between both of them.
"…what has that bastard done to you?" Ann looks up at him.
"…" However she is only met by still silence making her grimace anguished.
"Last we spoke I said something horrible to you…I apologise for that…I will always be grateful for giving my brother the home he deserved at the least, it's something I could never give him no matter how hard I tried I knew I couldn't but I knew you could, you're one of the rare few to actually see beyond such blood ties. Perhaps this is fate's way of punishing me…? For trying to run from my responsibilities or for my existence…either way I cannot run from destiny not when we all have a part to play…whether I like my part or not. People are relying on me to, I cannot look weak, I mustn't falter for I must play my role as the child of Roger it is my duty, even if it kills me…I will play my part." Proudly, Ann vows viciously, her hues darkening dutifully determined unaware of a certain admiral watching her, the brisk breeze brushing through her long locks of pink…he raises a brow when noting Garp approach the woman, her back turned to him, silently by Whitebeard's side.
"Ann…" Garp calls out to the woman, her face shadowed over silently staring down at the gorge below.
Quietly, Ann stares down at the dark depths of the gorge below by the tall towering side of Whitebeard hearing the frantic footsteps of soldiers and pirates tending to their fallen allies and such as she couldn't help but stare down at the dark depths of the cavernous pit below…
"If Gold Roger had a child, they'd be beheaded, no doubt about it!"
"Their last words should be something like: I'm so sorry I was born I'm just garbage!"
"She is the child of a devil…"
"So…you went to Roger's execution…" Aokiji furrows his brow at her.
"This again? Well yeah…it was a big thing at the time you know? A whole era was changing…it still is changing I suppose, I wonder what the future will bring?" Ann couldn't help but ponder to herself.
"More scummy pirates after that treasure he mentioned." Aokiji's grip tightens around the anxious Ann grimacing glancing to the side scowling.
"You really think all pirates are scum?" Shyly, Ann asks as she removes herself slightly from Aokiji, his brow furrowing from her words.
"All they do is cause trouble I wouldn't have this job if it weren't for them." Aokiji argues.
"Do you…do you think Gol. D Roger is scum?" Softly, Ann asks Aokiji.
"He's king of the scum." Aokiji asserts as Ann couldn't help but grimace.
Silently, she stares down into the dark depths of the cavernous unknown, her hues darkened oblivious to the crisp crackle until her hues widen when feeling a sudden cold slap and tug backwards. Befuddled, she looks down, her hues widening when seeing the small line of ice tug her back, freezing her in place, stopping her as sherry wine meeting his. Heat soon storms through the veins of Ann anger flushing through, her blood boiling, bubbling burning blinking back the heated tears she slams her heels into the ice below smashing shattering said ice into teeny tiny pieces glaring glowering at the admiral his back to her tending to his duties as she slams her hues shut until…
"Ann…" Hongo calls out to her snapping her out of her thoughts.
"Hongo…" Ann turns to him.
"…It was quick." Hongo reports as Ann crouches down, her heart aching at the bloodied bead of red she finds on the floor, no doubt dropped by Whitebeard in his last moments.
"…How quick?" Softly, she asks as she picks it up, her grip tightens tensing around the bead.
"…As quick as it can be with your insides being burnt to dust." Honestly, Hongo admits as Ann still has her back turned, her hand slamming down upon her mouth muffling the small sound trying to escape…
"…I see. Thank you." Shakily, she removes her hand from her mouth, her fingertips curling into a furious fidgeting fist.
"We're ready to take him." Hongo tells them.
"Right…I'll do it. It was with my hands that helped him be brought to his world and with these hands I'll put him down…at the least I can give him the respect he deserves." Ann turns away from the cracked crater following Hongo brushing past Garp.
"Ann!" Garp calls out to her however she simply stares stoically ahead brushing past the old man falling flat to his knees cursing as the tears freely fall from his hunched over form.
"Vice Admiral!" Numerous concerned marines rush over to his side concern clear on their furrowed features for him as Ann simply stares ahead, ready to tend to her duties as he tends to his…
"Big Sis Ann we failed you we're…" Apologetic, the group of whitebeard pirates begin but stop from the silent raise of her hand.
"Mourn when we are away from this place don't give these monsters the joy of seeing your tears." Ann asserts to the whitebeard pirates surrounding Ace's body.
Big sis Ann!" Admirably, the whitebeard pirates look on at the woman silently striding over to the body, her face stern stoic simply staring ahead unfazed by the numerous eyes on her in particular…
Tashigi don't…!" Smoker calls out to the girl rushing towards the figure with all eyes on her as she heads towards the body.
Hm?" Ann arches a brow by the sound of footsteps approaching, Hongo's grip tightens around his staff as Ann silently lowers her hand signalling for Hongo to not.
"Ace… Ace is a normal-sized cutlass with a slightly curved blade, with a saw hamon pattern adorned on the sides of the blade. It possesses a yellow hilt with diamond shape pattern, a golden guard, as well as a thinner hand guard running atop the hilt and a black sheath." Tashigi eyes Ann's scabbard by her waist.
"As expected of you to know that, I see something's haven't changed…" Coyly, Ann remarks.
"As one of the 1" Supreme Grade Meito, the quality of Ace's blade is ranked among the best, being one of the most powerful weapons ever created, rivalled only by a select few other weapons such as Whitebeard's Murakumogiri. It was used by the Pirate King Roger during most if not all of his great exploits such as his battles with Whitebeard and the other yonkou…" Tashigi explains further as a whole crowd of marines stare stunned at Ann.
"So…will you take it from me?" Ann asks amused.
"…No." Tashigi answers.
"Tashigi?" Taken aback, a few call out to her.
"…We've taken enough from you and you aren't like that…I believe you not to be…please…don't let me down." Tashigi stares straight into Ann's eyes as she says this taking most of the marines aback.
"Ah a shame I would have looked forward to that fight…still knowing there are marines like you in the ranks…brings me hope bloodshed like this doesn't happen again." Amused, Ann smiles softly shocking everyone else to see such a smile in this situation as she leaves Tashigi tending to her brother's body.
"Vice Admiral…I'm so sorry!" Tearfully, Tashigi couldn't help the tears to flow falling flat to her knees.
"O-Oi why are you referring to her with that respectful title!? That traitor stains the title for the rest of the admirals!" A mad marine snaps at Tashigi.
"She's a traitor!" Another angry voice throws in.
"She's…" A vice admiral begins but…
"SHUT UP!" The marines stare stunned at the voice belonging to a roaring redhead, her hues puffy, the tears freely falling from her as Isuka glares at her superiors. Ann simply sighs not having the energy for any of this as she goes back on her way towards the body, Hongo and Ben by her side, just in case.
"You fool… I told you not to stand out…people like us…there is no place in the world for demons like us." Ann whispers softly staring down at the body below, her fingertips brushing a stray strand of black to the side, she couldn't help but call him one.
"Ann…" Shank's hues soften sadly at her.
"…I know." Ann picks up the boy in her arms as she silently starts heading to the ship stoically staring ahead as she hears the whitebeard pirates behind her burst into tears, the tears freely falling following her as she holds the corpse of her baby brother, blinking back the tears threatening to fall, feeling all eyes on her as she simply stares ahead, delivering her baby brother to the ship to be given the proper burial he deserved…they both deserved.
"Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh...What did you just say?!" Stunned, Buggy's bellowing boil of a wail makes Ann sigh softly standing up, leaving her brother's body to be tended to the whitebeard pirates as she descends down the ramp to see both her brothers argue or well to be precise…
"You lied about the treasure map?!" Mad, Buggy argues.
"Must you be so loud…" Ann exhales exhaustion etched into said single sigh not having the energy to deal with anything.
"Y-You bastards! Playing tricks on me you two really haven't changed!" Cross, Buggy continues to make things about him unaware of the crowd of both marine and pirates staring stunned astonished at the sight of a pirate like Buggy tugging the coat of Shanks and yelling at both pirate elites.
"I just said that on the spur of the moment, Buggy! It's been awhile, huh?" Shanks exclaims to Buggy shaking his collars.
"Cut the "It's been awhile, huh?" crap! Don't forget that I have a reason to be mad at you, Shanks! You too Ann!" Angrily, Buggy turns his fury pointing at Ann descending down from the ship.
""What's that?" Shanks looks away.
"Don't forget about it! If you didn't surprise me at that time, I wouldn't have lost the treasure map and become a Devil Fruit eater!" Buggy scolds Shanks and Ann.
"Oh for the…let that go besides that was on you." Annoyed, Ann sighs softly at the clown flailing about.
"How was that on me?" Mad, Buggy turns to glare at Ann.
"You decided to eat a clearly fake devil fruit." Frankly, Ann deadpans hand on hip.
"F-Fake?" Buggy squeaks scared.
"As soon as we mentioned the price of your fruit your face practically screamed how can I make money from this…?" Tiredly, Ann points out.
"You made me drop my map!" Buggy blames.
"That was on you, you dropped it dumbass!" Annoyed, Ann snaps at the idiot.
"WHAT WAS THAT!?" Buggy barks back.
"Is that what happened?" Shanks hums unfazed by the heated pair.
"…Honestly there's nothing going up there." Tiredly, Ann rubs the back of her head.
"That's not true…" Shanks whines.
"Oh right I'm wrong I forgot about the dead braincells in that head of yours from drinking." Deadpanned, Ann scoffs.
"Like you're any better…" Shanks grumbles.
"Don't ignore me and thank you for those great reactions I always hated that about you too! How could you made me work for free as soon as we met again!?" Buggy yells at the two.
"Quite easily really." Ann deadpans.
"You're way too blunt!" Buggy snaps at her.
"Yeah for a liar like you, you must hate that." Ann rebukes.
"You wanna go?! You said you two were here to stop the war or something but I can start a war with you two right now if you two want!" Buggy threatens the two flailing his floating limbs about the air as both pirate and marine couldn't help but gawk gape at the sight of this nobody pirate threatening the yonko and first mate.
""Did you see that?" One of his crew gasp.
"Yes, I did." The other confirms.
"He has such sass, even against "Red-Haired" of The Four Emperors and Hibiscus! Captain Buggy! We will follow you for the rest of our lives!" In awe they gush over their captain crying.
"Uh Buggy…who are these guys?" Ann couldn't help but eye the crying group of jail mates she assumed from their uniform.
"Some guys who worship me." Buggy boasts.
"…Are they okay up there?" Ann asks as she types the side of her head.
"What's that meant to mean!?" Mad, Buggy glares at Ann.
"To worship you…you dip something in their drinks or something?" Casually, Ann asks.
"Course not!" Buggy yells.
"Then why would they be following you?" Ann arches a baffled brow.
"Because I can be quite charismatic you know?" Buggy smirks smugly.
"You mean smarmy." Ann deadpans.
"OI!" Buggy yells at the unfazed Ann.
"We understand so just relax." Shanks soon intercepts.
"Captain Buggy!" The crew continue crying as Shanks and Ann share a look, Ann furrowing her brow by Buggy's sudden face, yep he was scheming something no doubt about it. Ann couldn't help but sigh shaking her head at the predictable clown of a brother she had…
"But, wait a minute! If I stay with them, I can get off this island safely!
"Hmm…" Ann turns away from the scheming clown taking note of the lone Sengoku as the rest of the pirates try to out Whitebeard's body on a ship.
"Ann…?" Shanks takes note of Ann's stare.
"I'll be right back…" Ann sighs shoving her hands into her pockets before heading over to Sengoku.
"Hibiscus…" Sengoku furrows his brow by the sight of the woman approaching his side.
"Well you've certainly made a mess of things." Tiredly, Ann looks up eyeing the ruined remains of the justice building above.
"This was Whitebeard's doing." Sengoku blames.
"And why do you think Whitebeard did what he did?" Drained, Ann simply sighs.
"…" Silently, Sengoku scowls at Ann silently crouching down petting the goat leaning into her touch.
"He was a boy Sengoku, a boy barely making it to adulthood and you stripped him off his life because of what? His bloodline." Bluntly, Ann reminds Sengoku softly petting the goat.
"He was a pirate." Pointedly, Sengoku snaps.
"A pirate whose crimes definitely did not deserve a public execution." Ann's eyes narrow at Sengoku.
"He was the son of Roger!" Sengoku snaps back but…
"So…? I thought you were better than to just a man's character based on his or her pedigree Sengoku…." Ann admits honestly stunning Sengoku into still silence so…Ann continues.
"…day in day out hearing the people cheer for my father's demise, day after day trying to listen in to see if my mother had been killed as you had hunted her and my baby brother who wasn't even born yet at the time and yet you just assumed he'd be evil why is that?" Ann sighs sadly sitting down to pet the goat leaning into her tentative touch.
"Because he is!" Sengoku scowls.
"How can a child be born evil? Evil comes from reasons, motives, motives your justice system fails to comprehend…fails to understand refuses to even acknowledge, being in the marines was a living hell…I saw the injustice you people brought upon the world whether that be by turning a blind eye or performing this so called justice you so thoroughly understand from Ohara, to Arabasta to Dressrosa! All in the name of Justice I have seen marines abuse their power, pillaging homes, burning down buildings, raping men and women alike all in act of justice tell me Sengoku with this little power you give these people where is the justice in these acts that you have turned a blind eye to time and time again!?" Annoyed, Ann pries perplexed baffled unaware of an admiral listening in.
"…I thought…I could end it all bring some semblance of pride back to the marines." Sengoku sadly bows his head.
"To you, you mean." Ann sneers scowling.
"Excuse you?" Sengoku scowls back.
"Don't bullshit me old man. I heard about your plans to retire…one final push before that then I assume? All for the sake of your pride you couldn't just retire quietly could you? No you had to make a big thing about it, the fleet admiral making his final stand to a bloodline that he had dozens of children, of innocent people, of men and women killed for." Ann sneers scowling down at Sengoku.
"…" Sengoku stares at Ann.
"…I saw the bodies Sengoku I saw the repercussion of what you had done on Batrielle, every single night and day I'd pray that my mother was safe, do you have any idea what that's like? Living with people cursing your father's name cheering for his demise." Disgusted, Ann scowls at Sengoku.
"Your father deserved it!" Sengoku barks back.
"And my mother deserved it too? Maybe to you people he did but not my mother, my mother did nothing. She was a good woman." Resolved, Ann states the fact firmly.
"She slept with a demon!" Sengoku barks back.
"She slept with the man she loved. Even in her dying breath as she handed me Ace and swore me to protect him, she thought of him, she thought nothing but of him, me and Ace as a family not as his bloodthirsty bunch of monsters you make us out to be." Bluntly, Ann curtly corrects Sengoku.
"…Hibiscus…I assume back then you were the ones to mess with the reports." Sengoku bows his head.
"You're the fools who trusted a rookie." Ann scoffs smirking.
"…Hibiscus you…" Sengoku begins but…
"Hate me all you want, I don't care but know this, you failed today Sengoku, Roger's bloodline is still thriving and it will continue to do so. I will make sure it does no matter who you sent to hunt me down, no matter what comes my way I will live and I will make sure my father' line survive simply out of spite for what you monsters have done…" Dutifully, Ann arises from her seat.
"Damn you." Sengoku curses cross as Ann simply stares down at the man before leaning down.
"Rosi would be disgusted to see the monster you've become…" Softly, she whispers to him, his hues widening when hearing her words as with that she turns on her heel leaving the sombre sullen Sengoku bowing his head shaken from her words while she heads to the ship.
"….The hell did you tell him?" Buggy's brow furrows at Ann.
"Secret." Smirking, Ann amused winks as she places her forefinger to her lip, a part of her pleased to get a jab in before she had to leave to handle the funeral arrangements.
"Chief! We've handled whitebeard's body it's ready to transport." Limejuice calls out.
"Right we'll be off…" Shanks says as Ann nods
"Ann!" Garp calls out once again as Ann stops scowling.
"You really want to do this?" Tiredly, Ann stops in her tracks.
"…" Garp remains in his stance standing scowling at Ann.
"…So stubborn…" She tuts tiredly turning to the old fool.
"…I…" Garp begins all eyes falling on them.
"…It's a shame." Smoothly, Ann cuts him off.
"Huh?" His hues widen when hearing her words.
"My father…he was a good man he believed he could trust in his friends his crew…he spoke highly of you Garp, truly he was fond of you…he believed in you as if you were a brother to him…to think you'd betray him like this…" Ann sighs sadly shaking her head, Garp's eyes widening when hearing her words seemingly shattering.
"I did my duty…!" Struggling, he tries to let out but…
"You did nothing." Ann's cold curt cool words swiftly shut him up.
"…!" Garp tries to speak but…
"If you expect me to hit you I won't I refuse to give you what you want." Ann asserts
"…" Garp grimaces bowing his head.
"…I don't have time to waste on you. I have to prepare a funeral for my brother. But know this while I'm burying my brother I want you to remember this day for the rest of your life, the day you failed your family, your duty to your family but most of all to yourself." Ann grabs Garb by his collar bringing him to his knees.
"Vice Admiral!" His men call out but…
"I want to remember how you stood by and did nothing as your grandson cried his heart out as he pushed his body to limits that most would die for and will no doubt suffer long lasting repercussions from. Just as I want you to remember how you did nothing but stand by as Ace was burned, bruised beaten in Impel Down and then killed. You could have done something but you chose to do nothing your hands are as bloody as Akainu's…" Ann says softly severely scarily to the marine hero bowing his head, his features darkening dread hitting him at the raw reality of the situation.
"Ann…!" Shanks furrows his brow at Ann but…
"But most important of all, it isn't me you should be asking for forgiveness for." Formally, she tells him his hues widening when hearing here words as something seemingly snaps within the old man, slamming his head down upon the ground below, the tears freely flowing from the old man as Ann stands. Shanks furrowing his brow at her however she simply brushes him off heading up on the ship.
Something's never change, Ann is as terrifying as ever…Buggy couldn't help but think tensely watching the woman enter said ship squeaking scared when seeing from said stomp upwards the cracks crawling across the railing of said ship scaring Buggy, watching on as she and Shanks go on their way with the bodies of both Fire Fist and Whitebeard with them, the whitebeard pirates following as they give them the funeral the two deserve…
"What's wrong with it? I can't hear it." Worriedly, a reporter stands glued to his snail hearing the struggling sounds of static as the snail tries to pick up the message flailing about as all eyes on each and every snail in their respective region of the sea, some staring while fishing, some stopping their laundry duty to stare at the snail and crowds upon crowd stand around for the message from one shy snail, some are even connected to speaks all over as all eyes are on the snail begging for some sort of result of the Marineford war…
"Is it because of a bad connection?" Concerned, a voice speaks up from the crowd.
"What happened in the war after all?" Another anxious voice queries.
"Did the Navy win?" Worriedly, a person ponders.
"They did, didn't they? It's getting clearer now." Someone from the crowd points out.
"The Whitebeards have lost? Did the Navy really win?" Anxiously, a concerned civilian queries.
"Regarding the war occurring at Marineford being waged by the Whitebeards and we, the Navy HQ, the process took longer than anticipated because of the enemy's persistence but the Navy soldiers all fought with a sense of justice and defeated all the Whitebeards and their allies and now we are happy to tell you that the Navy HQ gained a complete victory!" A marine man happily fills the people of the world the news, the marines cheering raising their respective weapons while cheering to the high heavens, confetti comes crashing down upon the brave warriors of justice joyous at the end of the war being in their favour.
"They did it! Fire fist is dead!"
"The demon is dead!"
"The Roger Line is gone!"
"The pirate King's bloodline is dead!"
"The Navy is invincible! Praise all our heroes!"
"I want to strong enough to be called to duty at the HQ someday!"
The merry marines cheer firing canons of confetti from the high heavens cheering over their victory.
"The war is over!" Confetti comes crashing down upon the people of Sabaody softly bubbles burst from the colourful confetti above as the people cheer despite the ruined wreck remains of Marineford being broadcasted on the monitor with two other screens simply black blank.
"Yes! I'm glad! The Pirate King's line is gone!"
"The demons can no longer thrive!"
"The legendary pirate - Whitebeard lost!"
Teary eyed, the people of Sabaody smile celebrating their hearts out oblivious to the old man in white silently sipping his flask, a stray tear in his eye before he takes off leaving the people of Sabaody to celebrate to their hearts content.
"The war is over, right?" A young boy holds his mother.
"Yes! You're safe now! The demon Roger can no longer hurt you." Merrily, the mother tells her child, the two hugging relieved that the demons were dead.
"This is so great! They did it!" Teary eyes, the child cheers alongside so many.
"We're safe!" Smiling, the crowd dance around the place.
"Hurrah for the Navy! Hurray for the World Government! And for victory and justice and peace! Hurrah!" The people continues cheering to their hearts content…bands playing in the back playing to their hearts content…
"Captain Drake." A man crouched down to his snail watch turns to his captain, Drake is a tall, lean, and muscular man who wears what appears to be a combination of a white-plumed cocked hat with his crew's Jolly Roger on the side and a domino mask over his eyes. Underneath this headgear, Drake's hair is reddish brown, with brush-like sideburns. On his broad chin he has an "X" (not confirmed to be either a scar or tattoo) and on his chest and upper body he also has another large "X". The "X's", as well as that in his name, represents the Roman Numeral X for 10, not the English letter. When seen from above, his bicorne greatly resembles the head of a Pterodactyl.
He wears armor on his relatively thin legs and arms consisting of knee-high boots and gloves that go up past his elbows, respectively. The openings to both the gloves and the boots are also secured by the armor, which is rounded for the gloves and a sharp maple leaf pattern for the boots at the front of his knees. On the rest of his body, he wears leather pants and a leather shirt. A belt with a large ornately designed circular belt buckle secures Drake's pants as well as his sword and axe to his waist. He also wears a black cape, which, from the inside, is crimson-colored, with a white fur lining around the neck.
"Finally... it's over." Drake's subordinate sighs relieved.
"The Navy has to change, also. Drake dictates looking out at the sea…
"In no time, Whitebeard's territory will sink in a sea of blood in this whirlpool." The mobster man on a castle like ship says smoking his cigar with his men before gawking gaping at the giant black ball coming from the sky stunning them all as they enter the new world…
"Blackbeard is the key. He has gained new followers and Whitebeard's power. I'm sure they're gonna reign for while!" Urogue remarks bemused by the news.
"It's all... his fault! I'll track him down soon enough! Let's go! To the New World!" Angrily, the pink haired woman yells to her crew cross. Her outfit consists of a white low-cut tank top that exposes both her midriff and cleavage, along with a pair of orange-and-black striped buckled shorts with long, thin suspenders. She also wears black high-heeled boots which reach up to her calves, with large laces coming from the openings, and a pair of hot pink and dark red stockings with a yellow sun-like motif on them. The hat she wears is a green Furażerka with a light-green lining. She has an anti-eyebrow below her right eye, bright red lipstick on her lips.
"What the hell is going on?" Angrily, Apoo scowls, being of the Longarm Tribe from the Grand Line, one of Apoo's distinguishing traits is his incredibly long arms. Each of these long arms possesses two elbow joints instead of just one, making them much longer than a normal person's. These arms make it possible for him to utilize his Devil Fruit powers without the need to contort the said limbs, whenever he converts them into makeshift instruments.
"What are you talking about, Apoo-san?" His crew call out to the mad man.
"That guy will become his enemy. Is he really gonna save him?" Apoo couldn't help but wonder.
"Huh?" His crew confused let out.
"I'm talking about Trafalgar Law. He's known for his brutality. He wouldn't save Straw Hat Luffy if there wasn't some catch. It's odd." Apoo argues brow furrowed wondering what the surgeon of Death was thinking.
"What's wrong, Captain Hawkins?" The crewmate turns to the tall man, with black triangle symbols on his eyebrows, red eyes, and golden hair that reaches down to his hips. He also has a black cross tattooed at the base of his throat that is at the front of his neck.
His attire includes a pure white coat with a ruffled neckline and sleeves. He also wears purple trousers tucked inside black boots with white laces on them and a dark ornament made of fur circling the lower part of his torso, with a lighter shade in the middle of it. He also has a pink sash tied around his waist, with a piece of jewellery hanging from it. Hawkins also wears dark gloves and an armor-like armlet can be seen on his left arm around his left biceps, which also extends to cover his left shoulder. On his right hip he carries a sword with an elaborate pommel that resembles a voodoo doll.
"I've been trying to see the odds that Luffy's still alive. But it never reaches zero." Hawkins hums shuffling his cards frowning as the straws holding up the cards give a reading that befuddled him.
"To be honest, I was scared when the war started, but now the great pirate, Whitebeard, is dead." One of Kid's commanders Wire admits.
"So it's really over, isn't it?" Another asks.
"Yeah, it is." He confirms.
"What's over?! The new force who emerged during this war that Blackbeard is quite a guy! Pissing off a elite pirate like Hibiscus…he either has a death wish or wants to make quite the name for himself. The New World is ruled by The Four Emperors. Whitebeard, "Red-Haired", Kaidou, Big Mam. But since one of them is dead, the World is out of balance and no one can predict the consequences! This is the beginning of a new era the likes of which no one has ever seen!" Kid smirks slamming his foot down on the ship railing eager to see what the new world awaits…
The news of the Navy's victory in the war at Marineford, the biggest war since the beginning of the Great Pirate Era, spread all over the world in the blink of an eye and people are celebrating the news everywhere…
The seagulls fly high in the sky soaring through delivering paper after paper to the islands below…
EAST BLUE
"Hurrah!"
"Whitebeard is dead!"
"Yeah! So is Fire Fist meaning the Roger bloodline too is dead!"
"We're safe now!"
"I'm so glad!"
The people of the East cheer waving their canes about as they dance with the smiling sheep soon hoping up and down just as joyous as the people of the East unaware of an elderly bald man silently smoking, smiling.
WEST BLUE
"The sea will be in peace now!"
"Hurrah!"
Joyous the people cheer clinking their glasses of beer in the bar, forth shooting out as many others dance on the streets smiling to their hearts content.
SOUTH BLUE
"We're gonna have a bargain sale today!"
"So are we!"
"The Navy has won!"
"I'm so relieved!"
The market men and women cheer showing said bargains beaming brightly joyous at the news.
NORTH BLUE
"Yes! I'm so happy!"
"Let's drink, everybody! We have tons of it!"
The people of the snowy streets smile dancing as they happily drink their booze, celebrating to their hearts content.
GRAND LINE
"What should we do tomorrow?" The children cheer with their adults.
"I wanna play tag!" A child in robes requests.
"Hide and seek!" Smiling, another smiling Saul suggests.
"Alright!" The children go off to play.
"God! Thank you!" The nun smiles softly happy for this outcome as a tear freely falls from her eye.
The cold curt breeze brushes through the long locks of pink as Hibiscus stands before both graves of Whitebeard and Portgas. Her face shadowed, her hues darkened, grim grave lines upon her furrowed features silently staring at her hat now adorned upon the grave with his dagger too, her heart aching at the sad sight…
"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…" Ann asserts squeezing 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 down…
"…Hibiscus…" Marco calls out to the furrowed frown of Ann, trying to stop the tremors coursing through her form, trying to stop the tears threatening to fall making her stand strong stoic, she couldn't falter, not now…not yet.
Silently, she turns to the bandaged up Marco, a still silence filtering between both of them, Shanks and co watch on from the back, by their ship staring at the back of Ann
"I've no words to express my gratitude." Marco admits to her as she simply stares ahead at the flower necklace dangling down the blade of Whitebeard on the grave by Ace's side.
"Stop talking nonsense. I owe you lot for giving my brother the home I could never. Besides I always respected Whitebeard, even though he was my enemy. Even Sengoku respected him." Honestly, Ann admits to Marco.
"Ann…you haven't cried at all are you…?" Marco begins brow furrowed however…
"I'm fine." Formally, Ann answers aloofly.
"But…" Marco furrows his brow not having seen a singular tear or quiver come from the woman simply staring ahead.
"Marco…I can't afford to do that right now." Ann states the fact firmly, she was a yonko's right hand her being weak would make Shanks seem weak. Besides now that the news of her being Roger's heir had reached the whitebeard pirates ears, she couldn't falter, she couldn't be weak, she was the pirate King's daughter after all. She had to be strong for them, for her crew's shake, for Shanks shake and for her own…
"We're no longer at Marineford though you can…" Marco suggests but…
"Marco…we both know the price of being at the top." Tiredly, Ann hints.
"Hibiscus…" Marco's hues soften sadly at her.
"The pirates…they know who I am now…if I cry now it'll show the pirates that the government have won which is something I swore I would not allow to have." Honestly, Ann admits, they've already taken so much from her which she wouldn't let take away anymore of what little she had left, she refused.
"Ann…" Marco's hues soften sadly seeing her sad smile.
"…He was such an idiot. To think…he would rush back at Akainu over some flimsy words towards me and Whitebeard…we wouldn't have cared." Anguished, Ann smiles strained pained when hearing Marco's recap on their way there, why had he listened to Akainu, Akainu was all bark but no bite…at the least she could handle his bite but to strike at Ace to say such things…
"….But he did." Marco cuts in.
"…" Ann grimaces from his words.
"He cared for you and Whitebeard so much…" Marco adds as he eyes Ann remains calm cold curt her face unyielding.
"And I let him down." Ann whispers weakly bowing her head.
"…Ann?" Marco's eyes expand seeing her darkened hues unable to read her expression as he simply sees her small sad smile.
"…we should get going." Ann asserts as she turns on her heel.
"Hibiscus!" Marco calls out to her brow furrowed however…
"Yasopp can only take so much of being near Vista you know?" Ann attempts to joke.
"Ann…" Marco's hues soften sadly at the back of Ann walking towards the ship, Shanks silently stares ahead as Ann walks by.
"You okay?" Softly, Shanks whispers as Ann looks up, wine red meeting his…
"I'm fine." Feebly, she smiles strained simply staring ahead as she boards the ship making Shanks sigh…
"Take back what you just said! Don't make fun of the man and woman who saved me!" Ace roars raising his voice to the high heavens as fierce flames meet molten magma…
"That's what Captain Roger would've done. I wanted the captain to run away sometimes and be able to shed tears. Listen, Luffy. By experiencing both victory and defeat, running away and shedding tears, a man will become a man. It's okay to cry. But you have to move on!" Shanks furrows his brow by the thought of his captain still smiling despite it all as he couldn't help but eye the pink haired woman boarding his ship seeing her strained smile as she talks to the crew his heart aching wishing to reach out to his friend and yet…he knew her, he knew how she was, how she could be, no one could break that smile of anger, of frustration of failure…
"ARGHHH! WHY IS THERE A SNAKE HERE?!" Horrified, the sharp scream of Bepo bellows after the sub surfaces, Bepo on lookout looking to see said tall towering snake on board bothering Bepo who overheated just wanted some air.
"What? Why is there a snake here?" Scared, another set of crew members cry out eyeing a large white snake with large pink spots running down her body. The underside of her body is pale yellow, with thin horizontal black lines across it. She wears a horned skull with a couple of cracks on top of her head, has blue hair jutting out from the back of the skull, and is usually seen with what appears to be a smile.
"Oh crap!" Bepo curses.
"What's a navy warship doing here!?" A member of the crew cry.
"We've got to inform the captain!" The one with the penguin hat hollers.
"There's someone up there! It's one of the seven warlords of the sea the pirate empress Boa Hancock!" Bepo recognises the glaring woman looking down at them.
"Do not worry I turned all the marines to stone." Smoothly, she shows said stone statue lovestruck.
"How is Luffy's condition? Is it bad? Will he recover?" Concerned, Hancock queries.
"I'm impressed that you figured out where we'd emerge. I thought the navy had tracked us down and all hope was gone…" Bepo admits.
"I had Salmone keep an eye on you underwater." Hancock gesture to her snake coiled around her.
"I see…" Bepo exclaims.
"Don't try to change the subject you beast!" Hancock snaps scowling.
"I'm sorry." Said bear bows his head.
"So easily defeated!" The men gawk at the beaten beast.
"Tell me how Luffy is doing right now!" Strictly, she orders them.
"I've done all I can." Law comes out of the submarine wiping his hands.
"So…he's safe right?" Hopeful, Hancock assumes.
"Surgically speaking his condition has been stabilized but…he surfaced an unbelievable amount of damage I can't guarantee he'll survive." Strictly, Law explains.
"That's to be expected." A voice calls out from the boat.
"Where'd that voice come from?" Frowning, one of the crew ponder perplexed.
"Earlier in Impel Down, Straw hat boy has been injured to the point where he couldn't even stand up! Straw hat did his best putting is life on the line thanks to him we were able to escape! We were able to fulfil our lifelong dream…of going to the Kamaboko drag queendom because of Straw-hat! It's time to go!" Ivankov recalls.
"Who are they?" One of the crew members queries.
"Prisoners from Impel down it would seem they are Luffy's allies. They snuck onboard." Hancock reveals.
"I'm impressed by how hard he fought! And it was all because of his will to save his brother Ace! And then in an attempt to protect him that brother died right before his eyes…there are no gods to help him its more than enough to shatter a mind or two!" Ivankov exclaims.
"Damn it hang in there straw hat!" Hollering, the revolutionaries bellow behind Ivankov positively.
"How tragic…if it were possible, I would gladly take his place I feel so sorry for you Luffy." Hancock whimpers weakly.
"He's so lucky to have the pirate empress think of him that way!" The crew from the sub coo.
"By the way you are you and Straw Hat boy friends?" Ivankov asks Law.
"No I don't really have any obligation to save him if you're concerned about my motives I can come up with a reason." Law lies, his brow furrowed, saving him would no doubt lure her here…if went to plan that is.
"No need there are times when your instincts move your body." Ivankov cheers buying the lie.
"Hey wait I tell you, you shouldn't be moving around yet! Your wounds will reopen!" The crew call out as all eyes fall to…Jinbe.
"You're Trafalgar Law from North Blue aren't you?" Jinbe frowns at Law who simply nods.
"Are you alright moving around in that condition?" Ivankov asks Jinbe.
"Thank you…you saved my life. " Jinbe bows his head to him heaving, huffing.
"Sleep or you'll die." Law states to him.
"My heart won't calm down it's hopeless the losses I've suffered this time are far too great. But my suffering can't possible be compared to what Luffy is going through…passing out must have been some sort of defensive instinct! Even if his life has been spared I'm much more concerned…about what will happen when he wakes up." Jinbe confesses pained tears threatening to fall from his hues.
"Beast over there do you have a snail phone?" Hancock demands from Bepo.
"W-We do we have one! I'm sorry!" Scared, Bepo frets.
"He's so lucky he's like the Empress's servant…" The sub crew coo.
"If we contact the Kuja pirates' ship we can take this submarine across the Calm Belt. The government is certain to come after Luffy if they find out he survived. We will conceal him on the island of women. As long as Boa is a warlord he can recover there safely." Hancock begins to explain to them.
"Well the my mission to assist Straw Hat Boy ends here. I'll leave the rest to you got it Jinbe?" Ivankov dictates leaping back on the marine ship.
"I understand I cannot swim as freely anyway. I must stay and watch over Luffy until he recovers at the very least though I don't know what I can do." Dutifully, Jinbe dictates.
"In any case you and I share an odd bond." Ivankov remarks.
"True even though we were both held in Impel Down if it wasn't for Luffy we wouldn't have never met." Jinbe agrees.
"It's hard for me to leave but my adorable candidates are waiting for me in my queendom!" Ivankov poses on the marine ship.
"I trust you to take care of Straw Hat Boy from now on!" Ivankov dictates.
"SO LONG STRAW HAT THANKS FOR LETTING US SEE THE WORLD!" The ship crew cheer.
"Don't you die now straw hat!" Another voice from the revolutionaries roar.
"Now we must immediately set sail for the island of women." Hancock dictates as the marine ship goes off leaving them alone as they go off to the island of women…
How long had Ann been there? She couldn't tell nor did she know, time just seemed to fly by as she was still sat here, doing nothing but drowning her sorrys away as she hears the crisp click of glass, noting the bottle by her side rolling to the side thanks to the timid tap of her foot. Her nose scrunches up at the sickly stench of swear when was the last she had a shower? She didn't know nor did she really care, she didn't seem to care much about things these days drained beyond contempt just wanting to stay in her small sanctuary not to be bothered not to be dealt with not to be…acknowledged for her crime of an existence…
"If Gold Roger had a child, they'd be beheaded, no doubt about it!"
"Their last words should be something like: I'm so sorry I was born I'm just garbage!"
"She is the child of a devil…"
"So…you went to Roger's execution…" Aokiji furrows his brow at her.
"This again? Well yeah…it was a big thing at the time you know? A whole era was changing…it still is changing I suppose, I wonder what the future will bring?" Ann couldn't help but ponder to herself.
"More scummy pirates after that treasure he mentioned." Aokiji's grip tightens around the anxious Ann grimacing glancing to the side scowling.
"You really think all pirates are scum?" Shyly, Ann asks as she removes herself slightly from Aokiji, his brow furrowing from her words.
"All they do is cause trouble I wouldn't have this job if it weren't for them." Aokiji argues.
"Do you…do you think Gol. D Roger is scum?" Softly, Ann asks Aokiji.
"He's king of the scum." Aokiji asserts as Ann couldn't help but grimace.
"Still nothing?" Ben's brow furrows at Roux silently shaking his head, untouched tray of food in hand, no words needing to be shed from both Ben and the rest of the big bosses pained grimace when seeing said tray untouched…another one of many as the door remained locked, the sickening stench of smoke being the only indicator of life from behind that door…
The silent sickening stench of smoke and rotting food intermixed with the already sick air of sweat as Ann simply sits, rocking back and forth from the rocking of the boat but she remains seated, legs curled close to her check, the shy streak of smoke pouring from the singular cigarette she holds between her bloodied battered beaten fingertips, her hues heavy simply staring out at nothing but the disarray of clothes, papers and all sorts thrown tossed to the floor below. Blood drips down the battered bruised beaten arms sly slits of scarlet spew from her arms as she simply stares ahead, taking a shaky inhale of smoke, her hues not of this world with posters pinned to the wall by her side. She simply stares ahead at the posters taunting her almost as adorned upon the younger looking Shanks wanted poster with Buggy and so many more familiar faces is one ripped out from the poster, torn slightly, damp droplets of tears stain the wanted poster but she simply stares head unfazed by the crumpled up mess that was Ace's wanted poster.
Silently Shanks steps forward towards the door once again as he gently knocks on it.
"Ann…" Shanks shyly calls out, concern clear in his tone towards her, a fair few of the crew stopping to stare sadly at the sight hopeful for some semblance of an answer but…like always they get nothing.
"Ann…please…you can cry in front of us." Shanks tries to tell her as she stands stagger towards the door but in the end her legs crumble, falling flat to her knees shaking her head, she couldn't, she wouldn't, she…she slams her teeth together tense trying to fight back the sob threatening to break through, clamping her hands over her ears, muffling said scream trying to break through. Tiredly, she softly sorts her head on the door gently tapping against it, trying to fight, trying to speak, trying to say something but nothing comes as she simply silently sumps against the door, done just done.
"Ann at least come out…the guys are worried about you…" Shanks says softly pleadingly almost as Ann silently raises her head, her hues widening when noting the poster on the wall with many others, her hues dilating dread hitting her hard guilt gnawing away at the sheer sight of the bright broad grin of…
"Ann…" Shanks continues on regardless until his hues widen taking a step back befuddling the others as to their surprise, their eyes widen when the door suddenly opens to the wrecked ruin remains of Ann, heaving a bag over her shoulder.
"A-Ann!" Shanks smiles beaming brightly at the sheer sight of her however he soon furrows his brow by the sight of her striding into the showers.
"Oi Ann what are ya doing?" Yasopp hollers as lost as the others as she soon comes out looking clean to their relief but that doesn't last long.
"Leaving." She grunts going over to the railing.
"Heading out so soon?" Stunned, Yasopp says surprised to see her do just that.
"Going to see Luffy then." Ben assumes.
"…Yep." She grunts going down onto her ship.
"Ann what about you?" Sternly, Shanks demands rushing over to the railing.
"What about me?" Mystifed, she looks up at Shanks.
"Ann you deserve to mourn too!" Tiredly, Shanks says sighing sadly that he had to explain to her.
"…No…not yet…not until I can make up for letting him down." Determined, Ann dictates.
"Ann!" Shanks scowls at her however…
"If I had been faster Shanks if I had just… Ann bows her head unable to not think of the truth of the matter.
"Ann we both know fuelling your head with if I had done this isn't going to help!" Honestly, Shanks points out.
"Maybe not but right now all I can do is help." Ann argues removing the rope tying the jet boat to the ship.
"Ann!" Shanks calls out to her just as she sets off leaving the Red Haired Pirates to it…
"Like most of history, some facts are trimmed off as the news goes around and just the two words "Navy victory" stand out. The people, in their excitement at the news, failed to notice something...
"W-What's going on?!" The cheering crowd gasp at the heavy ring of gunfire all joyous faces turned to the armed men.
"Look at you people! That's hilarious! Whitebeard said that the great treasure - One Piece is real! I'm gonna find it!" A captain cockily declares with his crew continuing to fire.
"There is so much more out there! Let's set sail!" The crew cheer as they go off to do just that.
Navy victory. The result is not necessarily peace...
NEW WORLD: FOODVALTEN ISLAND
"Y-You can't come any further! Don't come into our town!" The armed men cry out pointing to Whitebeard' flag before screaming as it was torn to shreds.
With the loss of a deterrent - namely, the throat of Whitebeard - the world of the seas has become very unsettled...
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku! Here you are! We've had word from Impel Down!" The marine soldier rushes over to the wounded Sengoku's side.
"Is Magellan alright?" Sengoku questions the man.
"He got beaten badly and is barely alive. He's been treated intensively by the medical team. He's a dutiful man - he's blaming himself. They said that if he could move now, he'd kill himself." The marine salutes.
"Don't let him do such stupid thing!" Sengoku snaps as the equally as battered beaten goat bows its head looking just as tired as Sengoku.
"Y-Yes, sir!" Scared, said stuttering male complies.
"What has been going on at the prison?" Sengoku demands from the man.
"Allow me to tell you the condition as it stands. The situation on level is especially bad. It's literally a disaster." The marine admits.
"A disaster?" Sengoku furrows his brow.
UNDERWATER PRISON IMPEL DOWN
"What's up?" Blackbeard bellows laughing at those in level six screaming calling out to him, hands starched out to Blackbeard the clink of chains echoing alongside their crazed laughter.
"You prisoner's doomed to be stuck behind bars forever! You've got nothing to do except wait to die! Then how about this?! Why don't you fight each other in the cell?! I will free those of you who survive as members of my crew!" Blackbeard decides for them, his crew behind him some of them anyway.
"Really?! Get me out of here!" Eagerly, the crew call out unaware of the silent three within.
"Let me be your crew member!" The people of level six beg as before they knew it…
"So he has freed selected members from the worst criminals in the world?!" Sengoku says stunned horrified.
"Yes. But only prisoners were taken. San Juan Wolf, Avalo Pizarro, Vasco shot, Catarina Devon. But there are obviously more prisoners missing from level six. Which means..." The marine bows his head pained by the painful reality looking down at the goat munching on his justice jacket.
"I understand. Then, there are more escapees from level SIX. If even one of the prisoners from level sneaks into a country somewhere, the people will be in grave danger! Check to see how many there were. Get their names, and put a most wanted list out now! What's wrong?" Sternly, Sengoku orders beofre noting the man's hesitation.
"Well, I...I'm under orders from the World Government to keep this level matter secret. More blunders will harm the Government's reputation. They are already attempting to cover up voice ad- I mean the marine traitor's connection to Roger as it is. That is their top priority." The marine admits to Sengoku.
"Damn them!" Sengoku snarls cursing cross at the situation he found himself in with the ruined remains of the justice building behind them.
"You know I heard that if men enter the island of women they turn to stone and never come back…but it might be worth risking our lives for!" Hungrily, the men crowd around the opening Straw hat made in the barrier before darting off after awakening…
"According to Aphelandra at the port we only saw a small portion of the girls living on the island!" Another man gossips oblivious to the jet boat approaching…
"The kingdom of women I've always dreamed about…I'd at least like to take one quick look at it…" Eagerly, a man steps forward as just then a figure leaps up from the high heaves taking everyone but a certain doctor aback.
"EEEEP THE DEMON'S HERE!" Scared, said crew scatter from the sharp scream echoing throughout Amazon Lily.
"…Where's Straw hat?" Sternly, the voice calls out taking everyone aback.
"Eh!?" The crew gawk gape at the woman.
"Isn't that…?" One of the crew begins but…
"Hibiscus Ann!" Awestruck, the men gush giddily.
"It really is as true as they say she's just as radiant as the empress Boa Hancock!" Happily, a fair few of the heart pirates points out.
"To think we'd get to meet two such radiant beauties in one day!" The heart pirate gush giddily.
"I heard she was in the new world h-how did she even know we were here?" Bepo couldn't help but ponder.
"A little birdie told me." Ann looks down at the slumped state of Law, his legs crossed simply staring down at the straw hat in his hands as next thing she knew…
"DISSAPEAR DISSAPEAR STOP IT!" Loudly, the scream echoes as Ann's hues widen when seeing the destruction taking place as she soon follows the path of chaos towards…
"How long has he been doing this?" Ann furrows her brow at Jinbe joining his side staring at the sobbing screaming mess.
"Since he woke up… " Jinbe answers.
"I see..." Softly, she sighs at the sad sight of the bandage bloodied battered beaten mess of Luffy destroying everything in his path, crying his heart out…
"Hibiscus…" Jinbe begins but…
"Not now." Swiftly, she shuts him down, drained not having the energy for another sorry, solely focusing on the boy beating himself up, practically taking the jungle down with him.
"The war is over…Luffy." Ann looms over the boy beneath her feet.
"A-Ann…?" Astonished, Luffy looks up at her however he is met by her ice cold glare.
"Luffy Ace is…" Stone-faced, Ann approaches the sobbing wreck stoically staring down at him.
"Don't say it don't say another word! I've already…pinched my cheeks so hard it started to bleed if this was a dream I'd have woken up by now!" Angrily, Luffy screams shouts at her however she doesn't even bat an eye to it, ignoring the brief painful pang hitting her hard, pained to see him in such a manner…
"…" Silently, she stares down at the sobbing wreck.
"It's not a dream is it? Ace…died didn't he?" Hoarsely, he whimpers weakly crawling over to her side, grabbing hold of her legs, clinging to her on his knees, sobbing his heart out, scarlet seeping into his bandages.
"He's dead Luffy…Ace is gone." Ann softly sets her hand on his head, her hues glassily gaze down at the boy as she delivers the news stoically staring down at the broken boy bellowing…
"WAHHHH! ARGHHH! AAACCCCEEEE!"