The ocean stretched endlessly in all directions, its waves rolling gently beneath the hull of a patched-up ship. The salty air was thick with tension as Marco lay on the deck, his body swathed in bandages. His once-pristine phoenix feathers had been reduced to a charred, singed memory of their former brilliance. Every breath felt like fire in his chest, but his will to act burned brighter than any pain.
Old Man Cricket stood at the helm, his weathered face grim with determination. Around him, a crew of hardened sailors—all men who had sworn loyalty to the eccentric treasure hunter over the years—manned the ship. They worked tirelessly, their expressions reflecting the weight of their leader's urgency.
Marco stirred, his groan catching Cricket's attention. The old man approached, his heavy boots thudding softly against the worn wood.
"You're awake," Cricket said, handing Marco a flask of water. "Drink. You look like death warmed over."
Marco chuckled weakly, though it sounded more like a rasp. "Feels about right." He sipped the water, his hand trembling slightly. "Thank you, Cricket. For everything."
Cricket waved him off. "Don't thank me yet. We're still a long way from fixing this mess." He crossed his arms, his sharp eyes narrowing. "Now, tell me again what happened. You were rambling about Teach and some big shot from Big Mom's crew when we pulled you off that beach."
Marco's expression darkened, the memory cutting through the haze of pain. "Teach... Blackbeard. He took Ace. And Smoothie... she has Siren." His voice cracked on her name, and he looked away, shame flickering in his gaze. "I couldn't save them. I—"
"Enough of that," Cricket interrupted, his voice firm but not unkind. "We're not dead yet. Start from the beginning."
...
Marco explained everything, his words slow and halting as he recounted the ambush, the fight, and the crushing defeat. Cricket listened intently, his fingers drumming against the railing.
When Marco mentioned Ace's name, Cricket's brow furrowed. "Portgas D. Ace, you said? That kid's tied to Luffy, isn't he? They're brothers or something."
Marco blinked, surprised. "You know Luffy?"
Cricket snorted. "That straw-hatted fool? Yeah, I know him. He's as reckless as they come, but he's got a heart bigger than the Grand Line. If Ace is his brother, then there's no way in hell he's sitting this one out."
Marco felt a spark of hope, faint but growing. "Luffy has Ace's vivre card. If he finds out what happened, he'll come for him."
Cricket nodded. "Good. That gives us a chance. But we can't leave it all on him. We'll need allies—people who'll fight for Luffy, Ace, Siren and you."
Marco's voice was hoarse but resolute. "Whitebeard. He needs to know. I don't know how much longer I can hold out, but if we can reach him..."
Cricket grinned, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Don't worry about that. I've got enough pull to gather a fleet. We'll get you back to your crew. And in the meantime, I'll send word to anyone who owes me a favor or two. If they know Luffy, they'll listen."
Marco looked at him, gratitude shining through the exhaustion. "You're a good man, Cricket. I don't deserve this."
"Maybe not," Cricket said with a shrug. "But you're not the only one with something to fight for." He turned to his men, barking orders. "We need runners! Get messages to everyone we know who's crossed paths with the Straw Hats. Let them know what's happening. And someone, find me the fastest way to Whitebeard's ship!"
The crew leaped into action, the ship buzzing with activity as Marco leaned back against the mast, his strength waning but his resolve firm.
...
Far across the ocean, on the Thousand Sunny, Luffy stared at the torn piece of Ace's vivre card in his hand. It fluttered weakly in the breeze, its edges charred and crumbling.
"Something's wrong," Luffy muttered, his usual carefree demeanor replaced with a rare seriousness.
Sanji glanced over, concern etched on his face. "Is it Ace?"
Luffy nodded. "His card... it's almost gone. I have to find him."
Before anyone could respond, a small seagull swooped down, a rolled-up message tied to its leg. Nami grabbed it, unfurling the parchment.
"It's from Jaya," she said, scanning the contents. Her eyes widened. "It says Marco's alive but injured, Ace has been captured by Blackbeard, and Siren—"
"What about Siren?" Luffy interrupted, his voice sharp.
Nami hesitated, her lips pressing into a thin line. "She's been taken by Big Mom's crew. Smoothie has her."
Luffy's fists clenched, his gaze hardening. "We're going. Now."
"But Luffy—" Nami began, only for him to cut her off.
"No buts! Ace and Siren need us. We're going!"
The Sunny changed course, its sails catching the wind as the crew scrambled to prepare. Far ahead, the storm was brewing, and the pieces of the battle to come began to fall into place.
...
Back on Cricket's ship, a fleet of mismatched vessels began to assemble around them. Ships of every shape and size—some barely seaworthy, others armed to the teeth—gathered in the open sea, their captains answering Cricket's call.
As Marco watched the preparations, he felt a glimmer of hope amidst the anguish. He clutched the tattered piece of Ace's and Siren's vivre cards in his hand, his mind on the two people he'd failed to protect.
"Hold on," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the crash of the waves. "I'm coming. We're coming."
The fleet set sail, its sails unfurling like wings as they headed toward the Whitebeard Pirates and the next storm that was about to break free.
...
The ocean swelled with activity as word of Ace's capture and Siren's kidnapping spread across the Grand Line. Cricket's message traveled fast, reaching allies and enemies alike. From pirates and revolutionaries to bounty hunters and mysterious figures who owed debts to Luffy, Marco, Siren or Ace, the call to arms began to take root.
...
On the Moby Dick, the atmosphere was tense. Whitebeard sat on his throne-like chair, his massive frame exuding authority despite the heaviness in his expression. Around him, his commanders stood, their faces etched with disbelief and rage as Marco's message was relayed by one of Cricket's runners.
"Teach has Ace, and Big Mom's crew has Siren?" Thatch's voice cracked with anger. He slammed a fist on the table, his usual easygoing demeanor gone. "How could we let this happen?"
"Enough, Thatch," Vista said, though his voice carried equal frustration. "The important thing now is to act. Marco is on his way, but he's injured. He won't be able to lead."
Whitebeard's deep voice rumbled through the room. "Marco will heal, but we cannot wait for him. Assemble the fleet. We go to retrieve my son."
Izou stepped forward, his brows furrowed. "And Siren, Father? She's as much a part of us as Ace."
Whitebeard's gaze was like steel. "We save them both." He lifted his bisento with ease, planting it firmly on the deck. "Ace, Siren, and Marco—no one touches my family and lives to tell the tale."
Whitebeard sent Izou to get writting supplies and ordered him to pen a missive.
"It is time we ask for support from our fellow Emperor. I believe he won't let a sworn brother from his adopted son die." Izou's eyes flew open and once immaculate writing was botched as the pen scratched across the paper.
...
Onboard the largest ship in Cricket's makeshift fleet, Marco sat with a grim expression as the old man coordinated the scattered forces. The ship's cabin was cramped but bustling with activity, maps and charts spread out on a table where captains from all walks of life debated their course.
"Are we sure about this?" one grizzled pirate muttered, eying Marco warily. "Big Mom's crew and Teach in the same fight? We're out of our depth."
Cricket slammed a hand on the table. "You don't like it? There's the door. But don't come crying when the World Government clamps down on us after they use this chaos to tighten their grip."
Marco raised his head, his voice quiet but commanding. "We're not just fighting for revenge or pride. Ace and Siren... they're worth fighting for. And if we stand together, we have a chance."
A ripple of agreement swept through the room.
Cricket turned to Marco. "Do you think Whitebeard will come for Ace and Siren?"
"He would die for them. For any of us." Spoke Marco with assurance.
...
Luffy:
The Thousand Sunny cut through the waves with urgency, the Straw Hat crew working in unison to push the ship to its limits. The vivre card in Luffy's hand continued to disintegrate, a stark reminder of Ace's peril.
In the kitchen, Sanji was preparing a meal, his movements sharp with suppressed frustration. "How are we supposed to fight Teach and Big Mom? This isn't just another reckless stunt, Luffy."
Luffy, seated at the table, was uncharacteristically quiet. He stared at the vivre card, his brow furrowed in thought. Finally, he looked up, determination blazing in his eyes.
"We've been through worse. We'll find a way."
Nami walked in, holding a set of charts. "If we're going to do this, we'll need more allies. The Grand Line is full of people who hate Teach and Big Mom as much as we do. If we can rally them, we might stand a chance."
"Leave that to me," Robin said, her calm demeanor belying her intent. "I know how to find the ones who'll listen."
Franky slapped the table with a grin. "Then let's get super serious! We'll turn this ship into a fortress if we have to!"
As the crew rallied around Luffy, the captain grinned, his confidence infectious. "We'll save Ace and Siren. No matter what."
...
Sabo:
On a remote island, Sabo stood before a small group of revolutionaries, his own expression grim as he read the message.
"Ace," he murmured, his hands trembling slightly as he crushed the paper in his grip. Images of his brother flew across his minds eye. "Blackbeard has him."
Koala, standing beside him, placed a hand on his shoulder. "What do we do, Sabo? We're spread thin as it is."
Sabo's gaze burned with determination. "We go. This isn't just about Ace. If Teach succeeds, it'll tip the balance of power in his favor. We can't let that happen."
He turned to his men. "Send word to Dragon. We need all the help we can get."
...
Charlotte Smoothie:
Meanwhile, in Totto Land, Smoothie lounged in a lavish chamber, Siren chained to a corner. The room was filled with the hum of magic-infused water pools and the faint aroma of tropical fruits.
Smoothie swirled a glass of her latest concoction, a smile on her lips. "Your Marco won't come for you," she said lazily. "He's as good as dead."
Siren glared at her, defiance simmering beneath her exhaustion. "You don't know Marco. Or Ace."
Smoothie chuckled. "I don't need to know them. What I do know is that Teach has Ace, and Big Mom has no intention of sharing her prize with anyone. You're mine until Mama says otherwise."
Siren said nothing, but inside, her heart ached with grief and anger.Marco... Ace... please, don't give up.
...
Marines:
At Marineford, Fleet Admiral Sengoku read the latest reports with a grim expression. Beside him, Garp stood silently, his face unreadable.
"The Whitebeard Pirates, the Straw Hats, and now scattered forces from Jaya and elsewhere," Sengoku muttered. "This is spiraling out of control."
Garp grunted. "You wanted Ace on that scaffold, didn't you? What did you think would happen?"
Sengoku slammed a fist on the table. "This isn't just about Ace. It's about maintaining order."
"Order," Garp scoffed, his eyes flickering with regret. "You think dragging Roger's son to execution will bring order? It'll bring a storm the likes of which we've never seen."
Sengoku's lips pressed into a thin line. "Then we'll prepare for the storm."
...
Across the Grand Line, forces converged. Allies, enemies, and everyone caught in the crossfire began to mobilize, each with their own agendas and reasons to fight.
And in the midst of it all, the bonds of family, friendship, and loyalty burned brighter than ever.
The storm was coming, and no one could stop it.