CRASH! BANG! SMASH!* The loud noises reverberated through empty halls as all of Marineford found somewhere else to be. In Sengoku's office a laughing Garp easily ducked under another flying cup. "Stop laughing you giant pain in my ass! You and your goddamn *Smash* Family! *BANG* You are all menaces! I ought to *THUD* lock you in Impel Down!"
Garp caught the next missile. "Bwahaha! Too bad my grandson already destroyed it! Made all those guards look like fools!"
Sengoku smashed a haki coated fist into his face. "Stop sounding proud, you overgrown ape! They are our enemies! And now all our plans have been destroyed! We've become laughingstocks and we look like incompetent idiots! Thank the gods that no one knows that boy's true parentage."
Garp sobered up and glared at his friend. "He's my family, and you know that he didn't deserve what was happening. Besides you still don't know how Ace was freed. We know he was safely escorted out of Impel Down while little Luffy was still teaching those guards a lesson."
This time Sengoku flung a chair, gritting his teeth. "I said STOP! Do you know how much time and resources have been wasted gathering all our forces for this execution? And Whitebeard didn't even show!"
Garp waved a bag of rice crackers dismissively. "Honestly we both know that that war would have been a blood bath for both sides. And Eddie is a good man. He knows how to have a good fight!"
Sengoku snatched the rice crackers from Garp's hands and crushed it. Garp gasped in horror before pulling out another bag. "Eat a cracker Senny. You're cranky." *SMASH*
Mihawk glared angrily at the world as he untied Hitsugibune and began sailing away from Marineford, along with several ships carrying the other warlords. They had finally been dismissed from headquarters after they had been given strict orders to look for Firefist, Portgas D. Ace and Straw hat, Monkey D. Luffy.
They were also given a list of other names, escapees from Impel Down and Mihawk had actually flared his eyes in surprise at some of the names. Hell Red Hair certainly knew how to stir shit up indeed. He hoped his long time friendacquaintance was smart enough to disperse the prisoners quickly because all top ranking marines were now on the hunt and he had seen an excited gleam in Doflamingo's eyes. That man had more than a screw loose, and the enjoyment he got from others pain was concerning. Or at least it was when his friendsallies were the targets.
Moria had also seemed excited when Straw hat's name came up and Mihawk had eavesdropped on him long enough to hear that the two of them had already met once and that Moria wanted a rematch. Sounds like Shanks' brat managed to defeat yet another warlord. The marines had been keeping that quiet. Hmm the child was almost getting interesting. Not that he'd ever admit that to Shanks. He could already hear that obnoxious red headed man child breaking into yet another non ending story about how HIS kid was going to be King of the Pirates one day and how amazing and loveable HIS brat was.
The kid wasn't that great ok? He had met him, had soundly kicked his 1st mate's ass and the only reason he'd left that Roronoa Zoro alive was because the Swordsman had mildly interested him and he'd been in a good mood. It had nothing to do with the fact that he had recognized Shanks' claim, marked by his hat. Nothing to do with the way the kid had jumped between him and his friend protectively after standing by and respecting the actual duel. Nothing to do with the spark of Haki he felt when the kid had stared him down defiantly. He had struck out at the Krieg pirates ship and caused significant damage purely because they were annoying and not because he felt weirdly protective of the brat who was going to fight them after. Shut up Shanks!
No the reaction he had found most interesting was Boa Hancock's. He hadn't actually interacted with the woman before but he'd heard of her distaste for men and her habit of staring down at all people that weren't from her island. Yet at the mention of Luffy, he'd caught a sigh and a slight blush before her gaze hardened on Sengoku. And when she asked if they had any leads on where to start looking, she had seemed almost relieved when he had no further info. He'd almost wanted to follow her but he had other concerns at the moment.
It wasn't until he was safely at sea and no longer in sight of the other ships before he let his angry glare drop. Originally there had been little chance of Shanks being tied to the escape. An emperor does not go around interfering in another emperors fights after all. Allies might help in a battle but they are not the ones acting first or calling the shots. But their involvement at Impel Down would get out and it would be obvious that the two were connected. He knew his friends were strong and capable but the Marines would be out for blood on this one and Shanks had just revealed a straw hat wearing weak spot. The kid may be strong for the length of time he had been on the sea but he was still a child and some of the strongest people in the world were going to be targeting him now.
The Moby Dick was in chaos. They had amassed all their allies and been prepared for a battle only to be called off within an hour of the planned start. They had men on every one of their Den Dens, communicating between ships and sending out orders of retreat. Others were information gathering, contacting spies and contacts to be sure that Ace was actually missing. The only snail not in use was sitting beside Whitebeard and being annoyingly still.
Whitebeard was furious at the brat who had dared to hang up on his son before answering his questions. 'Your Commander is no longer in the hands of the Marines'. What kind of message was that? And then the red haired brat refused to answer their calls. He wanted to talk to Whitebeard, well next time that phone rang he would get his wish and he would enjoy tearing Roger's boy apart.
Pops wanted nothing more than to talk with his son. Make sure that Ace was safe and free and that he hadn't sunk too far in his self recriminations. The fact that Shanks dared to stand between them made him glad that he hadn't expended all his energy fighting the marines. Obviously the runt needed his ass kicked to remember his place - ally or not.
He was glaring at the snail when he heard running feet and Haruta came racing up to him. "Pops! There's reports from our allies of Kaido attacking. He's crossed into our territory and it looks like he was hoping to take advantage of us being weakened by the marines."
"Well unluckily for him then, that we were disappointed at the lack of a fight and are still raring to go." Whitebeard grinned. "Locate Kaido's ship and tell everyone to get ready to rise. Maybe it's time I taught Kaido that despite my age I can still school the brat." Haruta smirked back before racing off to spread the word.
"Pops, why don't you let us handle Kaido yoi? You know, keep up your strength. Besides you should stay with the Den Den for if Shanks calls back." Marco said hesitantly.
"Ah my son! Don't be such a worrywart." Pops laughed ignoring his stressed eldest son.
"Pops," Marco began frustrated only to be interrupted by the ringing of the Den Den. He glowered for a second before picking it up. "Shanks! Where's Ace?"
"Give the phone to Whitebeard." Came the stern, even voice of Benn. Marco hesitated looking up at Pops who finally nodded.
"Benn, where is Shanks you impertinent bra-"
"No. You don't get to talk down to us. If you wanted to talk to Emperor Shanks of the Red Hair Pirates then next time I advise taking his call."
"You disrespectful-"
Benn chucked dryly. "We are not the disrespectful ones 'Pops'. We are a Yonko's crew just like you. Just because we are less strict on formal protocol and are more easygoing does not make us any less powerful. You make demands of us, make us jump through hoops when we only try to help an ally but refuse us the respect of answering the god damn Den Den when our Captain says it's a matter of life and death. Your pride and arrogance almost cost you your son, not to mention the lives of many others. Lucky for you we have our own claim to Firefist and now he is safe and healing. He will remain with us until he is deemed healthy and when he desires to return. Until then, we will not permit any Whitebeard pirates or allies in our territory. Captain may rise above your bullshit, smile and bear it in order to keep the peace but I am through letting you disrespect MY Captain. So if you want to remain our allies then get your head out of your ass and start treating us with the respect WE deserve." With that the Den Den went still.