While Fist of Fire was defeated, Whitebeard's right-hand man did not hold back in his fight against the shadow beasts and the robot birds.
"Rara...Ra...a..." another robot bird fell to the ground thanks to Marco's attack.
Unlike the beasts, the birds were easier to deflect but no less troublesome. Marco tried to dodge the bullets from those birds, especially now that he remembered what they likely were. Bullets made of darkness—if just one of those were to hit him, he wouldn't be able to transform at all until it was removed.
He was already quite tired of fighting these beasts, Haki affected them, but it still took more than one blow to defeat just one. And as soon as he finished with one, another appeared behind him ready to attack.
"Take that, beast!" From afar, something hit one of the beast's. The creature vanished, leaving behind only a seastone bullet.
"Haruta!" Marco exclaimed in surprise as he saw his brother.
Haruta began to take down the beasts in seconds. "I'm not so good with these things! Why didn't we bring Izou?!" Haruta complained as he knocked down another one of these creatures.
"I'm glad you're okay. I worried when I realized we left you in the third ring," Marco told his brother as Haruta nodded and handed him a weapon. "Haki affects them, but not as much as seastone, one hit and they're out."
They were soon fighting in unison, with incredible teamwork that could only be earned through years of experience. Soon reinforcements arrived in the form of soldiers led by Liling.
"That's the last one! We need to move, we have to find Ace as soon as possible," Liling announced as they continued their search.
After what seemed like hours, they found Ace's hat on the ground. They kept searching for Ace, but he was nowhere to be found.
Both the shadow creatures and the robots disappeared completely some time later.
Everyone received the signal to regroup at the temple, where Marco was questioned about Lin's whereabouts. Marco wasn't one to lie so without hesitation, he explained what had happened to Lin.
Lilin understood the situation and chose to believe Marco's words. On the other hand, Liling didn't accept what she called nonsense. Even if the blue fire surrounding the first ring was proof enough of what had happened to her brother.
"We have something you might want to see..." One of the scouts sent to check the area for any disturbances returned with Lin's helmet. They gave it to Liling, who hugged it tightly.
"He never goes anywhere without it, maybe they took him. This doesn't have to mean anything else..." Liling said with a determined look.
"It's tough, I don't want it to be this way either. But we need to decide what we're going to do now," Lilin said, looking her sister in the eyes.
"You're right..." Liling replied, stepping forward. "I need to find my brother, if no one else will."
"Liling, enough. I won't let you continue with this nonsense. Not when you know there's nothing to find. You just want a reason to deny what you know is the truth," Lilin responded, raising her voice.
Liling stopped and collapsed to the ground, clutching the helmet to her chest.
Lilin rubbed her back. Her sister had begun to hyperventilate.
"He can't be gone, he must be somewhere waiting for us to find him..." Liling said through tears as she looked at the helmet.
"We haven't been on the best terms, especially Lin, who was the most resentful of your obsession with having everything under control. More than anyone, he wanted his sister; he wanted you to be there with him for at least a moment," Lilin said, stopping rubbing her sister's back and hugging her. "Now there's no way to be with him. But there's still something you can do for him, his sacrifice in the first ring must not be forgotten."
Liling tensed, realizing what her sister meant.
"Give the order to start preparations for the ceremony..." Liling said, wiping away her tears.
What happened next was that Marco and Haruta were invited to a ceremony, after notifying everyone in the rings about what had happened.
The ceremony would take place in the Second Ring Palace.
"Marco, did they tell you what this ceremony is going to be about?" Haruta asked.
"They just told me it's in honor of Lin, which makes me think we're about to witness something important yoi," Marco replied.
The central courtyard of the palace was adorned with red and gold paper lanterns, lotus flowers, and fine silks. The community gathered, whispering with respect and anticipation, while musicians dressed in silk tunics began to play flutes and drums.
"My life, like many gathered here, began without shadows. Until a world noble by the name of Donquixote no Cherry along with her loyal husband created a company known as Sams. They sent their son as a death knight to our home. We tried to flee from death, but it followed us, we lost many on the way. Several ended up as slaves or used as merchandise for that company of misfortunes," began to say Liling on a platform in front of the crowd.
"As guardians of the rings we swear to protect this place from external threats. Lin recently demonstrated this when a Donquixote dared to show his face. If Donquixote left these lands without affecting our home as his ancestors have done, it is because Lin sacrificed his life." Liling signaled to the helpers who brought a bunch of incense that they put under the platform.
"Lin carried out a lost technique known to create healing flames like no other. They will not affect people, but rather the land. They cannot be extinguished until the earth disappears completely, which would be a very difficult act to achieve thanks to the healing abilities of these flames. To perform this technique, you must give your life energy. Lin made this decision after realizing the damage that Donquixote was causing to our lands. He knew that our allies could not fight to their maximum without permanently harming the first ring." Liling finished by giving the signal to Lilin to continue.
"For generations we have remembered those who came before us. Like those who gave their lives so that we could be here today. We suddenly transform, like all matter, but a glorious name is a lasting treasure." Lilin smiled, while the helpers began to light the incense.
"As a mediator I can say with certainty that the world as the energies that make it up have accepted among them our guardian. From today the name of Lin will be so glorious that it will be remembered by the end of the times, like the god of vitality. The eternal prankster, of the thousand tricks." Lilin declared while the crowd bowed in respect.
"May your flames shine forever, friend," thought Marco as he watched them place an offering of moon cakes, Lin's favorite dessert. The soft light of the lanterns reflected on the delicate cakes, imbuing the scene with a solemn and nostalgic air.
The rest of the ceremony was filled with traditional music, with melodies played on bamboo flutes and leather drums that resonated in everyone present's heart. The dancers, dressed in elaborately embroidered silk costumes, performed ancient dances that narrated stories of honor and bravery.
At the end of the night, under a starry sky, a majestic statue of Lin was unveiled and added to the temple of the gods. Carved in white marble with golden details, immortalizing his legacy for future generations.
Before leaving the island, Liling sought out Marco to speak with him.
"Lin would have helped you get your brother back. Let me help you. I can't get mine back, but you can. Time is precious, so contact your captain and do what you have in mind..." Liling handed Marco a piece of paper. "Call me, and I'll be there."
Whitebeard's crew secured an alliance with the phoenixes to aid in Ace's rescue. They would not abandon or forget what had happened. Doflamingo had crossed them, and they wouldn't give up.
On a ship in the Grand Line.
"Woohoo, look, Doffy!" exclaimed an annoying voice. Doflamingo rolled his eyes recognizing the most annoying and arrogant person in the world. He still didn't understand how he had accepted an alliance, although he planned to betray him in the end.
"They forced us to eat vegetables! But no more, we deserve a treat from time to time. So what are you going to do? Sit back and watch or fight?" A young man stood up, waving a flag in front of a group of subordinates.
"Fight!" They all chanted, caught up in the young man's speech.
The young man leaped from where he was and flew straight towards Doflamingo.
"Why so grumpy? Can't you see how cool this power is?" he said to Doflamingo, staring him down.
"Remember why we got that power in the first place, Peter..." The young man, now known as Peter, grimaced in response.
"You're no fun..." Peter concluded, realizing something was coming.
"They're here! I'm going to hide in your shadow, if you don't mind, Doffy." Peter transformed into a shadow and hid behind Doflamingo's own shadow.
"Admiral Kizaru, it's a pleasure, fufufufu," greeted Doflamingo to the admiral, who had come to take Ace to Impel Down.
Kizaru nodded and took Ace away. Once the ship had sailed away, Peter returned to his human form.
"So that part of the plan is over, isn't it? Ahhh, how boring, why does it have to end so soon? I was having so much fun!" complained Peter, reminiscing about the chaos he caused directly and indirectly.
Stealing Belo Betty's fruit was quite enjoyable. She was definitely a great rival for Peter. It's a pity she had to die.
The part of the plan where they were supposed to capture Ace was also thrilling for him. He enjoyed playing with everyone, using those wild beasts made of darkness.
Everything in this plan was simple and entertaining. Well, everything except the disaster in the kingdom of Bourgeois. But there's nothing that can't be fixed, they just have to wait for the right moment.
After all, the future is always changing with every decision we make.
"Well, Peter, if you want fun, this is just the beginning," said Doflamingo with a crazy smile.
The decision of Doflamingo and Peter will shake the world. After all, these two pirates shared a common goal, to take revenge on the Celestial Dragons.
But who is Peter and what happened in Bourgeois? Well, it's time to tell you about Sabo's great adventure, isn't it?
Before Ace was captured by Doflamingo, Sabo had his own adventure filled with unexpected things in the kingdom known as Bourgeois.