Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Ace and Luffy waited in the spot that Sabo told them to wait. Ace had promised Sabo that they would wait for the blonde to come back with a boat so that they could escape off this island and get as far away from the Marines and this island as they could. Where too… Ace wasn’t sure, but anywhere was better here. At least, that’s what Ace believed. Ace just wished that Sabo would hurry up. Ace was starting to get nervous and worried with the blonde being gone for so long.
Luffy was being a cry baby again. Not that Ace could really blame him, it was taking Ace everything he had to not cry. His mother… Sabo’s and Luffy’s adoptive mother… Rouge… she died, making sure that they escaped. Making sure that they got out alive… that her brothers got away from the Marines...
Ace was playing it all in his head, again and again and again. He had no idea how the Marines knew who Ace or his mother were. Ace had taken his mother’s name on to keep them safe, he didn’t use his birth name of Gol D. Ace for anything, only ever using Portgas D. Ace. To keep himself and his mother safe. Neither Sabo or Luffy would have said anything, Ace pretty much forced them to take on the Portgas D name as their own name and they’re Ace’s brothers, in every way but blood. They would never tell anyone about who Ace’s father was or who Rouge’s former lover once was. So, how the hell did they find out?! How did the Marines find out?! How the fuck did the Marines even find them?! Ace can’t make sense of any of it! He has no idea how it happened it! Ace had no idea how the hell this happened!
But Ace knew for sure and that was that it wasn't Luffy and/or Sabo who had sold him and his mother out. Since the Marines were trying to kill Sabo and Luffy too, just because they lived with Rouge and Ace. Just because they were family, even though it wasn’t blood. The fucking Marines had tried to kill Sabo and Luffy just because the four of them called and saw each other as family. Shitty Gramps wouldn’t have told them. Because if the shitty old man was going to tell Marines. He would have done it long before now and before he gave them Luffy to raise and look after. Shitty Gramps would never put Luffy in that kind of danger and he saw Ace and Sabo as his grandsons as well and he wouldn't put his grandsons in this kind of danger. Never fucking ever. It wasn’t Shanks, he would never betray Roger, Ace’s father nor would the red hair man betray Ace's mother Rouge. So, who told the Marines? How did they find out?
Ace would love to know… that way he can kill the person who did with his own two hands. Thanks to whoever told the Marines about Ace and his mother, his mother was now dead. and Ace and his two little brothers are on the run. They would probably get bounties too and theirs names and faces would be known to the world, for all of the wrong fucking reasons! Ad all it did was piss Ace off even more!
“Ace look!” Luffy said bringing the ten year out of his little daydream of thinking. “I can see Sabo now! He has a boat! We’re almost free!”
Ace couldn’t help but smile. Yes, just a few more steps, just a few more minutes then they would free. The three of them! They will live their lives for Rouge! Like she told them too! To live on! They will be safe and free and…
“SABO!” Ace screamed as he grabbed and held onto Luffy as hard as he could as the two of them watched on helplessly as the boat that Sabo was in got shot at once, then a second time.
NO! NO! NO! SABO! THEIR FREEDOM! THEIR BROTHER! NO! NO! NO! NOW WHAT DO THEY DO!?
Why isn’t Sabo coming up…? Why did the man in that huge ship shot at Sabo's boat? What is going on?! Are they not only going to lose their mother but their brother as well?! What God did they piss off to get this?! Why did they do to deserve this!? They don’t deserve this! Sabo doesn’t deserve to die! Not for Ace! Not for his worthless life! This isn't fair! Why is life so fucking unfair!? Why is life doing this to Ace?!
“Look after your brothers, Ace!” Rouge’s voice told him. “Live your lives freely Ace! Sabo! Luffy! I love you three! My boys!”
“Ace,” Sabo’s voice said. “Look after Luffy while I go get the boat okay? It’s safer if I go. If anything happens, which it won’t, make sure you look after Lu for me, okay? You guy mean more to me than anything. I love you both.”
Sabo… what happened to nothing was going to happen? Because something happened and Ace doesn’t know what to do about it… what are Ace and Luffy going to do!?! What are they going to do?! What can they even do?!
“Sabo…” Ace said and he started to cry with Luffy before he knew it.
What were Ace and Luffy going to do without Sabo? How were they going to escape now? How was Ace meant to save and protect Luffy by himself? What would Rouge say right if she saw this happening right now? What would Rouge think of Ace already losing one of his little brothers? It should have been Ace…
Ariel tied her long darkish blue hair back and jumped right into the ocean to go see if the passenger of the ship, a kid her captain said, had survived. Ariel got over to the wreckage in mere seconds, she was one of fastest mermaids around after all. Her dark yellow eyes scanned the area around her. She needed to find this kid, to help him the best she could!
Where is he…
“There!” Ariel said noticing a body falling in the water.
Ariel swam over and just grabbed the human boy. The young mermaid could see the bubbles leaving his mouth as she grabbed the boy and she noticed the burns marks on him as well, mostly over the left side of his face and body. Damn it, it looks bad. Ariel needs to get the boy back to the surface and back to the ship! Fast! She needs to treat these wounds and burns! Especially the one near the boy's eye or he could lose the sight in his eye!
Ariel did a small turn in the water then swam back to the ship as fast as she could. To the Deck of Cards, the ship is called. The ship and home of the Wild Cards, a pirate crew. It was a small crew but they were strong and dangerous. Not a group that you want to underestimate unless you have death wish.
The mermaid jumped out of the water, splashing her crewmates and Captain with sea water as she made it to the deck of the ship with the boy her hand, in one jump. Ariel has always been good at jumping out of the water onto boats and ships.
“Out of my way!” Ariel told her crew mates as she slivered on the deck. She looked over at Fay, a devil fruit eater. Fay was pretty with navy blue almost black hair, pointed ears because of her devil fruit and a green dress. Known as Fairy Fay, because of her devil fruit. “Fay! Give me a hand!” Ariel knew if worse comes to worse, Fay can use some of her Fairy Magic to help heal the boy.
Fay nodded her head, “Right… right!”
“Is he okay?” Macey, the youngest member of their crew asked. The 9 year old girl with the blonde hair and teal blue eyes, wearing a purple shirt and black shorts. The Captain’s younger sister and the crew’s First Mate. Also, a devil fruit eater and known as the Fire Demon Mace. Sure, Macey could use her devil fruit to help heal the boy as well, but Ariel didn’t want to put that much presence on the younger girl. Young Macey was still learning to control her devil fruit powers after all.
Ariel’s the doctor and medical expert, Fay’s the animal and nature expert, Macey’s the youngest member and the First Mate and then there’s their Captain and Macey’s older brother, Ryouta, also known as Wildcard Ryouta who is a sniper, gunman and gun expert. And then the others in the crew are Jace, Core, Musica and Phoenix.
“He will be if you let me do my job honey,” Ariel smiled sweetly at their youngest member to make sure she understood that she needed to let Ariel do her job as the crew’s doctor. “Okay?”
“Okay,” Macey nodded getting out of Ariel’s and Fay’s way as they rushed to the infirmary to save the young blonde boy.
“We need to move!” Ryouta told his crew- wanting to get as far away from the Celestial Dragon now as they can. “Before the Dragon knows we’re here!”
“Marines sighted to the north-east Captain!” Phoenix shouted- noticing a fucking lot of big fucking Marine Ships. What the fuck man?! Why are the marines here?! Phoenix doesn’t remember hearing anything along the snail-line about the Marines being here!
Ryouta cursed several times as Musica just sighed- words such as ass-hole, ass-wipes, cock suckers, mother fuckers, shit-eaters and more were said. They may be pirates and they can say, colourful words at times. But the last thing they need is for their youngest member to being saying them and Musica was going to let Macey know she shouldn’t say those words. “Macey dear, don’t repeat the words your brother and captain just said. Okay?”
Macey nodded her head to the older purple haired girl. “Right Musica!”
“Macey! You’re the navigator! Get us out of here kid!” Jace, their shipwright shouted as he was getting their ship ready for battle in case the Marines spotted and came after them. Jace could handle anything that the Marines throw at them. As long as Macey was the one driving the ship at least.
“What are the Marines doing here?!” Core whined. Core hated the Marines for a number of different reasons. There was a very long story behind why and it was a story another day.
Ariel- mermaid, swimmer and doctor/nurse. 21 years old with very long darkish blue hair, yellow eyes and dark purple mermaid fish tail with light pink fins and the dark purple scales have a hint of light pink through some of them as well. Height is hard to tell since she is mermaid. Almost armour like scales that go up her body, covering her breasts and covers her neck but the others still normally get her to wear a shirt anyway. With some pretty blue crystals that go along her body as well. The Wild Cards’ Fishy Doctor.
Wanted dead or alive: Ariel. Worth: 230, 000, 000 Belli.
Fay- human but ate a Zoan Type Devil Fruit that turns her into a fairy plus gives her the appearance of one. Gardner, animal and plant expert, animal tamer and more. 18 years old with long navy blue almost black hair, soft sky blue eyes, pointed ears thanks to her devil fruit and roughly 170 centimetres tall. She has beautiful blue, white and purple wings when she chooses to show them. Wearing a green dress with green shorts underneath, no shoes but has gold leaf like accessories around her legs and is always seen with a flower in her hair or seen wearing a flower crown. The Wild Cards’ Fairy Fay.
Wanted dead or alive: Faery Fay. Worth: 228, 000, 000 Belli.
Jace- human and ex-Celestial Dragon who ate a Paramecia Type Devil Fruit that powers will remain a mystery for now. Artist, designer, fashion expert, clothes maker, inventor and shipwright. He left the life of being a Celestial Dragon as he didn’t agree with their point of views in life and wanted something else in life. 20 years old who is a little girly looking for a guy with short black hair, yellows eyes and 179 centimetres tall. Wearing dark grey, almost black pants, a black shirt that looks like it had colourful paint splatted on the front of it (red, pink, blue and green), a blue belt that says Jace on it, a red striped flannel shirt that is open and he has the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Also wearing two rings on each hand, two necklaces- one tag on a long chain and a ring on a small chain necklaces, three earrings in right ear and a leather bracelet on his left hand as well as black boots. The Wild Card’s Colourful Jace (called this for reasons to be relieved later but it’s because of his devil fruit, let’s just say that).
Wanted Alive Only: Mazlan Jaceson. Worth: 233, 000, 000 Belli.
Phoenix- human who ate a Logia Type Devil Fruit that powers will remain a mystery for now. Communication Officer and expert, explosive expert and weapon expert. 21 years old with long very light almost light grey hair that he ties up to the left of her head, olive green eyes and 189 centimetres tall. Wears a long black dress pants, a white dress shirt that he never tucks in, a silver belt, black dress shoes and a black dress blazer that he never does up. Phoenix is also the only one in the crew who smokes as well. So he always has a pocket of cigarettes in his pocket and always seems to have one in his mouth. But he mostly smokes when he is fighting or is stressed and worried about something. The Wild Cards’ Phoenix Song.
Wanted dead or alive: Alistair Phoenix. Worth: 244, 000, 000 Belli.
Musica- human and ex-noble. Musician, magician, illusionist, dancer, martial arts expert and more. 19 years old with long purple hair, matching purple eyes and 174 centimetres tall. Wearing a dark purple bikini that could be seen through her white singlet, dark blue shorts and flat black scandals that are open toed and goes around her ankle and half way up her leg. The Wild Cards’ Magic Music.
Wanted dead or alive: Musa Musica. Worth: 235, 000, 000 Belli.
Core- human and assassin by trade. Cook/Chef, assassin, swordsman, knife, dragger and sword expert, poison expert and more. 18 years old with silver/white hair, blue eyes and 183 centimetres tall, not overly noticeable because he is quiet with his assassin training. Wearing all black clothes- normally long but light black pants, black shirt, black shoes and black cloak or something with a hood to help cover up his face. Normally has his face hidden behind a hood of a cloak or jumper or something, because he is a little shy, even for an assassin. Core also doesn't like people seeing what he looks like, though he does trust his captain and crew mates, it’s the other people around them and outside of their crew that he doesn’t trust. Always has a weapon of some kind hidden on his body. The Wild Cards’ Killer Cook.
Wanter dead or alive: Core. Worth: 250, 000, 000.
Ryouta- human who ate a Paramecia Type Devil Fruit that powers will remain a mystery for now. Captain, gun expert, gunman, sniper and more. Captain of the Wild Cards Pirates and called Wildcard Ryouta. 19 years old with wild and messy brown hair, green eyes and 195cm tall. Wearing long dark blue pants, a white shirt with a deck of cards on it, black boots and a red jacket. The Wild Cards’ Wildcard Ryouta.
Wanted dead or alive: Flame D. Ryouta. Worth: 367, 000, 000.
Macey- human who ate a Zoan Type Devil Fruit that turns her into a Fire God/Goddess. Captain’s little sister, youngest member of the crew, weather predictor, strategist/tactician, navigator and First Mate. 9 years old with long blonde hair, teal blue eyes and wearing a purple shirt, black shorts and black boots. The Wild Cards’ Fire Demon Mace or her older brother and crew do at times jokingly call her the Flame Princess, since she can control flames and fire and is kind treated like a princess by her brother and crew.
Wanted dead or alive: Flame D. Macey. Worth: 360, 000, 000.
Why are their bounties so high?
Well, that’s easy. Ryouta did a lot of shit that he wasn’t meant to be do and he caught a lot of attention. For example, destroying a Marine Base when him and Macey were in the Grandline where they broke Phoenix out of prison, destroying several auction houses at Sabaody Archipelago where they met and saved Ariel and Fay, recruiting an assassin to be their chef (Core- cough, cough), killing an abusive Nobleman, freeing their slaves and ‘kidnapping’ the only witness and daughter of said nobleman (Musica) and of course, everyone’s favourite one- ‘kidnapping’ a runaway Celestial Dragon’s son (Jace- cough, cough).
Why are they in East Blue? Why aren’t their bounties higher since they had apparently ‘kidnapped’ a Celestial Dragon’s son?
Well, they’re in the East Blue because why not and the whole bounty thing, well, Ryouta and the others have no idea and they don’t really care. They just take the bounties as they get them. Plus, said ‘kidnapped’ victim had run away from home for a start and joined the Wild Cards of his own free will. Ryouta and Macey never ‘kidnapped’ him. They just offered Jace a place in the crew since he wanted nothing to do with the title of Celestial Dragon as he couldn’t believe what they stood for and hated the life.
First, Macey and Ryouta met and got Phoenix.
Phoenix did something that he refuses to relieve, which is why he was arrested by the Marines. Ryouta had heard rumours about a person who was arrested and being held at a Marine Base close-by. Said person was said to be good with Den-Den Mushi snails and communication systems and said person was Phoenix. So Ryouta decided to break him out of the Marine Base that he was being held in and then got him to join the Wild Cards.
Next was Musica.
Musica was a South Blue Noble. Her family was travelling and were looking for new slaves. Musica didn’t share the same opinion on slaves as her family. Musica and the ship they were with came across the Deck of Cards, while it was docked. Her father saw the young people on the deck and declared them to be their new salves and that did not go over well with Ryouta.
Ryouta, Phoenix and Macey then fought against Musica’s father and his men. Macey pretty much fired the Nobleman and his people. Musica gave Ryouta the keys to the cages and chains so that him, Phoenix and Macey could set the slaves free. The slaves thanked Ryouta, Phoenix and Macey and asked them to not hurt Musica. Because despite the fact that she was a noble, she did not share their views and use to help the slaves by sneaking them extra clothes, blankets, water, food and even treated their wounds a little (having a small amount of medical/first aid knowledge). Ryouta, Phoenix and Macey decided to not hurt Musica. Then they had a party! Where Ryouta and everyone enjoyed listening to Musica play music, sing and watch her dance and do magic tricks and more.
Ryouta then asked Musica to join them, saying he didn’t care about her noble background but someone who was as talented and cool as her should join them. At first, Musica was unsure but the she decided, why the hell not? And joined.
After that Jace, Fay and Ariel joined when the crew went to Sabaody Archipelago after some slavers that had grabbed Macey. The Ariel and Fay were being held at the same auction house where they had Macey. Of course, Ryouta, Musica and Phoenix had to destroy several of them to find which one had Macey and they picked up Jace along the way who had just ran away from his family and was helping them to destroy the auction houses.
Soon, the small group of four found the right auction house- finding Macey and setting her free. Fay was from the West Blue, who had been caught and brought here. While Ariel was a mermaid from Fishman Island who had been caught. How or why, she won’t really share but it’s fine. Ryouta doesn’t and won’t push anyone to share anything they don’t want too.
Ryouta and the others also set free the other captured people/slavers. Ariel and Fay ended up asking to join Ryouta’s crew since they had come friends with Macey during her short time in the auction house with. Ryouta agreed, saying the more the merrier!
Last but not least, Core joined them.
Core was an assassin (born into the profession- with assassin parents and from an assassin family. He did not choice to be one) who wanted more to the life than just being hired to kill people and he has always had a thing for cooking. It’s his dream to be a chef, so Ryouta said Core could have the cook position in his crew if he was interested. Which Core was very interested in, so he took it and has been with them since.
How Core and Ryouta actually met is a mystery to the crew and Macey. All that the crew knew, was that they stopped at an island one day- Ryouta went to go get supplies while others did other things, like clean and guard the ship, do their own shopping and some more. Macey had gone with Jace to get clothes and fabrics and things, then Ryouta turned up with Core- telling the crew that he was their new crew mate and their chef. Core is also originally from the North Blue.
Ryouta had managed to meet all of his and Macey’s crew, including Core, while they were travelling in the Grandline, shortly after the escaping the pirates that had attacked the Fire Temple and who had tried to take Macey.
Why now, are they in the East Blue? Well, they decided to travel a little and the East Blue just happens to be where they are right now.
“How old of you think the boy is?” Macey asked Musica as they waited for Fay and Ariel to save the boy’s life and help him. The blonde boy looked to be in a lot pain.
“Probably around your age I guess, why honey?” Musica asked.
Macey beamed happily. She hasn’t been around kids her own age much- not even when they lived at the temple. The main people that Macey has ever been friends with or had to deal with have always been older than her, so it would nice to have a friend around her age for once.
“Cool! I’ve never had a friend my own age before!” Macey told Musica who looked horrified at the idea then looked at Ryouta, who was nearby but talking to Core. Who Musica happens to know that Core has a huge crush their Captain, not that the assassin would admit it. But he always looked happiest when their Captain talked to him and it doesn’t help that Core had admitted to Musica about crush when he was very, very, very drunk one night and hasn’t said a thing about it since then.
“Oi! Captain!” Musica shouted to get his attention.
Core seemed to excuse himself from the conversation then walked toward their kitchen. Most likely to get some food organised or something as Ryouta walked over, looking a little annoyed at Musica. Probably for interrupting his chat with Core. Did the captain have a crush back on Core or something? Oh! Ariel and Fay are going to love this! Musica is totally going to try to get their captain and cook together now!
“What?” Ryouta asked, rather irritated. He had been enjoying his chat with Core (who he will not admit he has a crush on, ever, to anyone) till Musica had to call for him. Ending the chat with Core excusing himself to go organise something in the kitchen. Damn woman. What did she want now?
“What’s this about Mace never having a friend her own age?!” Musica demanded to know. Musica wasn’t letting Ryouta go anywhere till she knew why.
New World…
“Pops!” West, the second division commander shouted as he ran over to his father figure and captain with a newspaper. “You won’t believe this!”
Izo was sitting there with their father, talking to him about something that he had seen in the paper that he had thought would interest Pops. Why was West coming over? Why did he seem excited and in a hurry? Did he see the same article in the paper as Izo did?
“Is it about Roger’s lover and child?” Izo asked West who hadn’t noticed the Sixteenth Division Commander till he speak. “In the East Blue?”
“Oh, hey Izo, sorry I didn’t know you were talking to Pops,” West apologised with a small bow since he was only now noticing his fellow commander then he realised what Izo said and nodded his head several times. “Yeah! Did you see the article too?”
Izo nodded his head. “Yes, I had. I thought I should inform Pops of it right away.”
That’s exactly what West thought when he saw the article!
“Cool! I had the same thought!” the second division commander laughed as he looked up to his father figure. “What are we going to do Pops? I know you and Roger weren’t friends but it’s not like you were enemies either. Just rivals and it’s not like you two hated each other.”
Whitebeard sat there thinking about it for a moment. Then realised that there wasn’t actually anything to think about. If his rival had a lover and a son, then he not only wanted to meet them but he wanted to protect them as well! Though, from the article says- Roger’s former lover- her name being Rouge has been killed by the Marines but her sons, they were still alive! Whitebeard was going to find them and protect them!
Though a few things in the articles didn’t make a lot of sense, but Whitebeard will worry about those things later. First, they need to finds these missing boys so that they can protect them. Then Whitebeard will ask questions and get things that don’t make sense worked out with the boys. But those things can and will wait till after they find, get and protect the boys.
“Who do we know that are close to or in the East Blue?” Whitebeard asked- knowing what they were going to do.
Both Commanders thought about it for a moment. They couldn’t think of anyone they knew who was in or near the East Blue right now… though, Marco and some others are in Paradise and one of the people with Marco is from the East Blue, so they might know someone.
“Marco and some are in Paradise doing that thing,” West commented.
“And Thatch, Haruta and Colin are with him,” Izo agreed seeing where West’s train of thought was with this. “And Colin is from the East Blue, so he might know someone there who could help us.”
Whitebeard nodded his head, seeing where his two sons were going with this line of thought between the two of them. “Then contact them right away and tell them to go to the East Blue to find these boys and we will meet them there. We could do with a small break anyway, Guarara!”
East Blue again…
Ace sailed the little boat that he and Luffy were in, as best and quickly as he could. He and Luffy had to get out of here! They needed to be anywhere but here! They needed to get away! They needed to live! Ace can regret everything else later! Right now, he needs to keep his promise to not only his mother but to Sabo too! He needs to protect Luffy! He needs to be there for Luffy! Ace is going to protect his only family left, Ace was going to protect Luffy and Ace is going to become stronger!
Even if it killed him. Ace is going become stronger to protect to Luffy! And he is going to protect Luffy! Ace isn’t going to lose Luffy! Never ever!
But first, Ace needs to work out how the hell to get away in this is little boat and away from the Marines. Then he can worry about protecting Luffy properly and becoming stronger.
But… how was Ace going to protect Luffy…?