Gentle Cradle (Don’t Break My Ribs)

Sailing with a large crew is something else entirely.

The Whitebeards have over a thousand crewmates with many allies to add to the tally and Ace is starting to question his choice on joining.

Don’t get him wrong, everyone has been unusually nice to him and accommodating, but how is he going to live with them when he can’t even remember who the one to hand him his meal was?

The overwhelming numbers make it impossible to get to know anyone closer, especially with the roster system making sure Ace gets partnered up with someone new every week, if not every day.

If he’d been a bit more ignorant Ace would have thought that this is the difference between a normal crew and an emperors. But the laughter of his older brother sounds in the back of his head every time he thinks of it, the unnatural wide smile of the rubber man appearing before his inner eye.

Luffy’s crew may have many allies as well, a whole fleet to his beck and call, but his main ship is carrying merely a bare skeletal crew, his most trusted companions.

Ace knows them as his uncles and aunts, Luffy’s nakama and those who carried his brother’s dream to the end of the Grandline. He still remembers the day the newspaper announced the new Pirate King like it happened just yesterday, pride blooming inside him anew every time Ace remembers it.

Thinking about Luffy and his crew actually reminded him of his own. Absent mindedly Ace starts to stroll down the halls, unconsciously hiding his presence and keeping to the shadows.

The Spade pirates were split up the moment Ace had given in, the ceremony and following celebration the only time they were given to remain together.

Ace blanks out the image of a burning Spadille, the screaming and pleading of her Klabautermann echoing in his soul as her sails turned into ash and her planks started to fall apart please make it stop make it stOP MAKE IT STOP MAKE IT STOP MAKE IT STO-

He missed Deuce’s sharp critic and Banshee’s witty comments, Skull's nagging and Mihar's stories. It feels empty without his family by his side.

Although he may be without his crew the commanders keep visiting him, especially Marco. As the first commander and first mate Ace would have thought he’d be a lot busier, yet he manages to routinely check up on him, as if he’s waiting for something to happen.

Greeting another mate in the hallway Ace grimaces, remembering how Marco keeps watching him from afar, eyeing him as if he's his prey, his gaze that of a predator.

Growing up in a forest on Dawn Island has burned the laws of the Wild into Ace’s mind. He knows when something is amiss, no matter how often everyone reassures him otherwise.

Reaching the deck Ace steps into the open, taking in the sight of some people working, while other groups stood around and chatted happily. The wind blows strong, the sails unfurled and the sky freed of clouds. The sun is warm on his skin as he stands there, enjoying the feeling of good weather for once. 

Feeling goosebumps appear and a shudder run down his back Ace tenses up, right before a voice calls out to him.

“Ace, good to see you! What are you up to today?” Appearing out of nowhere beside him Marco slings an arm around his shoulders, pulling Ace closer. Grinning down at him his half-lidded eyes check him out as if looking for signs of something, his look containing a cold glint.

“Commander Marco, good morning.” Forcing himself to look up Ace meets Marco’s eyes, giving the first mate a cocky smile as he ignored all his instincts screaming inside him to create space between them.

“I haven’t got anything planned for today.” Sheepishly grinning Ace breaks their eye contact, cold sweat running down his back. “I’m still not used to having this much free time on a ship, so I’ll keep wandering around probably.”

“Oh?” The glee in Marco’s voice makes Ace’s blood run cold as he tries to step away from him, the arm around his shoulders heavy and chaining him to the man.

Disregarding his attempts to escape Marco pulls Ace flush against him, leaning down to his ear before whispering. “Why don’t we both spend some quality time together then? I’m sure you’ve been getting restless as well, firecracker.”

Whistles and catcalls break out across the deck as those present note both of them and their stances. But their encouraging words and calls fade into white noise as Ace freezes up, his heart hammering at an unhealthy fast rate.

Is this-

Is this what Marco had been after every time he came by to check on Ace?

Fear creeps up inside him, festering inside his chest and spreading its roots like bamboo shoots. He feels small, caged in the taller man’s hold, fingers digging almost painfully into his shoulder.

Something dark resides in the first mate’s blue eyes, a possessive kind of thing as he watches Ace’s reaction.

His breathing picked up, slowly getting out of control and before Marco could ask another question Ace rams his elbow into his side and shoves him away, running off into the bowels of the ship to hide.

Passing the kitchens Ace feels a small hope sprout inside of him and he changes his course. Surely Thatch would help him keep Marco away, right? There must have been a miscommunication, Thatch would make it right again. He’d been the first one to befriend Ace and stayed close to him ever since, so he has to help him. They’ve spent so much time together and he promised-

Reaching Thatch’s private kitchen he gets ready to barge in but stops when he hears voices talking inside, mentioning his name.

Thatch promised he’d be there for Ace if he ever needs him.

“Mother ocean, why does it take so long to break that brat?!” Haruta whines, his voice a little muffled as small thuds on wood can be heard. Haruta must be slamming his head on the table.

“Be patient, he’ll break. Everyone gives in to Oyaji’s conquerors haki eventually and Marco can finally get his little boy toy after this whole ordeal.” Metallic clatter rings out and another man curses. “I swear to Davy Jones, pops has to keep his favoritism in check.”  

That voice belonged to-

His racing thoughts come to a halt as Ace's stomach drops, his legs growing weak as he stays still before the kitchen, hand still on door ready to push it open.

…Thatch.

Stumbling back through the halls and dodging others Ace feels tears running down his cheeks.

His mind shutting down he runs without looking where, letting his feet carry him to wherever.

Eventually reaching a hidden niche he’d discovered during his first three months Ace crawls into it before breaking down.

Sobs escaping him he clamps his hands over his mouth in a desperate attempt to muffle them.

Ace feels used, tricked.

Where is the family he’d been promised?!

How did he miss all the signs?

Racking his brain for any moments that could have indicated anything of such sort Ace feels realization dawn on him, a numb feeling spreading through his body with every memory he finds.

Hands falling to his sides he stares ahead, his eyes growing dull. Marco’s behavior was a blaring red flag from the beginning, but Ace had tried to give him the chance of a doubt.

Slowly more moments with various other crew members filter through, every time they checked in on him suddenly, asked strange tasks and questions of him.

“Ace, why don’t you help us out with this?"

“Don’t worry ‘bout the sense of it, just do as ordered.”

“It’s bette’ to never question. Simply obey and follow, ya hear brat?”

“Keep those rules close ta yer heart, kid!”

“You’ll be needing them…”

He’d taken them all by their word without question, just as they wanted from him. A bitter taste spreads in his mouth, nausea swirling.

They had been training him.

Training him to become a toy for one of the Whitebeards commanders.

Ace doesn’t want that.

He doesn’t want- no, he refuses to end like that.

His tears ceasing Ace pulls himself together, his will hardening and resolve steadied.

Unbeknownst to Ace translucent arms embrace him, the souls of Rouge and Roger shielding their son’s mind from the endless attempts of Edward Newgate trying to break him. Soft lullabies sung as Rouge pats his hair, tears streaking down her face at her son's situation. A grim look on Roger's as he sits in front of Ace, covering him with his massive built.

The fury of both is enough to transcend the barrier of the living and the dead, their haki's stopping anyone from sensing their boy. Davy Jones, the winds and mother ocean have given their blessings to the D's, there is nothing that could stop them. Not even death.

They may have failed in being present as his parents,
but they refuse to let their only baby suffer such a cruel fate of a slave.

Ring ring ring ring ring ring-

Gatcha!

“Sunny, main ship of the Pirate King’s fleet here, who’s there?”

An airy, velvety voice calls out, the Denden snail starting to slowly transform.

“Aunt Robin?”

Immediately tensing up Robin feels any kind of contentment she’d been feeling just a moment ago disappear, the hoarse and strung voice of her nephew putting her on edge.

“Ace my dear, is everything alright?”

Some of the other Strawhats gather around her, hearing Ace’s name intrigued them but the worry in Robin’s voice stopped them from interrupting.

“Auntie, they don’t want-” Ace stops talking, a muted laughter can be heard on the other line, tittering on the edge of a crazed sound.

Furrowing her brows Robin signals Usopp to get Luffy as quick as possible. “Sweetie, could you please elaborate a bit more? Are you safe?”

The line goes silent for a few seconds before a sniffle comes through.

“No, ‘m not safe. Auntie, they jus’ wan’ me as a toy. They don’ wan’ me as family.”

The sniffles erupt into hiccupping, Ace crying as he blubbers on, but the Strawhats already understood. The joyful mood from a while ago plummets, tension growing thick enough to pinch between two fingers.

They’d been in contact with Ace during his three months of assassination attempts regularly, making sure he’d be alright. Luffy refused to stifle his little brothers freedom and growth as a pirate, so their relation was kept on a low. No one was to know of the relationship between the Pirate King and Portgas D. Ace. 

They had assumed Whitebeard to be one of the better emperors, someone who managed to even get Shank's stamp of approval. Hearing the little brother of their captain falling apart on the other line sets their assumptions back on track, showing just how wrong they'd been.

A distinct shishishi echoes across the deck as Luffy bounces over. “I heard Ace’s on the call!” Grabbing the Denden Luffy laughs out happily. “Aceee! How are you-“

Luffy’s smile is wiped off in seconds as he takes in the crying snail, mimicking his little brother on the other line. A minute shock wave washes over the Sunny as the captain stares at the snail.

“What happened.”

It wasn’t a question, on the contrary. It was an order, which was heard as Ace starts ranting about what’s been going on and what he’d discovered recently.

Lowering his head the strawhat throws Luffy’s face in shadows, listening to the chocked tales of his little brother.

“We’re coming, stay put and don’t try to fight them.”

The Denden's expression calms down, a few sniffles here and there left. "Luff, can we go see Sabo again?"

Hearing the quiet request Luffy's expression softens, a sigh escaping him. "Of course, outoto. We can get Shitty Gramps and Grandpa Ray as well, how does that sound?" 

He's met with a small smile from the snail, causing Luffy's heart to flutter. He'd missed his brothers, a family meeting has been long overdue. 

"Mhm, sounds good. Bring your boyfriend as well, I miss his bear."

Laughing, Luffy puts the Denden into Nami's hands, his own shaking too much that he fears he'd kill the poor snail accidentally. He can't show his anger on his face, Ace needs him to be calm now. "I'll bring Torao and his crew with me and anyone else you want to be there. Ace, know that I love you."

Luffy smiles as he hears it get reiterated back to him. "Stay strong."

Hanging up the call with a heavy heart Luffy swirls around, his smile gone, looking at his angry nakama with an equal fury. His voice cold and sharp as a diamond blade.

“It seems like the old man wishes to retire, so let’s put him into an early grave.”

Turning his gaze to the horizon Luffy gives the final order, his eyes blazing red.

“Set sail.”

BIG NEWS MORGANS

Pirate King eliminates another emperor!

Whitebeard Pirates exterminated with its allies, no survivors left.

ONE SIMPLE AFTERNOON news reach across the Grandline how the Pirate King’s fleet is gathering up their numbers, preparing for battle. At that time no one was aware that there would be no battle, only a massacre waiting to happen.

With the main ship sailing into Whitebeard territory, weapons blazing and arsenal fully equipped, everyone knew something to be amiss. Questions started to arise, curiosity peaked.

What did the Whitebeard Pirates commit to get the ire of the Pirate King on them?

Accompanying the Pirate King was the Death Surgeon Trafalgar Law, the emperor who took Big Mom's place after defeating her. Adding to this partnership a few ships of the Revolutionary Army are sighted, showing to intermingle with the offensive force. 

As already mentioned in the beginning, there was no fight to begin with, the Whitebeard Pirates getting slaughtered with no hesitation granted. The extermination of an emperors crew should not be this quick!

At the same time in different parts of the Grandline and New World the allies of the Whitebeard Pirates were getting hunted down by the Pirate King’s fleet before getting cut down. Rumors fly around of a possible brother of the Pirate King Luffy having been caught and mistreated by Whitebeard and his commanders personally, but more information will be found on it later.

How will the World Government react to this show of power?

Will another hunt be issued out to exterminate the threat of the second Pirate King?

And who will fill the new emperor position, now emptied by Pirate King Luffy?

More to those topics on page 17!