Chapter Text
Seven figures stood in the shadows of a neighboring building as they camped on the roof of a somewhat tall establishment. They didn't know nor did they care what it was used for, it was just placed conveniently for them to be able to see the entire battlefield without being spotted without help.
As the war started, they waited for the opportune moment to announce themselves. As a Marine ship plummeted from above, Ed smirked and stood up from her crouch.
“Move out.”
With this, they moved to another roof, where they would be able to be spotted by everyone once they drew attention to themselves.
It's showtime.
Luffy charged forward even as the Seagull-hatted Marine beside Ace announced to everyone his own parentage, but Luffy didn't care about that. No, he was there for only one thing.
“Aaaace! Say whatever you want! I'm gonna save you even if I die!” he yelled as he punched down a giant who'd gotten in his way.
Before anyone could react to that statement, a series of explosions went off along the edge of the bay, except where Little Oars Jr. was lying.
“What is this?! What's going on!?” Sengoku yelled, telling all pirates present that this was not a Marine distraction.
Question was, what had happened?
The sound of a loudspeaker being turned on rung through the plaza and everyone looked around in confusion, looking for the source. The following amplified voice made everyone pause in confusion, except Ace, who froze in shock as he recognized it.
“A single thread in a tapestry, though it's colour brightly shine...“
Ace started trembling. Why was she here? Were they all here? Why? They'd known each other for a day. He hadn't even heard from them since that day over three years ago. Why would they...
Suddenly, the people on the battlefield spotted a lone Jolly Roger on top of a building. Then, at the sound of a series of pops, many more unfurled all over Marineford, causing many Marines to blow a gasket.
“Can never see its purpose in the pattern of the grand design...”
The voice kept singing and Ace had to keep himself from tearing up, especially when the singing stopped and the voice instead asked him:
“Hello, Ace. Did you miss us?”
Ace came to the horrifying conclusion that: yes, the entire Ouroboros crew was there. He knew they would follow their captain anywhere. The Fire Logia wasn't sure what to think. He let his eyes roam over the multiple Ouroboros Jolly Rogers as tears fell.
The fighting had started again, but everyone was obviously distracted by the voice and flags. The Whitebeard Pirates were very curious what their connection to their Second Division Commander was, but were willing to accept the prospect of help. It didn't matter really who got Ace, so long as it wasn't the Marines.
“I didn't ask you to come save me...” Ace choked out, unheard by all but his grandfather, who was right beside him.
Suddenly, bodies were thrown over the edge of a building, dangling from ropes around their necks. A crackling sound later a big screen came to life, showing their identities for all to see.
Marshall D. Teach, riddled with bulletholes and slowly bleeding to death, along with the Impel Down Escapees he'd made his crew.
The ravenette was reeling from the sheer brutality they were showing... all because of him. He honestly would never have expected this of them, not with the way they'd met and interacted. He had trouble linking the happy, music-loving crew with this... whatever it was. Distraction? Intimidation-technique? Declaration of war?
Ace hunched his shoulders as tears began to fall. Honestly... they hadn't changed at all, had they?
“This is your last warning-”
“You didn't even give me the first warning...”
“Yes, well, if you actually need more than one warning, then you're an idiot. Now, you will wear that life-vest or so help me, Portgas I will end you.”
He'd known them for little over a day... why would they care this much?
There was the sound of air rapidly expanding, followed by many, many screams. Ace's head snapped up, only to see two huge clusters of Marines clutching their ears, their surroundings damaged. Thanks to this, he noticed two other spots detonate, for the lack of a better word, and more Marines falling to their knees, screaming about their ears and how they were bleeding.
What the hell?
It didn't take long for everyone to realize that this was the work of the unidentified group or individual. It took even less time for Ace to realize how they were doing it.
“I'm the Captain and I say that you can't eat the hypothetical Devil Fruit.”
“No one is eating the Devil Fruit, it's against the rules”
“...no Devil Fruits if it can be avoided”
The only way one of them could cause havoc like that with no visible cause... was if someone had eaten a Devil Fruit. There was no reason for them to have suddenly decided to break that rule... except...
Did they... because of me?
He didn't understand... why all these people were there. But especially why they were there.
“Bye Ace!”
“Take care!”
“Don't go falling overboard again while we're not looking!”
“We'll see you in the Grand Line! Count on it!”
Sure, they'd said all that... but Ace hadn't put much belief in the words he'd heard.
On another side of the battlefield, groups of marines were suddenly changing sides and attacking their comrades. In the middle of the chaos stood a single woman with long brown hair flowing in an unseen breeze, singing. It was due to this singing that the marines were behaving oddly. It took all her concentration to aim her power at the marines and not the pirates, it would be a hassle to explain to them why they couldn't remember half of the war.
Her theory had been simple: if there was a Devil Fruit of the Siren, then she would essentially have control over men with only her voice. It had taken her much training to be able to select targets and dampen the effects on others. So long as pirates and marines were mixed together, she wouldn't be able to really let loose. At least she had finally figured out how to channel her power into her singing and not just her voice. She didn't fancy going mute for long spans of time.
It didn't take long for someone to notice Alexia's attack. The Ouroboros didn't expect the Admirals to go after her. Not that they were a big problem, what with the pirate crew having a sniped equipped with sea-stone bullets. Five bullets were all that was needed to incapacitate Kizaru and Aokiji and kill Akainu. Of course, Lisa also riddled him with bullets just in case.
Two down, one more thing before they go.
On top of the execution platform, Ace was following the battle with tears steadily running down his cheeks. He'd of course noticed the obvious indicators of Devil Fruit powers and realized it wasn't just one of the seven who'd gone against the rule, but two. At least two. Possibly more than just two.
At a sharp whistle, Ace jerked his head and looked around wondering where the hell it had come from. He didn't have long to wonder before suddenly, Luffy stood in front of him, a blond woman holding his shoulder.
“Free your brother, Mugiwara, and ignore Jim, he's just back-up.”
At the name, Ace whipped his head around and sure enough, the swordsman was standing behind him with an easy grin, waving at him.
“When the hell did you get there?!” the fire logia yelled as his little brother bound over and started fiddling with his cuffs.
The ravenette raised an eyebrow “I've been here for five minutes, I'm just very silent.”
Before Ace could continue, he noticed that the surrounding sounds had become muffled and distorted. He could tell what was being said around him, but the sound seemed to flow in the wrong direction, if that made any sense.
This was why he could discern the words he could hear being sung and saw the effect they seemed to have on the two Marines on the platform with them. The source of the singing? Alexia.
“~Stop right now, thank you very much~”
Both Sengoku and Garp froze, unable to act against the pirates right in front of them.
Sengoku, gritting his teeth, his voice clearly heard by everyone via Den Den Mushi “What... is... this...?”
The brunette who'd caused the reaction only smiled at the Fleet Admiral “You're a sailor and you haven't heard of the creature that ensnares with her song? For shame, Sengoku, here I thought you were smart.”
It took a moment, but the Marine's eyes widened in comprehension “Zoan?”
The girl, woman really, flipped her hair “Hito Hito no Mi: Model Siren. A Mythological Zoan and useless if you don't know how to truly use it... it's one thing to ensnare people to swim to their deaths, it's another to control entirely with your words... and speaking of words...” she grinned, taking in a deep breath before singing again.
“~I wish you would step back from that ledge, my friend~” the two Marines took a step back, towards the edge of the platform, unable to stop as the song continued “~You could cut ties with all the lies that you've been living in~” until they both fell off and were momentarily out for the count. Of course, Alexia then proceeded to sing some more at Sengoku, to make sure he'd stay down for the moment “~Comatose, I'll never wake up without an overdose of you~”
By then, Ace's cuffs popped open and he staggered to his feet, staring at Al as the muffling bubble Jim had to have erected dissipated
“I thought-” the logia started, his breath hitching as his voice echoed through Marineford due to the dropped Den Den Mushi “that becoming a drowning hazard was against the rules?”
Al smiled at him “You broke it first.”
Ace frowned “I'm not- I'm a Whitebeard, not Ouroboros.”
Jim clapped him on the shoulder as the First mate replied with a chuckle “Just because you left doesn't mean we let go.”
“You're all weirdoes, you and your Captain.”
“You fit right in!”
Ace let out a sigh before they all took a running leap off the platform and were greeted by a wave of cheers when the pirates fighting realized Ace was free.
Al was running only a step behind the fire logia, sounding tired as she asked “Do you want to leave on the Moby or the Truth? Either's fine, but we need to know before we reach the ships.”
Ace was confused, but answered anyway “As much as I want to catch up... I really want to be with my family.”
She nodded and grabbed something from her waist “Liz, how's it going with Shirohige? Has Ed managed to convince him to leave?”
The device, because a Den Den it was not, crackled before the somewhat discernable voice of the sniper of the Ouroboros Pirates rang through “He's proving to be stubborn, we may need you to convince him.”
“Was afraid of that. I need you to Port Portgas onto the Moby, along with his brother, and tell Jonas to resurface the Truth. Teach is dead and so is Akainu, we're leaving.”
“Aye, aye, Lex.”
With that, Ace heard the sound of displaced air, felt someone grab onto him, and suddenly he was skidding to a halt on the Moby's deck, his brother popping out of thin air beside him, Liz disappearing afterwards. It was obvious that she, too, had eaten a Devil Fruit. Deciding that everyone should be aware that he was safe, Ace sent fire into the air, taking the form of the Whitebeard Jolly Roger. At the same time, a familiar ship crashed through the water, the bubble coat popping.
Masses of pirates began to move in one general direction. The retreat had begun. Now if only Whitebeard would follow suit.
