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This wasn’t right, Ace thinks as he holds on tightly to the side of the ship, watching the waves brush against the beautiful boat. He should still be out there with Luffy .
The smoke and fire that had originally been coating his veins, fueling his heart was cold, as if water had been poured onto it and kicked into the ground. He should be protecting him right now , he turns to the captain, who is grinning quite gleefully at him, “your other brother’s brush with this side caused quite the stir while he was visiting.”
Sabo? “Time here moves like the waves,” he continued, interrupting Ace’s thoughts, each step towards the plank causing water to drip and spill from his boots and off of his long black coat and onto the soaking wet deck. “You’ll never know how long it will take before you find yourself drifting back towards the other side.”
“Who are you,” Ace demands, hesitantly moving away from the edge and closer to the man? No, this wasn’t a man at all, he didn’t seem like anyone he’d ever met before, no distinguishing features, he looks plain, unlike most captains Ace could think of, any thoughts of the man's features slipped right off the tip of his mind and it was only Ace staring at the man that he could still describe him somewhat.
“I am the one who courts the sea,” Ace watched as the waves started crashing harder against the ship, “the bringer of waves and singer of storms. I count those who come to this side and give them hope, fear and a new beginning. I collect those who live upon my love and greet them as they pass on to the end.” The man's grin is eerie, uncanny. “I am the one known as Davy Jones.”
He’s dead, completely dead, no pulse, no breathing , there’s no other way he is here then. Ace swallows, “is anyone else—?” Please, at least give him this before his soul is swallowed by the sea. May his crew live, his family survive and pray they don’t mourn him.
Davy Jones shakes his head, (Davy Fucking Jones - he who kills those who are greedy, those who sail off into the distance, the one who commands and traps souls of those who ride the sea, those who court the waves like he once did) hand on the edge of his sword and Ace is ready to go,
no one else is dead, dying, about to be killed, the old man is fine, his brother is fine, his crew and family are fine, and he’s fine with this. He’s ready to join the rest of the damned, the ones who knew what it was like to live upon the waves.
“You misunderstood me,” the captain realizes, “many have that very same idea rattling in their brains.” What idea, Ace wonders, does he not kill the souls of those who live on the sea, those who love the freedom, the air and the waters?
“I don’t kill lovers of the sea, child.” Davy Jones says patiently, and Ace blinks owlishly at him, “no, those Marines skewer the truth, I guide sailors to the sea, I guide those who are gone to the eternal beyond, where either you can continue your adventure - or they may settle down on land.”
“I do not kill those who board my ship, however it is very hard to leave.” Davy Jones says as if he didn’t just almost stop Ace’s heart - from fear? - did Garp lie to them when they were kids? Did he omit the truth, tell them that they would be damned if they became pirates simply because he wanted them to become Marines?
“So I can see them again?” Ace could barely breathe, he had thought of this day, the idea of being able to see them again for as long as he could remember. Those he had lost, his brother - who would technically now be their youngest? - finally after years of waiting, after years of dreaming and praying to see his brother again.
Davy Jones smile turned to something different, no longer was the man who was misunderstood stood in front of him, this was different, odd - as if Davy Jones himself wasn’t able to do as he asked. As if he wouldn’t , help Ace see his brother. Did Sabo not count? He died on the waves, attempting to sail off to be free, did he not get to see his brother for what could be the last time? So that they could watch their brother, Luffy, together in the afterlife.
“Only one of whom you seek is sailing the seas,” Davy admits, “he was pulled away by a Conqueror not long after he first boarded.” The hell does that mean, Sabo wasn’t dead, wasn’t here to greet him, Sabo was alive?
“ What ?” Ace demands, “Sabo? He’s— Do you know where he is?”
“Only that he doesn’t know who he is,” Davy Jones leaned against the rails, “he had been too slow, and not all of him returned.” Was Sabo some sort of freaky undead creature?
Davy Jones looks amused, as if he knew what Ace was thinking, “no, he’s not. However, he’ll know soon enough, as his memories which had stayed in this realm have started to leave and are slowly returning to yours.”
“I-“ Ace is about to ask him if he could at least see Thatch, however Davy Jones grins once again, a loud crash is heard off the side of the ship and Ace hurries over to where the noise is coming from. “What is that?” He asks the captain, who tilts his head - eyes filled with mirth, “a conqueror.”
A whirlpool had formed right beside the ship, red and blue colouring surrounded the water as it pushed apart and back together again, as it seemingly battled around each other. It’s not water, Ace realizes finally, the rest of the water(?) was a cloudy colour, that sparkled along the horizon.
“he was pulled away by a Conqueror not long after he first boarded.” Ace straightens, and asks, “Luffy—?” He’s peering down the plank when a sharp pain in his back erupts and Ace flails as he falls into the- not- water, it’s cold and then he’s warm and then he’s annoyed .
They spent years mourning the loss of their brother, and he’s out there alive and didn’t botherto tell them, okay, amnesia is a good excuse but Ace is going to ignore it because he’s really fucking annoyed . He jolts up, grabbing his head in pain as he slams hard into Luffy—
Luffy is right in front of him, he’s no longer with Davy Jones— and Davy Jones just fucking kicked him into a whirlpool. Today sucks, Ace thinks, before anger rises once again.
Wait, no Fuck you Sabo, “SABO ISN’T DEAD, HEY SABO YOU UNGREATFUL FUCK, GET THE FUCK BACK HOME YOU STUPID BITCH!” Luffy’s eyes widen as he holds onto Ace, his stupid little brother is tearing up and they’re standing still as Ace feels his head beat once again - feels his powers flicker to life.
“Sabo?” Luffy whimpers, “he’s alive?” And Ace lets out a horrible sobbing laugh, that sounded more like he was choking than laughing.
“He’s alive,” Ace promises, “and we’re going to go find him and bring him home.” He’s about to say something to his brother before wind hits his face as Marco - oh how Ace is glad to see his brother - is grabbing them and flying them to safety.
They’re safe, they’re all alive and Luffy and everyone else is beside him, he doesn’t think he’d ever feel this relived ever again.