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Ace’s final goodbye to Whitebeard echoed in his mind, as he ran from the battlefield of smoke and blood that was once his execution platform. The sight of Navy Headquarters collapsing and the bodies of soldiers and pirates alike strewn across the floor was overwhelming. As the chasm that his father created between him and his men grew, Ace couldn’t bear to accept his sacrifice and escape. How could he pull himself away from his father, the man who gave him a home and a family? The sounds of the earth cracking beneath his feet and the distinct smell of gunpowder overwhelmed him. Ace couldn’t understand why the people he loved were so desperate to die for someone like him.
The voice of his little brother snapped him out of his stupor. “Ace!” Luffy cried, his voice barely audible over the stampede of retreating pirates. “We have to keep going!! Don’t let the old man’s sacrifice go to waste!!” Ace turned to him, nodding in assent. But despite their efforts, the desperate escape was cut short. A horrible ringing echoed in his ears, and Ace felt the unbearable heat of magma burn through his allies, his comrades - those who put everything on the line to save him, now writhing in pain and seemingly destined to die. Pirates ran for the seas, desperately holding onto their injured comrades, while the navy with their predator-like eyes pursued. Ace could barely breathe, his injuries surely taking their toll. And yet, deep down, as if by some ingrained instinct, he knew he couldn’t run away.
Ace paused in his tracks, and faced the admiral. He met eyes with Akainu, a man defined by his distinct smirk and furrowed brow. His pure white uniform was stained with the blood of both pirates and soldiers alike. Ace couldn’t stand the sight of Akainu - he could never understand how he execute his ruthless ‘justice’ without a second thought. Ace shook with fury as Akainu spat insult after insult against Whitebeard, the man who saved him, the man who gave him a home - Ace lunged towards him in anger yet his attacks were easily blocked. Magma burns even fire, Ace learnt, as the shock of pain spread through his body. He was thrown to the ground with equal ease. He felt the shock of the burn reverberate throughout the ranks of the Whitebeard Pirates. An air of hopelessness descended upon the crew.
Clutching his arm, Ace tried to get to his feet. But his gruesome wounds from Impel Down hadn’t truly recovered. He used every ounce of his strength to make it to his knees, his body shaking with the effort. He winced as he tried to find his balance, his vision too fuzzy to let him gather his bearings. His heart was pounding as he gripped his shoulder, the remnants of the skin peeling and melting. Fire-Fist Ace, burning in agony. The irony wasn’t lost on him.
Ace’s vision cleared slowly. He saw bodies scattered along the grim terrain, pirates fleeing from the horror. The sky seemed to become stormier as the war raged on. He noticed Luffy in the distance, seemingly feeling for something on the ground. He looked terribly weak and injured. Ace attempted to crawl towards him, willing his own strength to return. He needed to make sure Luffy made it out here alive, but his body was working against him as the strain of the past few days caught up with him. He coughed and spat, his frustration with his own weakness building. Ace barely managed to lift his head upwards to witness the magma plunging towards his helpless little brother.
Ace’s heart dropped. He threw himself forward, driven by nothing but panic, to protect Luffy. Even so, he knew it was too late. The sounds of hissing flames and the stench of burning flesh reached him, as if they were straight out of hell. The worst of all was the look of terror on Luffy’s face. The boy let out a slight whimper, then crumpled to the ground. ‘Luffy!!’ Ace screamed, almost as if on instinct. His voice sounded alien - his broken sobs didn’t belong to him. The ashen tone of Luffy’s face, the hole ripped through his chest, his organs having collapsed - they didn’t belong to Luffy either. Luffy was full of life, energetic, reckless. The boy who weakly held onto survival now wasn’t him. It should’ve been anyone other than him, he didn’t care who.
‘Straw Hat is hit!!’ the pirates cried, scrambling to recover from the shock. Ace clawed over, hands raw with cuts and bruises, to where the blood was rapidly spilling. He fell beside Luffy, gently lifting him into his arms, leaning Luffy’s head against his chest. He didn’t notice as Jinbe barely managed to block Akainu’s next attack directed at the pair, or the look of pain that coloured Pops, or the tears of the pirates and revolutionaries that Luffy brought together to save Ace. All he could think of was desperately trying not to cry as Luffy struggled to muster each pained, difficult breath. ‘Damn it…’ Luffy managed, his voice croaky and breathless. He shakily moved his hand to his wound, wincing at the touch. ‘I think… this might be…‘
‘No!! Don’t say anything!!’ Ace cut him off quickly. He couldn’t bear to see his little brother accept defeat. ‘Someone, please! He needs a doctor!!’ Ace knew his cries were meaningless deep down, but more than anything else he wanted to be proved wrong. Pirates rushed over, claiming to know first aid, but the unmistakable look of defeat flashed across their faces when they saw the wound. Ace’s blood finally boiled over. ‘What the hell are you doing, just standing there!? He needs help!!’ Ace snapped. The man stumbled back, clearly shocked by the outburst. ‘Ace, I’m sorry, but… I- I don’t think-‘
‘I don’t care!! Do something!’
‘Ace…’ Luffy weakly murmured.
‘And what the hell were you thinking, Luffy!? I told you to stay away, but you didn’t listen!!’
Ace’s lip quivered as the tears began to stream down his cheeks, unable to hold them back anymore. He didn’t mean to be angry, especially not towards Luffy. What was he doing, shouting at his dying brother?
Even so, Luffy looked up at him, the kindness in his eyes unwavering. His face and hair were dirty with blood, both fresh and dried. It stained Ace’s hands, his chest - everything around him was a crimson mess. Ace doubted he could ever truly wash it off.
In every situation, Ace would always find the wrong words to say. Still, he held Luffy even closer, cradling him like he was the most precious thing in the world. His actions could convey love better than his words ever could. He hoped Luffy knew that.
‘I told you, Ace…’ the tones of Luffy’s voice getting fainter with each passing second, ‘I’m… I’m your little brother. What was I supposed to do, just… let you die?’
Yes, he wanted to say, you should’ve just let me die. It was his own fault he ended up on that platform, after all. He opened his mouth to make a sound, any sound, but he found himself choking on all the words he left unsaid.
I love you. That’s what he should say. But it felt too much like a goodbye.
He could feel Luffy’s breathing become shallower, the boy’s life ebbing away with every passing moment. Regardless, he mustered up the strength to keep talking. Ace strained to hear, blocking out every outside force, not willing to miss a single word. ‘Tell my crew.. that I’m sorry I couldn’t go to the New World with them. But I know… I know they’ll be able to achieve their dreams…’ Luffy weakly coughed blood; it sputtered onto his chest. Ace ran his fingers through his black hair, desperate to give any kind of comfort. ‘And Ace….’
‘Ace… in the end…’ Luffy paused again, catching his breath, but his determination didn’t falter. ‘I still managed to save you, right? So just… you have to-‘ Luffy was cut off again as he sputtered blood and spit. His teeth were covered in blood, cracked and broken from the fight. Despite it all, he managed to use what little strength he had left to grip Ace’s chest.
‘Live, Ace. Just live, dammnit. I know Sabo would say the same thing. And I know… I know you can keep going. Because…’
The tears were beginning to pool in Luffy’s bloodshot eyes. He managed to curl his quivering lip into a grin. ‘Because you’re my older brother.’
Luffy’s grip loosened. Ace’s vivre card continued to flutter on the ground, but it was as if all life had been extinguished in that moment.
‘Luffy? Hey, Luffy.’ Ace lightly shook him, desperate for any sign of life. ‘It’s ok, Luffy. You’re gonna be ok. Can you hear me, Luffy?‘
The boy remained still. His was skin pale and waxy, and his eyes were glossed over with death. Ace’s pleas became desperate, his voice hoarse with grief. He begged and begged, hoping the for the slightest movement. Nothing happened. He held Luffy closer to his chest, as if the sound of Ace’s broken heart could rouse him. Nothing happened. He looked to the sky, hoping for a light in dark, but the Sun seemed to be grieving too.
Ace felt hands on his shoulders, trying to pull him away from his brother, his everything. He ignored it all - the cries for him to run, the gunshots and cannon fire echoing closer and closer to him. How could he move? How could he run when everything important was right here?
His rage became something terrible - it tore him up from the inside, becoming burning, all-consuming. The flames spread, transforming the battlefield into a hellscape. A guttural scream escaped from his mouth, barely even sounding like Ace’s own voice. The arms that attempted to drag him away before had disappeared. It looked like his devil fruit had finally awakened, but it didn’t matter, not when Luffy was limp in his arms.
Despite being the oldest, he had failed to protect a single one of his brothers. Left with that single, overpowering thought, the exhaustion finally caught up to Ace, and everything went black.