Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

    It’s fascinating how many similar universes there are. On a surface level they look different, but when you peel back the layers you slowly start to see patterns. Rules and laws that transcend reality.

    Two worlds could be used as such an example, especially the link the two will soon share. Not that anyone would see it coming.

    One is an ancient realm, created by two brothers. Together they created, destroyed, and later abandoned their masterpiece to teach their creations a lesson. Magic was striped from the realm with only remnants of what once was. Now pledged with monsters, leaving humanity with no one to turn to but each other.

    Though of course, darkness can never truly be banished. Even the heroes of this realm have their own agenda. An immortal witch and wizard? Huntresses and Huntsmen protecting Four kingdoms and powerful relics?

    And of course, four maidens with the powers of the seasons. It’s a wonderful world of fairytales and tragedy, withering roses and sharpened iron. A world of never ending violence.

    Meanwhile another world awaits. One that had started over a few times already, though the history long forgotten. Or at least, that’s what they want you to believe. It’s a world full of pirates, adventure, and mystery! No one had ever fully explored it in its entirety, a world map a long sense dream. Pirates and marines alike sail across these waters, the feeling of adventure buzzing even in the air.

    However just like the first world, darkness pledges this one as well. 

    Slavery, monsters, and a forgotten history. Once there was a god of liberation, a god of the forest, and a god of the ocean. What happened to them? What became of the old world? No one knows. All that remains are stones with ancient text that only one woman can now read, Devil fruits with odd and mysterious powers, and an entity shrouded in shadows with piercing red eyes. Their gaze destroying anything or anyone that may reveal the truth of this world.

    Both worlds are in a secret war, both worlds are faced with uncertainty.

    And yet, a smaller, more honest soul, is the key to saving both worlds.

    But that is a story for later. Neither the huntress nor pirate have reached the power needed in order to shake their worlds. Their stories have only just begun. 

    Though in another world, another timeline, a man would have met his end today. Hunted and burned from the inside with his face plastered across the world. A mix of cries and cheers would echo throughout the lands while an injured king-to-be wailed for the loss of his brother.

    But like I said, that’s another tale. A different path.

    There is a theory that a single change could redirect the future, no matter how big or small. The smallest rock kicked a little further. A butterfly flapping its wings causing the air to shift ever so slightly. Just a small change could completely change the future.

    Maybe it was a shared energy. Maybe it was fate? Or perhaps just another great mystery added to the pile of unknown. But on the day of his death, everything went horribly right.

    At the same time, two things happen in these two worlds.

    A war of the best, powerful pirates and marines alike fighting to the death. Powerful devil fruits and will-power gathered in the same place, and among them, a sleeping god.

    In the other, a maiden is attacked by three unknown assailants who work for an immortal witch. And for the first time in history, the leader of the group tries to drain the maiden's power to make it her own. However she won’t be able to finish taking all of it.

    In a matter of seconds, a static shock vibrates through the air.

    A brother bursts into flames, jumping in front of the younger to take a deathly blow.

    A dusty crow with bad luck  jumps in to disturb the process of stealing the maidens' powers.

    And then it happens. The change.

    The younger brother's eyes flash red, a scream on his lips.

    A large sword cuts down on the connection between the maiden and the woman’s Grim glove.

    With the blade cutting the connection and splitting the maidens power into two, and a blood curdling screams of a god, the world shifts.

    One second he sees his brother's terrified face, accepting his imminent death. Next, the world flashes to white. An explosion of colors and sounds morphing and stretching around and inside him. A burst of pain washes over his back hotter than his own flames.

    And then darkness.

    His ears ring, eyes open despite being unable to see anything. All of his senses were completely shot. I’m his haze of unknown there is the faint sound of gunfire beyond the static.

    And slowly from the shock and acceptance of his death, Portgas D. Ace faded from consciousness. A small smile on his lips.

    Everything was going horribly wrong for both sides.

    As per usual, Qrow’s semblance was going full force. If he had shown up seconds sooner, the uncertainty of the spring maidens future would be a question asked much later. Instead, he finds himself arriving almost too late.

    Amber was on her knees, held by a green haired girl and a grey haired boy. And in front of her was a woman with a glove, a black web-like substance sticking out of a bug grim and attached to Amber's face. The glow of the Spring maidens power sapping out of her and into the woman.

    Without a second thought Qrow leaped into action, moving faster than a typical human with his years of experience as a huntsman, slicing into the black web and cutting off the connection.

    What he didn’t count on was a shock wave to hit him and the three attackers. The four launched back as a flash of white flashes from where the web had been cut.

    Qrow winced, his aura flickering from the sheer impact the power displayed. For a second his vision was hazy and a slight ringing sound sang in his ears. 

    When his senses came back both the teens were knocked out cold on the ground and the woman was kneeling, panting heavily. He doesn’t get a clear look at her face as she uses the magic she managed to absorb to blur her features.

    He turns his attention towards where Amber should be and paused for a moment. He squinted.

    …Was that….why was there a man laying next to her suddenly??

    The woman makes a slight motion to move towards where the man and Amber's out-cold bodies laid, but Qrow had already leaped forwards to grab both of the unconscious adults. With a smirk the attacker holds out a hand. He barely has time to react as the ground below him swirls and turns orange, exploding just as he jumps out of the way.

    When the smoke and debris clears the attackers are gone. 

    Qrow grunted. ‘So the queen has decided to make her move.’ He thought grimly.

    He gently laid the two bodies down to assess the damage done. He first looked over Amber, her well being his priority.

    From a quick once over  he could tell she had taken some heavy hits. The skin visible was covered in blooming bruises and drying blood from what Qrow assumed was a mix of the attackers and her own. And with how her body reacted when he had set her down it was safe to say a few ribs had been fractured. Most concerningly though, was the news scars that now Weber over her face.

    ‘Definitely left from that grim glove, must be one of the newest toys she cooked up.’ The raven haired man thought. He checked her pulse. He cursed.

    He pulled out his scroll and called Ozpin as he turned his attention to the unconscious man. Half a ring later the call was picked up.

    “Qrow.” Ozpin greeted. His usual affable tone had a slight tension to it. It was like he could tell something went wrong. 

    “Oz.” Qrow answered. “I got Amber. She was attacked by three assailants, Salem has made another move.” He informed the professor. “She’s in critical condition and needs immediate media assistance.” He said as he adjusted the unconscious man to look at him better. So far there weren’t any life threatening injuries. He was covered in bruises, some new and others days old. Most of his skin was covered in soot, blood, and small cuts. And with the man only wearing shorts Qrow could see almost every injury. He carefully rolled him over onto his side to get a look at his back.

    There was a tapping sound from the scroll. “Sending air ships to your destination now, I’ll send a distress call to the nearest town to start the treatment. As soon as the air ships get there, head straight to Becan.”

    “…tell them to send enough for two critical patients.” Qrow muttered, the words falling out of his mouth before he even processed the thought.

    “Qrow?”

    The man took a shaky breath. “There’s a kid here. I don’t know why it happened or how he got here but he’s not looking too good.” 

    There was no confirmation, just more taps. “The ships will be there in four hours. Local medics will be arriving shortly.”

    “Thanks Oz.” Qrow breathed. “I’ll try to keep them stable till they get here.

    The call ended and Qrow carefully picked up the two and took them over to the shade of trees to lay on their sides. He didn’t want the wounds to get infected or for them to choke.

    The older man sat on a rock. Close enough to protect, far enough to stop his semblance from affecting them. He pulled out a flask and took a long gulp.

    He was used to things not going to plan. He’s trained with his semblance for years and yet it backfired against him every now and then. He was especially used to it since he joined Oz’s mission in taking down Salem. This wasn’t the first time the witch had targeted one of the maidens. Though this situation was incredibly…unique.

    And that wasn’t even with the unknown kid that appeared out of nowhere. Where this kid fit into all of this, Qrow had no idea. But what he had seen…

    Qrow glanced his way.

    The kid was lying facing him. Despite being covered in grime and wounds the kid slept with a smile on his face, one that reminded Qrow of his Niece. He hadn’t realized how young the boy looked at first due to all the debris covering him. If he had to guess the kid was probably somewhere in between late teens and early twenties.

    Which is why it was even harder to see it.

    His gaze trailed down to where the kid's abdomen was exposed. It was covered in the same cuts and bruises as the rest of his body, except for the very top where his side was. Blisters peaked over the edge, creeping up from his back. Qrow didn’t have to see it, the images of burnt flesh embedded in his brain.

    A large circular burn covered most of his back. It didn’t look deep but there was no doubt that his organs had been damaged. He probably needed surgery. 

    Qrow’s seen a lot of shit. As a huntsman it comes with the job. Still it’s hard to see this kind of gore on people so young. 

    He took another swig from the flask, the whiskey burning his throat.

    “Stay strong.” He said out loud to the two unconscious bodies. They didn’t hear him but there was an urge to reassure them. If it was for them or himself he couldn’t tell.

    Later the medics would arrive. Qrow would barely acknowledge them and give the bare minimum of information medical wise only, claiming it was bandits. He would watch over the two as they were hooked up to life support. They would examine the bodies and list their findings for the surgeons that would take over when the air ships would arrive.

    But for now there was nothing but the smell of whiskey and wheezing breaths.

    Marines and pirates alike stood in shock. A wave of confusion and fear floated above the battlefield like a nuke about to go off. 

    One second Admiral Akainu had shot his magma fist forward to Portgas D. Ace who was shielding a frozen Monkey D. Luffy. The next, a scream and flash of light echoed through the battlefield like a shock wave, once again halting everyone present.

    Now, Akainu stood in the same place with his arm stretched forward, like his fist had met its target. In front of him kneels Luffy, now alone. There was no trace of Ace, only ashes flaring in the air where he once stood.

    Luffy stared blankly. His bright onyx eyes were now dull, shaking in pure shock. He clumsily reaches forwards to where his brother was, Ace’s vivre card burning only a few inches away. It was gone in seconds.

    At first there was nothing. Just shock. And then, it hit like a typhoon.

    The food gates opened. His pupils shrank till his eyes almost looked completely white, like his eyes had rolled back. A mix of a wail and a blood curdling scream sounded and touched the hearts of allies. He screamed and cried as he mourned the loss of his big brother. Even Ace’s crew mates couldn’t hold themselves back as a mix of guilt and remorse rotted into their chests.

    And yet the war continues on, ignoring the loss. The Marines won, but there were still enemies on their territory.

    Justice will prevail. But not today.

Chapter Text

    Ace jolted awake.

    Immediately his arms tensed as his hands clenched into a fist. He jerked his body violently, trying to move but his limbs were strapped down to the small bed he laid on. His eyes darted back and forth.

    His vision was blurred, tilting and flickering between a pale white light and dimming black. The disoriented feeling made him feel sick.

    ‘What’s happening?!’ He thought in a panic, teeth grinding together. ‘Where am I? Who took me?’

    He couldn’t move his head, feeling a tight strap over his forehead. What little he was able to take in looked nothing like the clinic on the Moby Dick. It was too pristine, too clean even for a doctor like Marco. They were pirates, at the end of the day it still looked like the inside of a ship. But the entire room he was currently stuck in was metal, weird glowing boards on the walls over the metal desk. Other than that the room was completely bare. He would’ve assumed it was a Marine clinic if it wasn’t for the lack of the Marine symbol littered across the entire room, also the fact that they want him dead.

    But until someone came in, all Ace could do was lay in silence. The room was quiet other than the sound of his own breath and a strange hum that he couldn’t quite identify.

    He tried to piece together what happened but it was hard as a nauseous feeling in his neck started to crawl its way up, becoming harder to ignore with every second. He tried to focus. He remembered the war, being freed by his brother. They had almost made it when that Lava bastard started to spout shit about Pops. 

    His eyebrows furrowed. ‘What happened after? Did I lose? Did I get away?’ But he couldn’t remember. His body was in too much pain and each time he tried to focus on what happened next he felt his back and head pulse.

    He was startled out of his thoughts when the metal doors to the room slid open on their own. His eyes widened at the sight, in awe of the technology. ‘I’ve never seen anything like it! Was this place one of Dr. Vegapunks inventions?’ He thought. He never met the man or seen any of his inventions personally, but the way the other commanders had talked about the famed genius he assumed this was something the man had made.

    Ace was so absorbed by the strange doors he didn’t register two people coming into the room until he heard someone clear their throat. His eyes darted towards the sound, body tense.

    There was a woman with pale blue hair, pulled into two tight buns. She wore blue scrubs with a doctor's coat, a name tag on the breast pocket that said ‘Dr. Azure’. She had a strained smile.

    “Good morning young man, I am terribly sorry about this…predictament.” She said calmly, a look of pity in her eyes. “Mr. Branwen insisted that the straps would be necessary for your safety. As well as ours. I hope that is alright?” She asked.

    He didn’t need to see her pointed look towards the man next to her when she said his name, immediately turning his attention to his other ‘guest’.

    The man in question made Ace’s skin crawl the moment he looked at him. He could tell that the man, ‘Branwen’, was a trained fighter. But not only that, he also felt something deeper. Primal. Like his entire being was sending him warning bells. His red eyes looked calm on the surface, but the young pirate could tell that Branwen was analyzing every reaction.

    ‘This man is dangerous.’ Ace thought as his eyes narrowed.

    “Too formal. Call me Qrow.” The man gruffed, pulling out a flask. Ace could smell the alcohol. “My line of business is too messy for pleasantries."

    Dr. Azure sighed. “As you can see, Mr. Branwen is a very direct man. All he wants to know is if you’re a threat or not. However before I allow him to interrogate you, I will be conducting a small check up to make sure that you are mentally and physically well enough to answer questions. Does this make sense?”

    Ace allows himself to pull his attention away from Qrow. “Yes ma’am.” He said politely, startling the Doctor.

    She blinked in confusion. “Oh uhhm, okay.” She pulled out a miniature version of the glowing boards from her pocket and tapped on it. “Firstly, could you tell me your name?”

    “Portgas D. Ace.”

    She typed it in. “Portgas being your last name? And does the D stand for anything?”

    “Yes.” He paused. “And no, it’s just a D. It’s a family name.” He explained. The doctor looked confused but pushed forward with a simple ‘alright…’

    She proceeded to ask a few more basic questions, just to check his memory. Age, birthday, a few number based questions. She also had a test where she asked him to repeat ‘apple, tennis, leaf’ and to remember it because she was going to ask him later. Just a few simple tests for his short term and long term memory.

    Things quickly got strange when she asked her last question. “Aright Mr. Portgas I just have one more question and then I’ll have Mr. Branwen takeover.” She looks Ace in the eye.

    “Do you remember what happened before you woke up?”

    Ace could see Qrow lean forward in the corner of his eye. He resisted the urge to scoff. The old man was probably just excited for him to retell them the events from the war from his perspective. Some weird fascination for a dead man's point of view. After all, that’s what he’s supposed to be right?

    The pirate sucking in air through his teeth. ‘Fine. Whatever, get this over with.’ He thinks bitterly.

    “Yes, I was in the middle of the war.” Ace response.

    The doctor's hand paused, a few centimeters from the screen. Even Qrow had stopped in his place. The two looked at him like he suddenly grew a second head.

    The Doctor cleared her throat. “I’m sorry, I’m not familiar. What war are you speaking of?”

    Ace’s frown deepened. Was she messing with him? “The War of the Best? At Marineford.” He said like it was the most obvious thing. Which it was! There was a public broadcast for Calypso sake!

    The two seemed lost. Dr. Azure looked at Qrow as if she hoped he had answers, but the man just stared intensely at Ace. It looked like Dr. Azure was about to ask something but Qrow beat her before she could even utter a word.

    “What was the war for?” He asked.

    Ace stared right back. He could faintly hear the doctor whisper-yelling at the raven haired man, confusion and frustration on her face. But Ace didn’t mind it. The drunken Qrow wanted to play games? Fine.

    A bitter smile spread across Ace’s face. “Me.” He said simply. The words cut through the room, silencing the doctor. “It was for my death and my life. One side was planning to execute me, the other was trying to save me.”

    Qrow searched his face, as if trying to see if there were any lies in his words. Then he leaned back. “Well I’ll be damned.”

    Dr. Azure sputtered. “Wait you don’t believe-“

    “Let’s leave him be for now.” Qrow interrupted, making his way to the doors. “Send in a nurse to make sure his wounds are still looking good, also have them check the skin under the straps in case he harmed himself. I’ll interrogate him later.” He waved over his shoulder, not looking back as the doors opened. The Doctor sputtered with wide eyes, looking back and forth between where Ace laid and where Qrow was currently leaving. After a second of internal struggle her shoulders slouched as she gave in and followed the man.

    The doors shut behind them, leaving Ace alone once again. He sighed as he allowed his body to relax.

    There was no time to strain himself. At the moment it seemed like they had no intention of harming him but that could change any second. If he wanted his strength to recover he needed to rest. He couldn’t even phase through the straps and they didn’t even put any sea stone on him! 

    He relaxed his head, it turning to the side slightly. He could see a small window at the top of the wall, a clear blue sky peaking through. He sighed.

    Faces flashed through his mind. His crew, his fellow commanders, pops. Were they alright? How many people died in that war that he cared about? Shared a drink with? A wave of guilt began to trickle in before he immediately shut it down. If he wasn’t strapped down he would have slapped himself.

    ‘No! Remember what they told you. They chose to save you. They wanted you to live! You want to live now!’ He thought. ‘Luffy went to literal hell and back and went to war to save you! You aren’t allowed to feel guilt!’

    But as the name of his little brother came to mind, a mix of uncertainty and fear gripped his being. He stared off longingly out the window.

    ‘Luffy, where are you?’

    Unknowingly, a dimension away, things are going into motion. A boy wakes up from a coma and screams for his brother. A man screams in agony as he reads the newspaper. And the Whitebeard pirates mourn and plot for revenge.

    But it would be a long time before Ace learns any of this. For now, he rests as fate slowly wraps its claws around his soul, forming a new destiny.

    It was just a matter of time.

Chapter Text

    Qrow stood in the airship's hallway, scroll to his ear as he relayed the information he obtained from the short visit. His gruff voice was quiet despite being alone. Though in his line of work he has long since learned that you can never be too careful, you never know who might be listening.

    He finished speaking, waiting patiently for Ozpin to respond. There was a moment of silence.

    “…I see.” The professor said after a few seconds. “I will not lie, this information is quite alarming, if not fascinating. You're saying there was an entire war for this young man?”

    Qrow sighed, leaning his head back against the wall. “So he claims. He was telling the truth, I know that much. But as far as we’ve been aware there hasn’t been something like this. Remnant is big but we would have gotten some kind of information by now of a war taking place. Even Salem can’t hide that.”

    He could hear tapping on the other side of the line. “Then perhaps it wasn’t in Remnant.” Ozpin mused. “You haven’t conducted a full interrogation, correct? Keep it that way. Ask simple questions and litter a few basic questions that is common knowledge here in our realm.”

    “Oz?”

    “It would be wrong to immediately trust the man, even with how young he is. Barely older than our senior students. But if I’m right, not only could he be an important asset, but he may catch Salem's eye. If we don’t do this right he could be in danger.” He let his words lay heavy in the air before continuing. “Keep him calm, make him feel as though he isn’t in any danger. When you arrive at Beacon we will then decide what to do with him.”

    Qrow pursed his lip. “You think he could be helpful to us?”

    There was a chuckle. “When you hear a person’s livelihood is a reason for a war, you never underestimate the possibilities. I guarantee you that young Portgas will surprise us no matter what his answers are.”

    The line goes dead and Qrow is left in silence. He slid his scroll into his pocket and pulled out his flask. He thought it over as he took a swig.

    Another world huh? He’s seen a lot of things in life, but that seemed beyond everything he’s learned. An overpowered immortal Witch who wants to destroy the world? Okay, makes sense. Immortal Wizard who has dedicated his life to stopping her? Sign him up!

    But a war for a child? A full fledged battlefield for a single person's life? Not even Remnant had that when the Maidens were still well known and not figments of myth. Sure blood was shed and Salem is still after their power. But a war? Never.

    So that begs the question. Why? Why all that effort and loss for one person? Was it for a crime? Was he powerful? It just didn’t make sense. And the way the kid looked at him, as if Qrow should already know this. Like it was public knowledge…

    ‘The war of the best.’ Qrow thought, the familiar feeling of whiskey burning down his throat. ‘What a name, must have been intense. Then again, aren’t all wars?’

    He tsked as the last drop from the bottle dripped into his mouth. Great, now he didn’t have anything to drink when he talked to the kid. He would rather go through with this tipsy, but barely sober will have to do.

    He pushed himself off the wall and made his way to the room.

    The nurses had finished up their check up on the kid and the rest were focused on keeping Amber stable. He should be free to ask whatever he wants without unwanted ears peeping in and hearing something they shouldn’t. The blue hair Doctor might be a problem but he’s sure that she thinks the kid is deleterious. I mean who would believe a kid talking about a war that never happened?

    Ozpin. And Qrow too apparently.

    He resisted the urge to scream in frustration as the doors to the kids room opened.

    The kid in question was still strapped to the bed. He felt a little bad about it, but until they determined that the kid wasn’t a threat to them the straps would have to stay. Qrow grabbed a chair by the wall near the door and pulled it so it was sitting next to the bed and sat down. He tried to make his posture laid back but with the way the kid was eyeing him Qrow doubted it brought him any comfort. Smart kid.

    “So kid-“

    “Ace.” The kid interrupted, a small challenging smile on his face. The look in his eyes said ‘try me’. The look gave Qrow a sense of Dagavu, almost like he was looking at his younger self.

    ‘Well that’s something to unpack later’ He thought awkwardly as he cleared his throat. “Whatever, let’s cut to the chase. Right now I’m sure you're very confused. Don’t worry, we don’t mean harm. We just want some answers.”

    Ace shifted in the bed, probably testing the straps for a weakness. The kid slumped where he laid and sighed. “Sure, whatever.”

    Qrow leaned forward. “Firstly, what’s your occupation?”

    “Huh?”

    The older man gestured to Ace's form. “Well judging by your physique it’s obvious that you're a trained fighter, an experienced one judging by the old scars littered across your body. So what? You a Huntsman? Bandit? Thief?"

    Ace looked at him confused. “Is this supposed to be a weird interrogation tactic?” He smirked. “Ah I get it, trying to re-write my psyche eh? Good luck, the prison guards dabbled with that while I was waiting for my execution. They weren’t very successful.”

    ‘So he experienced torture.’ Qrow noted grimly. ‘Makes sense. Not only are the fresh wounds extreme but many of the old ones were as well. I wonder if he has unlocked his aura?’ Instead of voicing his thoughts he just replied with. “You didn’t answer my question.”

    Another testing look was sent to the Huntsmen. “I’m a Pirate.”

    Now that was interesting.

    One of the most difficult challenges in this world besides Salem was the Grim. Beings that could sense negative emotions and have been humanity's greatest obstacle with gathering resources, travel, and establishing civilizations. And the closer to the ocean you were, the bigger the Grim you had to deal with.

    So Pirating? Very rare. Most regular ships refuse to leave port unless they have a couple huntsmen on board to protect the passengers in case things get dicey. Really all you could do was try to think happy thoughts and pray that there wasn’t a Grim nearby. But Pirating? Living on the ocean with negativity falling behind you like an oil trail? That was a death wish.

    Yet this kid is what? 20? This was truly too insane to believe! Well, that is unless you knew the things Qrow did. And if Oz is right about this kid being from a different dimension there could be different rules at play. Was the ocean safer or more dangerous where he was from? Did they have Grim or did another beast exist?

    For a moment Qrow had the urge to release the kid just to see what he could do. To see the reason why there was an entire war for this one person.

    But instead he leaned back in his chair, letting his gaze drift to the ceiling. “A Pirate? Now that’s an interesting path. You don’t happen to have Huntemen where you're from?”

    “I’ve never heard of that term. Are you talking about a hunter?” Ace asked, confused. “Or is that what you call the authority wherever you're from.”

    More proof. There is not a single place on this planet where you didn’t hear the word Huntsmen uttered. Of course he could be lying, but he wasn’t. Maybe he should give a little? Ox did want the kid to trust them after all.

    Making up his mind Qrow returned his gaze to the supposed Pirate. “Almost. We have police and military, but huntsmen are a separate field. Think of us like mercenaries. We protect. People, cargo, civilians, etc. Basically we usually deal with the monsters while the police and military mostly deal with the people.”

    “Are they not the same?” Ace mused. Qrow immediately knew he wasn’t talking about the Huntsmen or the Police/Military.

    Qrow grinned. “Sometimes.”

    The young Pirate seemed to like that answer so he continued. “I myself am a Huntsman. I used to be a teacher at one of the academy’s in this Kingdom but now I do this full time. Which is why you're now under my care.”

    Ace’s eyes narrowed. He could see his hands tighten into fist, like he was peeping to break out. It would be slightly more believable if it wasn’t for the kids' failed attempt earlier. “Why? Did I fall onto your prey or something?”

    “Oh if only it was that simple.” Qrow sighed. “Honestly I’d probably be a bit confused and that would be that. Unfortunately you found yourself in the middle of a very classified situation. One that most Huntsmen and almost no one in the military knows about.” He could see the kid tense further, but now his expression was changing from a guarded fury to uncertainty.

    “You see the day I found you I was saving someone very important. She is a powerful fighter, but was caught in an ambush and was greatly wounded. I had just swooped in to save her when you appeared.” Qrow put his hands up in a ‘surrender’. “Don’t worry, I don’t think that you are working with the ones who attacked her. Honestly I think it was just a really bad case of wrong place wrong time.” A pause. “Well in your case I guess it was a good thing.”

    Now the kid seemed lost. He stared at the Huntsmen blankly. “I-how? I’m sorry. Wait, no I'm not.” The kid backtracked. “How is this a good thing? Clearly you think I’m a threat or an enemy. Why else would you have me strapped down? Are you really trying to make me believe that you don’t know who I am? What I am?”

    “A dead man.” Qrow deadpanned. “Or at least you would be if it wasn’t for me.”

    “…..explain.” Ace all but growls out.

    Qrow rubs his neck awkwardly. “Shit how do I say this… When I found you after the attack you were badly injured. You were covered in cuts, bruises, and debris. I won’t list all of your injuries right now, however your most concerning one was on your back. It was burnt so bad the doctor had to replace parts of some of your organs and spine. Essentially, those straps across your body are the only thing keeping you from accidentally killing yourself.”

    Ace paled. The stark contrast made his freckles pop. It almost made him appear younger. “Then that means.. I lost.” He whispered, paling further till his face practically turning a blue-ish green. “Oh Nika. No nononoNO!” He gasped.

   He lurched forward, the force of movement causing the entire bed to jerk with him.“Where’s my brother!” He yelled, tears building up in wide furious eyes. “Where’s Luffy!”

    And oh did that bring another compaction to the table. Qrow watched on with sympathy. He couldn’t even be mad at the reaction. After all the kids' last memories were of war, the implications weren’t looking pretty. He has barely been talking to this kid for an hour and already he can see that Ozpin has his work cut out for him. But for now the kid was his problem.

    He pressed firmly on his shoulders to keep him flat on the bed. “Stay still or you’ll really die.” Qrow scolded. “I’m sorry to say, but you were alone when you appeared. I don't know if your brother is here but right now he’s not your concern. Your only goal right now is to survive. You want to make sure Luffy is safe? Then you need to calm down.”

    That seemed to do the trick, Ace slowing his struggles until he stilled exhaustedly. His eyes looked dead. “I’m supposed to protect him.” His voice cracked.

    “….”

    And what was there to say to that? All Qrow brought was destruction and pain. There wasn’t a single thing Qrow could come up with. He stood awkwardly, hands pulling off the tug into his pockets. With a sigh he turned away and made his way back to the door.

    “We’ll be at Beacon Academy in a few hours. A friend of mine is the head master there. I’m sure he can pull a few strings to aid your recovery. Until then,” Qrow looked over his shoulder, crimson eyes boring at the other. “Rest.”

    The kid didn’t respond. No surprise there. The last thing Qrow saw before the door shut was tired grey eyes, then smooth metal obscured his vision.

    He stood there for a moment, contemplating. He briefly wondered if he should’ve stayed there. Offering comfort. But Qrow knew that wasn’t what the kid needed. He needs space, not to be trapped in a room with someone he’s already suspicious of. 

    As he walked down the hall he spotted one of the nurses. He had a small wave as she greeted him with a small smile and a bowed head. “Heya, you might want to give the kid in there a sedative. He was struggling a little bit and might have strained his injuries. I think it would be best to let him rest until we land and can get him proper help.”

    The nurse’s eyes widened. “Oh my! Thank you for notifying me Mr. Branwen. I’ll take care of that right away!” She ran past him towards the room he was just in.

    Well that was one problem solved for now. Now the other…He eyed the door that led to Amber's room.

    Qrow didn’t dare to go in there. While both patients were greatly injured, Amber was the one that was most concerning. She had yet to wake up and from what the doctor told him it seems like the Maiden had fallen into a comatose state. With the way she was attacked and now her current condition, things weren’t looking good.

    Ace may not be a part of Salem’s plan. But Amber? This was no random attack. The witch was planning something, something big. And if the maidens were at the center of it? Then that meant things were about to change.

    Qrow didn’t like the picture that was being painted. For the sake of Remnant, he hoped that they would be enough to keep back Salem's forces.

    “I need a drink.” He muttered gruffly.

Chapter Text

    “You want what?” Ironwood asked.

    The General was having an admittedly annoying week. A train full of dusk on its way out of Mantel got hijacked, causing another pile of paperwork to be stacked sky high on his desk. The amount of money, resources, and PR control that came with this one incident sent them back by weeks. So you can imagine that on top of running an academy AND trying to create new inventions to protect the kingdom, he was stretching himself thin.

    So when Ozpin suddenly called him out of the blue, he knew that whatever he was about to hear was either  going to relieve or cause him more stress. What he didn’t anticipate was such an odd request.

    “Exactly as I said James.” Ozpin answered, his usual calm voice echoing through the room. “Qrow found a young man during one of his missions who was badly injured. The doctors on site have performed surgery to keep him stable, but he is still at risk of dying due to his spine and parts of his organs in his back being damaged. We need custom cybernetic prosthetics to replace the damaged area.”

    General Ironwood looked perplexed at the screen. “Do you understand what you're asking of me Ozpin? It takes time and resources to make cybernetic technology, much less custom for someone on the verge of death. Even if I was able to make it as soon as possible there isn’t a guarantee that his body would accept it.” He paused. “Why this much effort for a civilian?”

    He wasn’t stupid. As much as they tried to save every person they could, it wasn't always possible. But this much effort and requesting resources from another kingdom for a random kid? There has to be more to the picture.

    Ozpin a face on the screen flickered, his smile turning into a rare frown. One that he only made then he found something he didn’t understand or concerned him. “Amber was compromised.”

    Ironwood straightened. “What?”

    “A few days ago Qrow got word of unusual incidents around the area where Amber was known to be traveling. It didn’t look like typical Grim behavior or the work of Bandits, so he went to investigate. He arrived just in time to save Amber's life. She is still undergoing extensive surgery so until the ship arrives at Beacon we don’t know the extent of the damage.” The professor leaned forward, hands clasped together onto his desk. Ironwood could faintly hear the sound of the large gears of the tower turning in the background. “On the scene of the incident was the young man. Qrow reported that the boy wasn’t there when he arrived. There was a collision between Qrow’s weapon and a strange device one of the attackers had attached to Amber. The boy appeared in the midst of it, badly injured.”

    The Professor of Atlas felt his mind reel. There was just too much to process. The fall maiden was attacked with her condition uncertain? A boy magically appearing? A while ago we would have called such a phenomenon impossible, but now….

    He regathered his bearing, taking a deep breath. “…So you suspect that the boy wasn’t with the attackers?”

    “Not at all. I did have Qrow question him just in case, like I presumed he has no idea what’s going on. Though, I have a theory that might intrigue you.” He said, his face serious. The same expression he had when he told James about the Maidens. About Salem. Ironwood felt his breath catch.

    “I firmly believe this young man is from another world.”

    The world went silent. James stared blankly, eyes unseeing. “I-…Are you sure?” He asked quietly, as if he was afraid if he said it loud enough the entire universe would tear in two. “This is a bold claim, Oz, even for you.”

    On the screen Ozpin could be seen picking up his mug. “Believe me, I wouldn’t be telling you this if I wasn’t considering it as a high possibility. Qrow himself wasn’t sure until he questioned the boy. But after their chat it seems he now fully believes this theory.” He takes a sip of coffee before continuing. “He spoke of a war that never happened, he didn’t even know what a Huntsman was.”

    At this point the General was pacing. “That doesn’t mean anything for certain. He could be lying. And if he isn't, why all this effort to save him?” There were so many unknown variables to this. The possible risks that all came with this were enough to fill a textbook, how could the General of Atlas military NOT take precautions?

    “Because I believe he could help us.” Ozpin answered. “I understand your concerns James, that’s why I am coming to you for this. Not only for Amber, but for the sake of our world.” The grey haired man looked out to an unseen distance. “The boy spoke of a war, yes. But the most interesting part is what the war was for.”

    There was a dramatic pause as Ozpin stared right at the camera, making eye contact with Ironwood. “The war was for him.”

    Ironwood froze, body completely still. Like a robot being turned off. A war? For a child? The implications that came with such a claim. Remnant has seen many wars, but it was for resources and survival. No one would wage war, waste soldiers and recourse for a singular person. Unless…

    General Ironwood straightened, composed and calm like a man of his position was known to be. He had a spark in his eye, a mix of fascination and hunger for knowledge. “Have the airship send me the medical files for both patients. I’ll see what I can do.”

    Ozpin’s usual calm smile returned to his face. “Thank you James. Your support is much appreciated. I assume I can expect your presence soon?”

    He nodded. “Of course, I need to assess the damage in case something goes wrong with the transfer.” Then as an after thought he continued. “Though I am concerned about how the boy's body will react to the prosthetics. They are controlled by a mix of technology and aura. Does he even have the ability to unlock his aura? We are talking about an entirely different dimension. We don’t know what the rules are there.”

    “Hmm, you bring up an interesting point.” Ozpin muttered. “I’ll have to look into that when he arrives. He is still bedridden so there hasn’t been much effort to see his abilities. I’ll inform you with our findings.”

    Ironwood nodded. “Of course Oz, I’ll do my best on my end.” He then smiled. “And thank you for trusting me with this. I know you already have let me in on the truth of this world, but nonetheless I am still thankful.”

    Ozpin chuckled. “Of course James. In times like these it’s important to look to the future. It would be a shame not to bring a kind and visionary man like yourself into the light.”

    With that the call ended, the screen now blank. Ironwood stood in place letting the conversation linger. 

    A boy from another world huh? And at the same time a Maiden was greatly injured. He didn’t believe in miracles but maybe-

    There was a knock at the door, making him flinch. He let out an embarrassed cough and quickly said ‘come in!’

    The door opened slightly to reveal Winter Schnee. He felt himself relax slightly but still kept his professional form. She was an impressive woman, one that he could see taking his position as General one day. She stood by the door, saluting.

    “General Ironwood sir!” She said stiffly. “Jacques Schee is on call. He complains of the handling of the missing dust. He requests your presents.”

    Ironwood sighed tiredly. Of course, with the news of Amber and the mystery boy he had completely forgotten about the train scandal. Unfortunately one of the things that came with it was mistrust in the military as they had placed protection on the train to prevent another theft from happening. With this being the fourth failure in a couple months not only was the public outraged but the Schee dust company had been screaming in his ear. Apparently they cared more about lost money than what the thieves might be doing with all the dust they stole.

    ‘I pity her.’ He thought, giving a kind smile towards Winter. “Have one of my commanders take care of it. I have more important matters that require my attention.”

    Winter nodded, a look of satisfaction. “Yes sir.”

    She was about to leave when Ironwood called out. “One last thing. Summon Doctor Polendina to my office and schedule a long distance airship to take off in four hours. Tell them to set a course for Beacon Academy.”

    The young woman looked hesitant. “Sir..?”

    “It’s important, Miss Schnee.” Ironwood stated. He couldn’t tell her anymore. At least not yet. He knew she was trustworthy but Ozpin wants to keep Salem and the Maidens a tight lipped secret. So for now Ironwood will keep things on the downlow. And unfortunately that meant keeping Winter out of the loop.

    She still looked uncertain, but gave a nod and left the room.

    Finally alone Ironwood let himself slump, falling into the desk seat. He let jailed sit with his thoughts, theories like crashing waves thudded in his skull. But a little voice rang underneath it all.

    ‘Is this boy truthly going to help us? Or is he just another pawn of Salem’s?’

    Ace inhaled deeply, trying to relax.

    A couple hours ago a nurse came in and injected himself with something. He wasn’t sure what it was but it made the pain in his back go down a bit so he wasn’t complaining. Now he was alone.

    He managed to calm down shortly after she had left and instead had tried to focus on his body. He can feel how weak he is, practically able to taste it. Whatever happened had greatly weakened his body. ‘Maybe it’s a mix of my time on Impel Down and whatever damage I took during my attempted escape during the war.’ He thought grimly. After all, it was dumb to assume he would be able to just bounce back after weeks of torture.

    But the real issue lies with his devil fruit.

    He could feel it, rolling beneath his skin. The comforting warmth he felt after the cuffs came off was still there, but it was weakened. He tried many times to phase or even burn through the straps, but the flames were not responding to him. He didn’t forget how to use them, it just felt like there was something blocking him. Protecting him. But how was it protecting him if he couldn’t escape?

    So he calmed himself and decided to focus on his observation Haki. He sadly wasn’t able to master it before leaving the Moby Dick, his Haki lacking compared to his comrades who have years of experience. He did get some practice during his journey and while being held in prison, so it should be strong enough to at least sense everyone in the ship.

    Which had been another one of his findings. He was confused at first. He knew that whatever he was on was moving due to the speed of the clouds outside with windows, but he couldn’t sense any water below them. It took him a bit but he was able to confirm that they were in the air.

    ‘Where did they even get something like this? I thought Vegapunk only made things for the Marines now. Is there someone else with his level of intelligence or is he working behind the World Government’s back?’ Ace thought. 

    Both were highly possible. There are so many people, islands that have yet to be discovered. There’s bound to be someone out there who can rival Vegapunk. Though the idea of the WG being betrayed wasn’t a bad thought either. He could almost imagine those pricks scratching their heads as they tried to figure out where this ship came from.

    He let himself muse in those thoughts before refocusing on the task at hand. There was no time to amuse himself with things that he probably won’t ever get the answer to. Right now he needs to focus on recovery so he can get free.

    So he can find Luffy.

    At the very least he knew Qrow wasn’t lying. Ace couldn’t feel his younger brother anywhere on the ship. But that could mean anything at this point. He could be in a different flying ship. The Marines could have gotten him. Maybe he was safe? Luffy had a strange luck for surviving the most impossible situations. His break in and escape from Impel Down was proof enough of his brother's abilities.

    Luffy fell to the ground, legs collapsing under him like a rag doll. The teen stared unseeing at the ground as he reached for something. 

    Akainu watched him, like a dog on the hunt. Ace feels panic flood his body and he launched forwards and then-

    Ace bit his lip, body trembling in rage. It has been close. Too close. He still didn’t know if his efforts were enough to save his brother. At the very least Ace hosted was still alive so that had to count for something right?

    He doesn't know what happened after. How he got here or ended up on this ship. He wonders about Pops, his brothers in arms. Were they okay? Many of the men and women he had gotten to know over the course of a couple years had fallen right before his eyes. But Pops and the other Commanders had still been standing. They had to be okay.

    He briefly wondered if Sabo was watching from the other side. Was he proud that he protected their little brother? Was he disappointed?

    He swallowed thickly, the bit of bile that had started to rise forced back down his esophagus. No, no more. He couldn’t afford to self loath right now. He closed his eyes and continued to concentrate.

    ‘Don’t worry Luffy, Sabo. We will be free.’

    As he continued his efforts, the pilot of the airship started to lower the ship.

    Beacon academy was in view, its tallest tower practically touching the clouds.

    And at the top was a man in black and green, mug and cane in hand. Green eyes watched the craft descend where the students and guests usually arrived. Though at this time it was completely empty, the school had only teachers and a few senior students preparing for their final year.

    The professor took a sip from the mug. Watching as the ship's doors open, a thoughtful expression on his face.

    “Portgas D. Ace.” He said to himself, like the name held power.

    Little did he know how right he was.

Chapter Text

    The unloading process took longer than Qrow had expected.

    He knew at this time of year there would be a lack of students on campus due to it being the summer break before the next school year rolled in. Anyone who remained were either in the school preparing for the upcoming school session, or in the forest taking care of Grim. Really it was a best case scenario considering the academy was never empty. The less eyes witnessing this the better.

    However he didn’t anticipate how long it took to transport two bedridden patients. One on life support, the other restrained. In the end it wasn’t safe to move Ace to a wheel chair so both he and Amber would have to remain in the medical beds. Both beds were moveable, but unfortunately the exit ramp was a little too steep to move both the beds and machines the two were hooked up to without losing control of the beds or accidentally ripping tubes out of them. Finally after a few students walked by with curious glances Qrow gave in and called Glynda for help.

    The bird shifter tapped his foot impatiently, the sound of Amber’s breathing tube and the beeping of her heart monitor setting him on edge. He carefully distanced himself from her body in fear that his semblance might cause something to go wrong. He just prayed that the witch would get here soon so he could dump the kid with Oz and book it to the nearest bar.

    A shuffling movement from the other bed caught Qrow’s attention. His eyes shifted over to Ace who was now staring at Amber weary. He was pleased to see a lack of reconciliation in the boy's eyes.

    “What happened to her?” Ace asked, gaze tracing over the markings along the side of her face. The markings didn’t look like fire or acid burns. They were too spread out, web-like. Like something solid had hit her.

    Qrow turned his attention back to the school. “She was the one I was telling you about. The details are classified so I can’t tell you exactly what happened. All you need to know right now is that she’s the reason why we are taking precautions with you. You were found at the crime scene.”

    A tense silence followed the statement. A few of the nurses shifted awkwardly in place. Normally Qrow would give a small excuse or flirt with them a bit to ease the tension, but the implications of what this attack might lead to had Qrow too on edge to give a damn.

    All he could do was wait for Ozpin’s decision. For what they were going to do with Amber, and the fate of the kid.

    Then, the sound of heels clicking echoed through the empty courtyard as a familiar blonde Huntress approached the flying vessel.

    Glynda, in her usual professor attire, stomped towards them with a look that could kill a lesser man. “Qrow!” She barked. “What the hell were you thinking? You were supposed to report your landing as soon as you arrived!”

    And oops, yeah that was his bad. He had been a little distracted trying to keep the doctors and nurses calm after the little accident in Ace’s room occurred shortly after they had landed.

    He winced at the thought. To be far they had thought the kid would be knocked out by the sedative, or at the very least just waking up and too tired to even form a word. Instead the doctor confidently waltzed into the medical room with Qrow and a group of nurses behind her, only to see a very awake Ace gnawing on the straps over his shoulders.

    The group had stared dumbfounded, not only surprised that he was awake but the fact that he somehow got the strap on his head off??? It took a few seconds before their brains came back online and they shot forward towards the bed.

    The nurse from earlier was having a breakdown, thinking that she might have injected him with the wrong medication and potentially harmed him. Luckily they were able to confirm that she didn’t do anything wrong and were able to calm her before she got hysterical. Apparently, Ace was a freak who is barely affected by sedatives!

    After careful evaluation that nothing else had gotten loose or injured the group had rolled his bed out of the room, the phone call Qrow was supposed to make completely forgotten in the chaos.

    “If you're drunk I swear on my Huntsman’s license that I will personally put you in one of those hospital beds.” The professor hissed, emerald eyes practically glowing with anger behind her glasses.

    Qrow sighed. “Unfortunately I am very much sober. Not a single damn bottle of alcohol on the entire ship.” He grumbled. He heard Ace snort behind him.

    Glynda watched his expression for a second before tsking. “Fine, we will discuss this later.” She turned her attention to the medical team. “Thank you all for your cooperation, your efforts are greatly appreciated. Professor Oobleck will be arriving shortly to escort you into the school for a much needed break. We will provide food and drinks while your ship refuses, and before you take off we will discuss your payment.”

    The group of doctors who had been working non stop stumped where they stood, completely worn. One of the nurses' legs flat out gave up, falling face first with a snore following her before she even hit the floor. Glynda looked at the display blankly before turning her head towards Qrow with a questioning look.

    He shrugged. “It was a rough journey, with an even tougher operation. If it wasn’t for them the two kids wouldn’t have made it.”

    She nodded. “Understood. Then we should hurry to the Vault. Ozpin is waiting for us.” And then with a wave of her riding crop towards the two beds. In a single second the beds and machines floated gracefully into the air. Ace jolted in the bed with wide eyes as the beds smoothly floated off the ship and thumped gently to the ground. Even after landing he was staring at her with a mix of fascination and apprehension.

    Qrow smirked. ‘Good, at the very least he can tell when someone is a potential threat.’ Then the smile slipped away as soon as it appeared.

    Or maybe, they miscalculated and there weren’t powers where he came from. They would surely find out soon, but the lack of knowledge they had on this kid was starting to become headache inducing. What if he’s just some random civilian who got caught up in some political war? He doubled it, the kid had the look in his eyes that matched too many people he met who are professional Huntsmen. The look he’d seen on bitter old men and women who’ve seen war.

    ‘Focus on the now.’ He calmed himself, pushing Ace’s bed towards the school while Glynda handled Ambers. ‘No time for what ifs. Ozpin will break through with him and we will get all the answers we need.’

    Speaking of which, the boy in question laid still on the moving bed. His eyes were trained on the school in front him, expression unreadable. Unable to help himself, Qrow decided to start a small conversation before all hell broke loose. “Never seen a school this size before?” He asked.

    Ace peaked towards the older man from the corner of his eye. “This is supposed to be a school?”

    Qrow nodded. “Beacon Academy, one of the best schools in Remnant for training future Huntsmen and Huntresses. I mentioned them earlier, remember?” The kid nodded so he continued. “It’s similar to a regular school. Math, science, history, some other boring stuff. But they also teach combat, survival, and military strategy. The perfect place to teach you how to not get killed.”

    The pirate raised a brow. “Doesn’t sound like any school I’ve ever heard of. You sure you're not Marines?”

    At that Qrow groaned. “Oh gods no! The day I join the Military? Shoot me. Right between the eyes. In fact, hand me the gun so I can do it myself.” He snarked, causing Ace to let out a ‘pff!’

    “Well, at least thats something we can both agree on.” The boy grinned, a wolfish grin that was both charming and promised chaos. It made him look his age. Not the pale boy he found who reminded him of his Nieces. Not the soldier he met after he woke up and talked briefly of war. But a young man with a grand life ahead of him.

    For a moment Qrow wondered if this is what Oz saw in the youth when he decided to become a teacher.

    Glynda watched the two speak. “How much have you told him?” She asked Qrow, catching both of their attention.

    Her tone and wording made Ace tense again while Qrow rolled his eyes. “Enough until Ozpin can explain the situation better. He knows who we are and what we protect. Nothing more and nothing less. It wasn’t necessary at the time. You saw the files right?”

    She nodded, a tinge of concern hinting in her eyes. She smiled softly at Ace. “Sorry for not dressing you earlier. This situation is a little…unusual.” Her hands gripped right on Amber's bed. “My name is Glynda Goodwitch, Beacons combat instructor. Depending on how this meeting goes we may be seeing more of each other.”

    The raven-haired boy was silent, leaving the conversation to fizzle off.

    The main doors to the school opened with the power of Glynda’s semblance. The two pushed the beds into the school and directed them to the main elevator. Ace looked around, once again curious. Qrow wondered what he was thinking, but odds are they weren’t going to get any more answers out of him until they got to Oz.

    They adjusted into the cramped elevator, making sure all the machines and wires were inside, before Glynda scanned her teachers card where the floor buttons were. The screen lit up above. ‘LB’

    The elevator began to smoothly descend under the school, green lights and grey steel rolling passed them as they went lower and lower.

    They were about at the halfway point when Qrow’s eyebrows furrowed. He felt…off. The elevator felt hotter than normal. ‘Probably because we’re jammed tight in here.’ He thought, brushing the feeling off. But still the heat lingered. He even saw Glynda fanning herself from the corner of his eye.

    By the time the elevator finally reached the Vault Qrow could feel a sheen of sweat under his clothes. Each movement he made after the doors opened felt awkward and uncomfortable. He just hoped this didn’t take long so he could take a shower before he got wasted later.

    They barely made it out of the elevator when they saw Ozpin approaching them, mug and cane in hand as usual. The sight of the professor made Qrow relax. The lack of urgency from the grey haired man grounded Qrow after such a taxing mission.

    Though as always, Ozpin’s eyes were trained only on the person that had piqued his curiosity. 

    “Qrow,” Oz greeted with a calm smile. “It’s good to see you in person. Any updates since our last chat?”

    Qrow gave a half hearted shrug. “Not really. Other than this kid having a high tolerance with sedatives and giving the medical team a heart attack, there have been no further complications.”

    Ozpin hummed. “Good. Though the sedative issue may pose a problem. The procedure may be too painful for young Ace to be awake for. We’ll have to see if James has anything stronger when he arrives.” 

    “Procedure?”

    Ozpin turned his attention fully to Ace. Unaffected by the warning tone nor the glare, Ozpin calmly greeted him. “Mr. Portgas I presume? It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

    Qrow looked down at the kid. He was about to say something to break the tension but the words stuck in his throat when he got a good look at the kid.

    His skin was deathly pale, all the color drained from his face as sweat dripped from his brow. He looked sickly, like when he first found him. But now his eyes were wide, like a cornered mouse. Qrow frowned as the heart monitor sped up with the kid's breath. “Oi kid, you alright? You're not looking too hot.”

    Ace didn’t respond, eyes now darting rapidly around the room. Both Oz and Glynda looked concerned now. “Did he not look like this earlier?” Oz asked. Glynda shook her head. “No, he was flush and making conversation just a minute ago.”

    She started to move towards the bed to get a closer look when Ozpin’s eyes widened. “Wait don-“

    Then all hell broke loose.

    With a scream, fire erupted from Ace's body and encased him in flames. The edges of it licked at Glynda’s hands as she gasped and jumped back. She quickly pushes Amber's bed away from Ace and Qrow steps out of range of the flames with wide eyes.

    “The hell?!” He yelled, arm shielding his face from the heat. Ace could still be heard screaming from the fire. “Crap! We need to get him out of there! Oz!” He frantically looked around for something that could put out the flames. Unfortunately the vault was bare, only candles lighting the walls.

    Ozpin watched Ace for a moment, the fire getting higher with each scream. The shock faded from his features and instead was replaced by a thoughtful expression. “Interesting.” He muttered before speaking louder. “Qrow, Glynda. Step away from the boy. I’m going to try something.”

    They barely had a chance to respond before he appeared in a flash in the midst of the flames, a green barrier around his body.

    “I’m sorry for this, truly a terrible first meeting. Hopefully this will ease your mind.” He said to the boy, a hand pressed firmly against Ace's chest as the fire burned his skin. Qrow and Glynda watched in with wide terrified eyes, a glow illuminated from Ozpin’s hand.

    “For it is in passing that we achieve immortality,” Ozpin began.

    Ace didn’t know what happened.

    One moment he was entering the school with the Hunters, the next he was back in Impel Down.

    He felt off at the sight of the school. The time he spent in Goa Kingdom as a child had left a bitter taste in his mouth. But after Sabo's death, the mere sight of anything remotely close to a mansion or castle immediately set him on edge. Like some rich prick would come out any second and steal someone he cared for again.

    Then that Blues damned elevator. It was smaller than the one he was placed on back in Impel Down. But that’s what made it worse. The elevator, the small space, being bound and useless and unable to move or escape or get to Luffy-

    In a matter of moments he felt the world before him blur. Sounds and light became too intense. Each beep of the heart monitor and the feeling of the strapless digging into his skin made his teeth sink into his lips.

    Then he heard it. ‘Procedure’ 

    The word made his skin crawl. What did they mean? What were they going to do?

    He gazed at the man who said it and felt his heart fall in his chest. It was the same look pops gave him when he told him that Gold Roger was his father. A knowing look of a man who knew something all along and was finally hearing it from the horse's mouth.

    And now he was seeing it once again in the worst possible scenario. Only one thought was going through his head.

    They know.

    Of course they know. How could they not? How could he be so naive to think that after the live execution feed, not everyone in the god damn Blues knew his lineage? How could he have let himself be taken like this? Again!

    He felt his breath quicken, hearing his heart beat in his head like a drum. The room became blurry to a point that the green lit area now resembled the barred walls of the prison. He could feel the sea stone shackles around his wrist. He could hear Luffy calling his name. There was the taste of gunpowder on the top of his tough.

    And then all at once his body pulsed with pain.

    Panic flooded his entire body like a tsunami, sudden and unforgiving. He felt his flames come out like a protective blanket, but they did nothing but remind him of the searing heat of lava.

    He could feel it all. In his neck, his spine, his chest. It felt like his insides were ripping apart over and over again. Molding his flesh into ash. He could hear guards laughing and sneering his name. Their boots kicked into his head, fist thumping against his chest and arms. The sea stone shackles attached to the wall clinked and groaned with every hit. He could feel the broken pieces of the bone in his wrist grinding against each other. Ace tried to hold back a scream but each blow jerked his wrist violently each time.

    Ace sees the faces of his fallen comrades. Oar’s dead body, lifeless in the middle of the battlefield after attempting to save him. Thatches glassy eyes staring into his soul, laying in a puddle of his own blood. Luffy-

    Ace screamed as the pain intensified, thrashing against the restrains sea stone shackles. ‘It BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS’ Ace thinks. He tried to voice his pain but all that will come out are unfamiliar screams.

    ‘I NEED TO GET TO LUFFY’ Ace leans his head forward, body pulling on the chains. His wrist make a wet popping sound with the small movement.

“For it is in passing that we achieve immortality,” 

    ‘HE NEEDS…He needs….’ His thoughts trail off along with his screams. Small wheezes and coughs squeeze out of his lungs, breathing quick and heavily. He is still in the cell, but now the dark blue lighting has a greenish hue.

“Through this, we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all, infinite in distance and unbound by death.”

    Ace’s breath starts to slow, becoming deeper. The pain feels muted. He still feels fire in his skin but now, it feels cool. Like the wind gently brushing against your skin on a warm day. It hugged his entire body in a familiar embrace. Not like his fire, more like the bit of Haki he had learned recently. Though instead, it felt like it was clearly flowing through him. Like a calm stream.

“I release your soul, and by my shoulder, protect thee”

    It’s a slow change. A feeling that leaves Ace dizzy. His world blurs once more as the prison slowly shifts to a large dimly lit room with warm green lighting from the candles on the walls. He blinks tiredly, throat feeling tight and raw. The straps lining his body were charred, thin threads barely holding on with little amber flakes floating down.

    Ace slowly rolled his head to look around. He saw a grey haired man standing next to the bed, an unreadable expression on his face. One that Ace couldn’t read even if he wasn’t suffering from a pounding headache. He could vaguely see Qrow and Glynda in the corners of his vision.

    “What happened?” Ace croaked, voice raw and cracked.

    Ozpin stared. His eyes were searching, like he was reading a story book rather than looking at a person. 

    “Glynda.” He says finally. “Stay here with Amber. Get her bed set up. It’s going to be a few days till James arrives, let’s make sure she’s comfortable.” He turns away and walks towards the elevator. “Come now Qrow. Grab young Portgas’s bed. We will have this discussion later in my office after the medical team looks over him again.”

    Ace watches motionless, completely drained. He didn’t feel pain anymore, only a lingering feeling in his throat and where his skin met the straps. Other than that he felt…lighter.

    He barely reacted as he felt the bed move beneath him and steer towards the elevator. Ace gazed up, eyes wide and dazed. “Qrow? What happened to me?”

    Qrow looked pale. His knuckles turned white where he held the bed.

    “Don’t worry about it right now kid. Just..just rest for a moment. I think I speak for all of this when I say we are going to need a lot of liquor.”

    Ace went quiet, staring at nothing. He felt so weak. When was the last time he felt fully like himself? Probably right before he lost his duel with Teach. Or right before Thatch was murdered. Blues it felt so long ago.

    He laid limp as  they once again went into the elevator. But this time he was too numbed to even begin to panic over his surroundings. His fire was snuffed out.

    He blinked tiredly at the elevator's ceiling.

    ‘I miss my crew.’ He thinks as he feels his consciousness drift to sleep.

Chapter Text

   Dr. Pietro Polendina was in the Airship’s lab, working on one of the many synthetic organs splayed across his work bench. Pieces of a metal spinal cord crowded the work space, making it slightly difficult to find the tools needed.

    His wheel chair made creeks and whirls with every movement. It was practically background noises at this point, almost relaxing in some weird way. However the comfort did little to ease his jitters.

    The current organ in hand, a kidney, was currently being tweaked when he suddenly lost his grip and the synthetic organ fell to the ground with a wet ‘slap’.

    “Darn it” Pietro sighed. He was about to adjust the wheel chair so he could retrieve it when a familiar pale hand picked up the kidney.

    His Daughter, Penny, cradled the organ in her hands. She beamed at him. “Here you go father! Please be more careful with your work.” She lightly scolded, her voice never fading far from happy. She enthusiastically yet gently placed it back onto his desk.

    The Doctor smiled gratefully at his daughter. “Thank you Penny. I’ve done this many times but it appears that my nerves have gotten the best of me.” He admits with a hearty laugh. His badge on his lab coat jingles with the movement of his chest.

    Penny’s ginger hair bounces as she tilts her head to the side. Her pupils adjust as she examines him. “That’s unlike you. Is it because of the patient that these are for?” She questions as she points to the metal bones and organs. “I saw the synthetic skin you have in the other lab's room. Are you making someone like me?” She asked, clear green eyes gleaming in such a way that reflected his own.

    Pietro felt his heart ache. He was well aware of his daughter's loneliness. It was only natural she would seek out a kin or a friend. She was one of a kind. Forged from metal and his own soul. The future protector of the world! It just wasn’t safe for her to go out and form bonds.

    “Unfortunately no sweetie. You are one of a kind. I doubt I could make another person like you.” He said, turning his wheelchair around to face her. “These parts are for a very hurt young man. You remember General Ironwood?”

    She nodded. “Yes I’ve met him a couple times during my training. He’s on this ship right?” Pietro have a confirming ‘mhm’.

    “Well he had an accident a couple years ago. The injury caused significant damage to his organs and cost him almost all of his limbs. With my assistance the two of us reconstructed his body, one of the first steps towards creating you.” He smiled at the end, remembering the first time he thought about the possibility of building a daughter. 

    Atlas, specifically the military, had been making headway in the scientific field. Learning to harness dust past what was believed as possible and combining aura with technology. Things that were thought of as impossible were now seen as exciting challenges that they could slowly be worked through. It was unfortunate that James had been through what he did, but if it wasn’t for that the entirety of what they know about aura and machine would have been set back by years!

    “From the files Ozpin sent us, it seems like the majority of his muscles are ripped, bruised, and burned. The extension of these injuries looks as if he has been tortured for multiple days at a time. I’d say possibly two weeks.” He muttered, examining the photos of the injuries on the scroll on his desk. He plugged it into the bigger screen hovering the desk. “Unfortunately the organs closest to his back are no longer functioning.” He says as he opens one of the files on the display. An image of Ace’s unconscious face appeared in the corner. A chart of his body with all the wounds mapped out, taking up most of the screen.

    He hears Penny approach behind him, a soft gasp leaving her. “He must be very resilient! Will I have a chance to meet him?” She asks, voice full of awe.

    At that Pietro paused. From waht he’d seen from James, the General was excited to meet the boy. He sincerely doubted that the General and head professor of Beacon would do this for a random person unless they truly believed they he would be a useful asset to their cause. Not that the two wouldn’t care for the well being of an ordinary person, after all the schools were designed to protect the ordinary and defenseless. None the less the fact that he was brought on this trip for his expertise said volumes.

    Maybe it wouldn’t hurt for Penny to meet someone around her age….

    “I’ll ask Ironwood after the surgery is complete.” He settled. “From the reports sent, we still don’t know much about where the boy came from nor what he is capable of. After he gets settled with the new prosthetic’s we’ll discuss you to meeting.”

    Penny wilted a bit, hands folding together infront of her skirt. “That makes sense.” She says slowly eyes drifting to were the pictures were still on display. “Then I hope he makes a fast recovery.”

    At that moment the doors opened making the father and daughter duo turn. Winter, Ironwoods Military Specialist, walking in with the stiff form of a trained soilder. She came to a sudden stop, eyes trained straight ahead to the scientist. 

    “Doctor Polendina, we are approaching Beacon academy. We’ll be landing in ten minutes.” She informed the him. Her eyes flickered between him and his daughter.

    He gave a greatful smile. “Thank you Miss. Schnee, I’ll have all the equipment ready by then.”

    She gave a tight nod, leaving the room as quickly as she appeared. Pietro took a deep breath. He was running out of time.

    He turned back to his table and grabbed the kidney, the material lightly squishing in his hands just like he designed. It was almost the perfect copy of an organ.

    Almost.

    “Penny, could you grab the synthetic skin from the lab down the hall? It should be wrapped but still be careful with it. I need to sterilized it again with the other organs before we bring it to our patient.”

    She gave a cheerful salute. “It would be my pleasure!” She said firmly and ran out the room. Pietro stifled a laugh that threatened to come out as he heard Winter let out a startled sound. She probably wasn’t expecting Penny to run out so shortly after she left the room.

    With that the scientist turned his attention back to the task at hand. He had all the oragans, bones, and muscle made. He even made a couple extra ones as back up incase the permanent one he made were regected by the boys body. He had doubts that it would come to that since he was told that the boy has now unlocked his aura (which he had many questions regarding the matter), still it didn’t hurt to be prepared.

    The sight of Beacon sat in the horizon as he worked, Grim circling below. A few tried to attack the ship but they were quickly brought down by the ship’s defenses. For the next few minutes Pietro and his daughter worked on the remaining prosthetic, cleaning them and wrapping them so they were prepped for the surgery.

    Soon, the ship landed at the school, the doors opened and Pietro’s wheelchair slowly rolled down with Penny by his side. The medical team walked behind while Ironwood and Winter lead ahead of them as the group reached the ground to were Qrow, a Huntsman was waiting.

    Qrow opened his mouth to say something when Ironwood cut him off. “Please Qrow, let’s skip the banter for later. Where’s Ace?”

    Qrow grimaced, backing down with a sigh. “At the Academy. He’s stable now, though he still hasn’t woken up yet. The medical team that brought him are tending to him now, do you still need them?”

    This time Pietro spoke up, rolling his wheelchair forward. “We brought our own medical staff that have experience with these kind of transplants. Thought the ones currently with Mr. Portgas are more than welcome to stay, I would like some input and any updates they personally have.”

    Ironwood shifted, seeming to not agree with this statement. However the matter wasn’t pushed as the group was led to the school.

    “We currently have him in the medical wing. The area is blocked off to students and staff. The only ones allowed past that point are you, myself, the professor, and Glynda.” Qrow explained as they approached the blocked off area in the school. True to his word there weren’t any students lingering in the halls. It was bare and quiet, far more so than the schools been in years. Though that could be due to the sensitivity of the situation. After all there was a maiden in the basement and an injured man from another world in the regular part of the school. The less people who knew that they were there the better.

    When they got to the door he turned. “Alright we’re here. At this point no one is allowed in that isn’t needed for the surgery. Everyone else will have to wait till afterwards when we know he’s stable.”

    There was hesitation. Pietro turned to his daughter who looked uncurtain and reached for her hand. He grabbed the cold limb and have a gentle reassuring squeeze. He turned to look at Ironwood. “My team and I can handle this. Let’s go.” He said, the last part directed to the surgeons and nurses behind him.

    He slowly let go of his daughter hand has his chair moved forward. Wore opened the door for him has he and his team went into the room. Winter, Ironwood, Penny, and Qrow watched them disappear as the door shut.

    There was silence. Then-

    “So what’s with the Girl Scout?” Qrow asked, pointing at Penny as he fished out his flask from his back pocket.

    Winter glared. Ironwood sighed. And Penny? She grinned happily.

    “Sal-u-tations!”

    Pietro shook hands with Dr. Azure, both with grim smiles.

    “The patient is stable. We have Mr. Portgas laying on his stomach ready for the surgery. He has yet to wake up but due to complications during the flight here we will administer more anesthetic’s than we would typically use. Even for a Huntsmen.” She informed him as she brought him and the team towards the serialized area they set up.

    He could faintly see the blurred figure of the patient, the beeping of the monitor coming from behind the plastic sheets that were keeping the area the patient was in sterile. He tapped on his arm rest, humming. “Did Mr. Portgas express any issues with paralysis? Numbness.”

    She nodded. “He was able to move his legs luckily, however most of the nerves in his legs have been disconnected from the brain. We aren’t fully current how much mobility he has or will still have have this surgery.”

    ‘Nor if his body will react differently since he’s not form this world.’ Pietro thought. Though he kept it to himself.

    “Alright!” He exclaimed with a clap. “Let’s sterilize our equipment and get this boy walking.”

    With that the group was in organized chaos, everyone running around to get ready for the operation.

    Pietro handed the surgeons the containers containing the prosthetic’s as he got ready. He may not work hands on for this, but he needed to be in the room and present incase anything goes work g or if one of the replacements got compromised.

    Finally the group stepped into the room, a stale smell in the air. For the first time Pietro was able to see the damage in person.

    The second he did he felt like throwing up. This kid, barley an adult, and he was injured to this extent? He saw the pictures, he knew the boy was tortured. But this? In person? As a parent himself we wondered what the boys own parents were thinking. Did they even know their son was alive?

    He could see Ozpin on the other side of the Plastic sheet, watching with all knowing eyes. He was calmly drinking from his cup, like he was reading a book that he already knew the ending to.

    He took a shuddered breath behind the medical mask before turning to the head Surgeon and nodded.

    With that, the operation had begun.

    Luffy sat on the Marine ship, sea salt chapping his lips. They had just left Marineford after he was successfully able to send his message to his crew. He knew they would understand it, he didn’t doubt them. He would see his family soon, just two more years.

    “How are you holding up?” Jinbe asks as he approached the young Captain. He didn’t dare to sit with him, not yet. He was still afraid that despite how determined the boy was that he might throw himself overboard. He was able to remind Luffy of what he still has, his crew, but the lose he experienced was still fresh. There was no garentee how his mental state would hold.

    Luffy had his eyes closed, feelings the wind and sea. He breathed slow and purposely.

    “…I’m not okay.” He decided, not moving nor turning to look at the other. Just simply existing. Clinging onto to everything yet nothing all at once.

    Luffy’s known grief. He lost his first brother when he was 7. He never saw how he died nor his body, but the memory still Huanted him. But he held on, for his brothers Dream and his own.

    But never, never ever did he once think that he would lose Ace. Not after he promised him that he wouldn’t die.

    And then he did. He took a blow that was ment for him and then his a flash of light, he was gone. Nothing left execpt red sparkles and black ash in his place.

    He didn’t even have a body to bury. Nothing to mourn. His belonging were confiscated in Impel Down or Destroyed when the Moby Dick sunk. All he had were bittersweet memories of a boy who hadn’t learned to want to live.

    And now he never would.

    Luffy stood suddenly, startling the former warlord. “I want to make a new fight move, something to honer Ace by.”

    Jinbe perked up. “A new move?”

    The Captain nodded. “Something to keep his memory alive. Something that I can hit every enemy with so Ace can keep fighting. Keep living.” He looked over his shoulder, looking at the Fishman. “Do you think I can do it?”

    Jinbe stared.

    This boy fought non stop for days. Broke in and out of Impel Down, fought in a war of monsters, and is still fighting for his brother even after he was gone.

    How could he ever doubt the Captain?

    Jinbe smiled, eyes flashing with pride. “I think you already know the answer.”

    He didn’t need to turn around to know that Rayleigh was smiling.