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1. Ace is a lot of things. A hothead who didn't know when to back away from a fight. A ball of anger and self-hatred. Terrifyingly strong for someone who isn't ready to deal with most new-world threats. A guy who can't sleep but will also drop, dead to the world around him, randomly due to narcolepsy. Feral at times.
The best way the Whitebeard pirates have found to describe him is odd.
But the one thing they wouldn't call him is a doting younger brother. It's not like he ever dotes on them and they have no clue about his older brother.
They should've tried so much harder to learn about their newest younger brother.
When Whitebeard decided to adopt the brat that is Ace it went how no one could've guessed. The brat had the audacity to say it wasn't possible to adopt him and smirk before claiming they had no clue what they were getting into by kidnapping him. That set off alarm bells for Marco but Pops just laughed and there was nothing Marco could do from then on. When the old man decided to adopt you, there wasn't another choice.
Ace fought and attempted to kill, Whitebeard for nearly four months being agreeing to stay. Even if he said it was only temporary restating that they have no idea the mess they caused by kidnapping him. Once again setting off alarm bells for Marco who could do nothing about it.
The odd part though was Ace never actually submitted to Whitebeard's conqueror Haki, even when it was ramped up to nearly the max he would use on the ship without harming anyone. He agreed to stay under his own free will because Whitebeard was never close to making him submit and the commanders knew it. The knowing, mischievous, glint in Ace's eyes said he knew it too. It seemed to have no effect at all on the rookie pirate from the East Blue.
That was something that should have been impossible. No rookie, especially not one from the East Blue should be able to handle that much will bearing down on them.
2. The first time the crew found out about Ace's sleeping problems and his narcolepsy was two months into the assassination attempts.
Ace was walking across the main deck of the Moby when he suddenly just fell on his face. That event sent everyone into a momentary panic until Marco caught the soft snores coming from the boy. It happened again at dinner when Ace face-planted into the mashed potatoes on his plate, sat back up minutes later, and continued eating like nothing had even happened.
When asked about it he would just reply with "Dunno, always have had an issue with sleep when away from my brothers, narcolepsy is the side effect of that to force me to get get some rest. Gets worse the longer we are apart." with a shrug before walking away.
It threw everyone for a loop because it also explained so much. Ace had insomnia to some extent and narcolepsy was his body deciding no more.
It also confused them more at the mention of brothers because Ace seemed like he was a lonely child who had nothing and was looked down on his whole life. But maybe the myriad of issues he had didn't give the full story like they thought it did.
Of course, Pops just laughed and said he was surrounded by his brothers when he first heard that answer. In reply, Ace stared him dead in the eyes and told them all that this would never be his family causing Pops to laugh more.
3. The next thing that threw everyone for a loop was at the start of month three when Ace bought a newspaper, took a single page out, and pocketed it, before staring Marco dead in the eyes and tossing the rest in the water. He then proceeded to vanish until dinner time and wouldn't answer anyone's questions about what the hell that was about. Also completely ignoring all the complaints about the waste of Beri and how they needed the paper to follow what rookies might actually make it somewhere and be a problem.
Marco took it kind of personally. He was the one who usually separated out the wanted posters and Ace had been here long enough to know that, which irked him to no end knowing that it was done intentionally as a slight against him. but it also reinforced how little Ace wanted to be there. Marco just sighed at that knowing the rookie had no choice in the matter at this point. No one has ever told Pop's no and managed to make that true. Especially when it comes to his questionable surprise adoptions.
4. The next time Ace did something surprising that the crew didn't know how to react to was the day after the paper accident. Ace had been sitting on the main deck right up against the mast with a frown on his face that invoked Marcos's curiosity. It wasn't much long after that Marco had just wished he'd ignored it in favor of monitoring the sword spar that was taking place, but he went and asked anyway.
Making his approach obvious, Marco sat next to Ace and only received a cursory glance in his direction. Looking back at the fight briefly, then back to Ace, Marco saw the frown deepen. So he asked.
"What's piqued your curiosity little fire bug?"
A low growl left Ace before an answer "If those are the styles they use in a real fight, neither would last against a half-decent swordsman. Even some people who don't want the swordsman title but still carry a blade would cut them down."
Marco was dumbfounded by the answer. He knew the styles the two sparring weren't greatly suited to them but it was good enough to work with. He had also not seen a single sword with Ace, the only blade they found with him being a couple of daggers, and would've never guessed he knew the first thing about sword fighting. Now annoyed by the lack of faith from his new brother, even if he won't accept it, and curious what the brat knew he had to inquire more.
"And why is that?" Oh, how Marco just wished he walked away and accepted that Ace was probably a little competent and went to find their styles more suited to them.
"He," Ace said pointing to the lower ranking 3rd division member "Is using a two sword style with a single blade. A style built around precision to make the most of dual-wielding. The other guy" A mid-rank 5th division member "Is using a style built for power but he's using it in a quick and precise style. Neither would last in a real sword fight and it's a wonder they survived the new world till now."
With that said, Ace got up and walked away leaving Marco stumped. He couldn't even refute what the kid was saying either cause it was true. With a deep groan, Marco stood and whistled to stop the spar.
"That's enough, You're both coming with me to the 5th division storage and we will find styles more suited for you both." With a sigh, Marco walked away knowing they would follow.
Later that night during a commanders meeting Marco had to explain to Vista, the 5th division commander, why he suddenly decided to get involved with his teachings. Vista was after all the best swordsman of the crew who led the swordsman division.
"Our new firebug pointed out the obvious issues with both styles they were using. Don't know how the brat knew but he called out the fact the 3rd division brat was using a two-sword style while your own brat was using a strength-based style as if it was speed-based. Said they'd both die if faced with a real swordsman." Marco said with another groan recalling the conversation.
The rest of the commanders were stunned and silent and he couldn't blame them, especially not Vista who was traditionally trained in the art of the blade. But he could also see the calculating glint in Vista's eyes while he thought it over before receiving a nod.
"Ill have to thank the brat then cause he wasn't wrong, we just haven't found a style either have liked yet. Been letting them try different ones in spars after teaching the basics."
Pops just laughed.
5. On the 112th day of having Ace aboard the Moby Dick, Marco and the other commanders just stare in confusion and fear at Ace. Said person could be seen cackling like a madman on the deck while holding a newspaper. It had been happening since he bought the paper before Marco could once again. Whatever he had seen had sent him into mad cackling for the last thirty minutes.
Marco decided to rush forward and snatch the paper before Ace could dispose of it once again. He began quickly skimming the paper for whatever caused this before pausing on the second page, his face growing paler the more he read. Quickly, he rushed back and handed the paper to Whitebeard to read. Ace was still cackling like a madman on the deck.
"That brat what does he think he's doing?" Whitebeard growled out after reading the article.
Before anyone else could answer Ace did.
"I told you, you fucked up by kidnapping me you old fool," He said between wheezes from laughing so hard "He'll be here to pick me up soon, he is my older brother after all." The smile he gave after saying that was nothing short of absolutely feral.
Seeing the shock and paling faces of the commanders and Whitebeard's scowl deepen had Ace falling into a laughing fit again.
1. It wasn't even 3 full days later that the man on the watch called out the approach of the Strawhats to the rest of the crew. This had all the commanders and Whitebeard on edge as they could feel the thrum of conquerors from the moment the ship came into view.
Marco was busy yelling at the younger less experienced members to go below deck while trying to usher Ace out of view. Ace on the other hand was slowly getting more pissed the more Marco tried to push him off the main deck.
"If you don't quit trying to order me around as if I was part of this crew that KIDNAPPED me, I'm going to light the whole damn ship on fire" He all but growled at the man.
"When pops decided to take you, you became a Whitebeard Pirate whether you like it or not now go" Marco snapped back in annoyance.
"Go fuck yourself you pigeon" Ace did growl out this time before raising his voice "I'll never join the fucking crew of an old-era relic who can't even keep hold of his own territory because he's gotten lazy"
At that point, Marco gave up before he actually hurt the kid which caused Ace to smirk and lean on the railing. Marco went to sit on Whitebeard's shoulder and wait for the inevitable confrontation.
It didn't take long for the Stawhats ship to pull up next to the Moby Dick, the constant thrum of conquerors only getting stronger the closer they got.
"Permission to board" a voice called out only seconds later clearly laced with the haki they have been feeling.
"Granted" Whitebeard called back gruffly with his own haki lacing his voice.
Before anyone could blink, Luffy was standing on the deck of the Moby alone. His namesake straw hat on his head and a katana on his side, one hand resting on the hilt. The Adams wood under his feet cracked the moment he made contact. He quickly scanned the gathered commanders and those who could remain on the deck before locking eyes with Ace. The grin Ace gave told everyone that he was expecting this and was happy it finally happened. Without acknowledging the Whitebeard Pirates again, he spoke directly to Ace.
"Why did I get a call from the Spade Pirates that you had wanted to attack a Yonko and then got kidnapped by said Yonko Ace?"
Ace looked down before answering, unable to meet his brother's eyes "Because my original plan was to make a name for myself by removing a big name who was well past his time sailing these seas like he owned them, then I got kidnapped by his crew when the cornered me"
For a moment Luffy's haki flared knocking out everyone, not a commander, making the commander's stagger, and causing Ace to flinch.
"I told you not to do anything stupid Ace and you decided you were gonna do something more than stupid. He would've been in his right to kill you if he wanted, You're lucky it was Whitebeard who has a tendency to forcefully adopt people." Luffy growled.
At this point, Whitebeard was getting annoyed at being ignored and made it known.
"What are you doing here brat, I could kill you now for taking my territories and recklessly throwing your haki around on my ship. Give me a damn good reason I shouldn't."
Luffy turned his head and drew his katana "Simple, Ace wasn't wrong, you're well past your time to rule these seas and have gotten so lax that all those islands voluntarily burned your flag and replaced it with mine" He snapped back.
"Three of those islands I stopped pirates from looting, one of them I killed the noble that lived there who was taking slaves, the rest followed suit seeing you clearly didn't care what was going on. NOW give me a damn good reason I shouldn't kill you for kidnapping my little brother"
"Brat you couldn't kill me if you tried" Whitebeard huffed out instead of responding.
Luffy didn't like that and Ace knew what was coming next. From one moment to the next Luffy had unleashed the entirety of his haki on the remaining awake pirates, knocking all but Marco, who would've fallen off Whitebeard's shoulder if it wasn't for his natural balance, out and choking Whitebeard in the process.
"Ace, on the Sunny now. I'll drop you off with the Spades." Luffy commanded as his hair and clothes bled white and the pressure increased further bringing the last two to the ground. Ace followed the order immediately and jumped across ships "You can't keep up anymore Newgate, You're past your era and wouldn't even be a fight for me."
Luffy jumped off the Moby, landing on the railing of his own ship before turning back to stare.
"Consider this a warning from the next pirate king. I took Kaido alone and Wano when you refused to save the country."
He shifted his stance slightly and swung his sword with a call of "DIVINE DEPARTURE" letting off a haki-infused air blade to harmlessly pass close to Whitebeard, destroying the throne-like chair he sat on before hopping fully onto his ship and letting the white bled away.
"Set sail, we have an idiot to take care of"