Chapter 21: Ace's First Battle - Enter Luffy
South Blue, an unnamed stretch of sea.
Under the cover of night, a rusted, three-masted galleon, the "Mad-Axe," drifted on the waves.
The deck was a scene of horrific cruelty.
"Bwahahaha! Grab the women!"
"Ah—! Please, let my daughter go!"
"Shut it, old man!"
A brutish pirate, swinging a bloody battle-axe, cornered a screaming woman. Elsewhere, others were piling up stolen treasure, stomping on it with glee.
"Captain! That brat's crying is gettin' on my nerves!"
"Gagaga! Let's gouge his eyes out and see what they're worth!"
At the cabin door, the captain, "Mad-Axe" Barton, emerged. He was covered in bulging muscles, licking his lips, his voice a low growl. "Hurry up and finish the job, you maggots! Stop wasting time!"
Just then, a warship was spotted, cutting through the waves.
On its deck stood Roy, his gaze as cold as a blade. Beside him, Ace was clenching his fists, his body trembling slightly.
"Ace, are you scared?" Roy asked calmly.
Ace gritted his teeth, his eyes full of stubborn fire. "I'm not scared!"
But his small, clenched fists were shaking. The sickening brutality he had just witnessed through the binoculars was his first real look at how ugly and cruel pirates truly were.
Roy placed a hand on his shoulder. "Stay close to me."
The next second—
FWOOSH—!
Roy and Ace vanished.
"BOOM!"
A massive crash echoed from the pirate ship's deck. A shockwave sent three of the laughing pirates flying overboard.
"Enemy attack—!!!"
Barton's pupils shrank. "Who the hell—?!"
Roy's boot shattered the deck planks. He swung his fist, and a pirate's chest instantly caved in, spraying blood.
Ace's eyes went wide. In that instant, he saw the absolute ice in Roy's eyes.
"Aaaargh!"
A pirate swung his cutlass at Ace. Ace snapped back to reality, grabbed an iron rod from the deck, and dodged, smashing the rod against the man's knee!
CRACK!
The pirate howled and fell to his knees. Ace immediately brought the rod down on the back of his head, knocking him out cold.
"Not bad," Roy's voice came from behind him.
Ace gritted his teeth. "These guys... I won't let them hurt anyone else!"
Roy smiled. The next second, a massive shadow lunged at them.
"Who dares to run wild on my ship?!"
"Mad-Axe" Barton, nearly ten feet tall, raised his giant axe, his eyes full of killing intent.
"Geh-heh-heh... Never thought I'd see a Marine bring a snot-nosed brat to his own execution!" Barton cackled.
Ace flinched, but the fire in his eyes only burned hotter. "Roy! Let's get him together!"
Roy paused, then chuckled. "Alright. Let's see what you've got."
Barton roared, bringing the axe down!
FWOOSH!
Roy grabbed Ace's shoulder and warped. The axe missed, splitting the deck in two!
"Where'd they go?!" Barton roared.
"Right here."
Roy and Ace appeared behind him. Ace leaped up and smashed the iron rod on the back of Barton's head!
"BAM!"
Barton roared in pain and swung his axe backward. Roy dodged, planting a heavy kick in the pirate's gut!
"BOOM!"
Barton staggered, but just laughed. "Is that all you got?!"
Roy's eyes went cold. "Ace. With me."
"Right!" Ace nodded.
Roy flashed in front of Barton, his fist cocked back. Barton raised his axe to block, but just as the punch was about to connect, it vanished.
"What?!"
The next second, Roy was behind him, driving an elbow straight into his spine!
"Gah!"
Barton cried out. As he tried to turn, Ace charged in from the side and jammed the iron rod... right in his backside!
"YOU LITTLE BASTARD!!"
Barton roared, clenching his butt. He raised his axe to attack, but Roy warped above him and brought a Haki-infused heel straight down on his chin!
"BAM!"
Barton's massive body crashed to the deck, out cold.
On the bloody deck, Ace's face was illuminated by the flickering torchlight, his eyes blazing. "Roy! We won!"
Roy slowly un clenched his fist and nodded. "Good teamwork."
Ace sat down on the deck, his hands still trembling, but his eyes were shining.
"Roy! Let me come with you next time, too!"
Roy leaned against the railing and smiled. "When you're a little stronger."
Ace clenched his fists. "I will be! I'll get so strong!"
Roy looked out at the stars, a plan forming in his mind. This is the kind of resolve he needs. If I keep this up, he'll grow into someone we can all rely on.
After arranging for the warship to escort the civilians home, Roy and Ace returned to Marineford.
As they stepped onto the dock, a deafening laugh rang out.
"BWAHAHAHA! Roy! I brought you back a 'souvenir'!"
Roy paused. Garp was striding toward them, carrying a small, snot-nosed... thing... on his shoulder.
Roy raised an eyebrow. "Who's that?"
Garp dropped the kid on the dock. "Ace, this is your little brother, Luffy!"
The little kid wobbled, sniffed, and then stared at Ace with big, watery eyes, tilting his head. "???"
Ace: "???"
The next second, Luffy's face lit up, and he launched himself at Ace. "Gimme your face!"
"You bastard! Let go!" Ace roared, his face turning red.
BAM! BAM!
Garp delivered a "Fist of Love" to each of them. Two identical lumps swelled on their heads as they both crouched in pain. "That hurts!!!"
Garp put his hands on his hips. "Bwahahaha! He's your brother! Brothers are supposed to get along!"
Roy just sighed. "Old man, can't you be normal for one second..."
That night, in Roy's quarters.
Luffy was bouncing off the walls, treating the furniture like a jungle gym, while Ace was chasing him with a wooden stick.
"Get back here, you idiot, Luffy!"
"Bwahahaha! You're too slow, Ace!"
"You brats, quiet down!"
Roy warped, appearing between them and grabbing each of them by the collar, holding them dangling in the air. "Old man, you're not turning my quarters into a daycare, are you?"
Garp sat on the sofa, laughing. "No choice! I already brought one back! Sengoku specifically told me I couldn't bring another kid to HQ! So he's your problem now."
He leaned in conspiratorially. "Just tell everyone you rescued him on your last mission."
Roy frowned. "You think Sengoku is an idiot? He'll never believe that."
Garp: "Bwahahaha! That old fool is a softy! He'll probably buy it!"
Just then, Luffy wiggled free and jumped onto Roy's back. "Wow! You're so tall, big bro!"
Ace fumed. "You moron! Get down!"
Roy was about to grab Luffy when he had an idea. He turned to Garp. "Old man, do you remember Belle-mère?"
Garp blinked. "That female Marine from the East Blue? The one who adopted those two little girls?"
Roy nodded, a sly smile on his face. "Let's get her transferred to HQ. Since you're already bringing kids, what's two more?"
Garp's eyes went wide. "Hey, hey, brat! You're not planning on bringing those little girls here too, are you?!"
Roy shrugged. "If we're going to raise kids, we might as well raise the whole set. Besides, the boys could use the company~"
Garp stared at him. "You're even crazier than I am!" He thought for a second, then got a serious look. "You know... that might actually work."
And so, Roy's quarters officially became the "Problem Child" Containment Center.
"MEAT! I WANT MEAT!"
"Shut up! That's mine!"
"Gimme the meat!"
"You bastard!"
BAM! BAM!
"QUIET DOWN AT THE DINNER TABLE!" Roy yelled, after delivering two quick 'Fists of Love.'
...
On the training ground:
"Take this! My 'Fist of Love'—OW!" Ace was hopping around, holding his hand after punching a training post.
"Bwahahaha! Ace is so weak!" Luffy was rolling on the ground, laughing.
"You wanna die!"
Ace tackled him, and the two rolled into a ball of dust... until Instructor Zephyr picked them up, one in each hand. "You want to fight? Go run 100 laps first!"
...
At night:
Luffy, holding his pillow: "Ace, let's sleep together!"
Ace, scowling: "Get lost! It's too hot!"
Luffy (tearing up): "Waaah... Ace is so mean..."
Ace, turning his back stubbornly: "...Tch. Fine. Whatever."
From the doorway, Roy watched them finally settle down, a small, tired smile on his face.
Two days later, Sengoku's office.
Sengoku slammed his desk. "GARP!!! THIS IS YOUR DOING, ISN'T IT?!"
Garp, picking his nose, looked bored. "I didn't do anything. It was Roy's official transfer request."
A vein pulsed on Sengoku's forehead. "You think I'm a fool?! Fine, transfer Belle-mère! But why did you have to bring her two adopted daughters here, too?!"
Vice Admiral Tsuru smiled gently. "Oh, I think it's lovely. It's about time this base had a little heart."
Zephyr snorted. "Still better than some old bastard who keeps dumping his grandkids at HQ!"
Garp, still picking his nose: "Hmph! At least they're not... uh... pet rice crackers!"
"..."
Sengoku put his head in his hands. "You people are going to drive me insane!"