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Portgas D. Ace jumped in front of a blow meant for his little brother. Akainu's lava was hotter than fire and burned straight through Ace's body.
The man carrying the devil's blood of Gol D. Roger's legacy would soon die. He didn't even have the strength to raise his voice as he told his beloved, little brother his last words. Despite how he was worthless and had bad blood running through his veins, he thanked everyone for loving him. He was grateful for the love shown by Pops, Marco, Izou, Haruta, Deuce, Dadan, Makino, and more. Heh. He even was thankful to Gramps.
Most of all, he was grateful for his brother's love. Even if he felt bad he had to break his promise. At least he would see Sabo soon.
Ace died with the regret that he would never see his little brother reach his dream to be a Pirate King.
That is where it should have ended - with Portgas D. Ace dying with a smile on his face.
Instead, Ace's lifeless body bursted into flames and burned. It burned hotter and hotter. Orange flames warped into pure white flames. They grew so bright, there was a blinding light that caused many to look away.
Where Firefist Ace's lifeless body should be, an alive Ace was standing in front of his brother instead. There was no hole in his chest.
Ace knew he died, so how was he still alive?
Luffy stared at him in frozen shock, before screaming loudly, "ACE!? YOU'RE ALIVE!"
Admiral Akainu was livid. Gol D. Ace died. He burned through that trash's body. He would uphold Justice and make sure the job was done properly again.
Ace was confused, before he winced in pain. His head felt awful and his body felt… different. He could feel tingles all over his body.
"I will just kill you again," Akainu's voice rumbled. He raised his fist, fully ready to kill Ace again.
Before Ace could run, while Luffy's eyes widened with horror, Akainu's body froze. He could not move, before falling unconscious.
"Mate, you need to get out of here. You literally just died. I'll have your back and cover your escape. Get your friends and your family out of here," a man's voice said in a strange accent. There was an unfamiliar man standing in between an unconscious Admiral and Ace. He looked back and gave a reassuring smile. His freckles and ginger hair made him look rather young. He did not scream power or presence like so many other Marines or Pirates.
The only logical explanation is that this strange man just took down a Marine Admiral and he just called Ace a "Mate."
Fuck, nothing funny better be going on, or else Marco is going to kill him later. If his boyfriend didn't already kill him for dying on him.
(If he even still had a boyfriend considering he ran off after their fight to pursue Teach)
Yet, strangely, the knowledge that this man was covering for Ace made him feel at peace. He strangely reminded Ace of how he felt around Luffy and Sabo.
"Ron, Ace just died. He's very confused right now. Also, watch out. We're still in the middle of a war zone," another unfamiliar voice said. A lady with bushy brown hair with the same strange accent was holding a stick and she flicked it, causing a large explosion against charging Marines.
"Wh-Who are you?" Ace asked, feeling very confused and a bit terrified. It took him 100 times of trying to kill Pops to feel comfortable even joining his crew. Luffy had to follow him for days before Ace was willing to open up. These are two strangers he has never met before, but he felt at home with them.
It unnerved him more than anything else.
"Hermione, I will cover the retreat. Can you get them all out of here?" Ron told Hermione, ignoring Ace's question.
She grinned. "Already on it. I fixed the Moby Dick and helped fix up Whitebeard. He refuses to leave first without Ace." She turned to Ace. "Let's get you out of here."
Ron gave Hermione a smitten look at her explanation, before his eyes hardened. He raised his hands and a barrier appeared around them to stop all the attacks aimed at them.
"Get them out of here! Now!" He eyed the Admirals rushing at them warily.
Hermione's eyes steeled. "Hold my arms. This might feel a bit nauseating," Hermione said as Luffy, Ace, and Jimbe all grabbed her arms. "Hold tight and hold onto each other," she warned before they all disappeared in a crack.
They reappeared on the Moby Dick, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN DESTROYED.
His fellow comrades were gaping at the sight both on the ship and the battlefield, before chaos ensued.
"POPS! POPS, WE GOT ACE! LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!"
"POPS! COME WITH US! WE HAVE MUCH MORE TO LIVE FOR TOGETHER!"
Ace could only gap at the chaos, before looking towards Luffy and Jimbe. Luffy and Jimbe both looked sick with the teleportation that just happened. Luffy looked like he was turning a bit green before he collapsed.
"Medic! Lufffy needs a medic!" Ace screamed frantically towards his injured brother, who shouldn't have come at all to save him.
Jimbe grabbed Luffy, before rushing him towards the infirmary.
"You need a medic too," Hermione said behind him and he flinched. She sighed. "What am I going to do with you and your hatred of bedrest? Of course that doesn't change," she muttered under her breath, but Ace could easily hear her.
Ace wasn't focused on Hermione, though his brothers and sisters were. He could see many of them steeling themselves for a potential fight against this mysterious woman.
He was focused on Pops, who no longer had a gaping hole in his body. Pops, who was destroying Marines left and right and still fighting. He looked more energized than he was in years.
He looked… healthy.
That shouldn't be possible. Anything happening right now shouldn't be possible.
"I can't reverse aging, but there is a lot you can do with the strongest wand in existence. Even if it is just mine to protect temporarily," Hermione said with a secret smile directed towards Ace. It was as if she was trying to communicate an inside secret, but it fell on deaf ears.
Ace watched a literal dragon descend on the battlefield, launching spikes and spewing fire at the Marines trying to follow. Geysers of water emerged and targeted Devil Fruit users, dousing Marines before trapping them in cubes of water. He saw weapons turn into literal rubber ducks whenever a Marine tried to use them. He even saw some Marine Vice-Admirals being inflated into balloons, slowly drifting above and saw those under their ranks frantically trying to keep their Vice-Admiral from floating into space.
Chaos. It was absolute chaos, and that was saying something.
Hermione sighed fondly. "He's having a bit too much fun. He was also the one better at combat than me, but I think you rubbed too much on him."
Ace stared at Hermione.
"He's not killing them."
Even the Devil Fruit users trapped in the water had a little bubble allowing them to breathe.
She smiled softly at him. "He's angry at them. He wants to kill them all for how they treated you, but he's not."
Ace was confused. "I have killed people. Most of my life, I have struggled not to kill them. Why wouldn't he kill them? I'm a pirate. I'm not a hero or a saint."
Hermione hummed. "What is your heart telling you right now? Put aside your memories and your brain. Listen to your body and your heart. It will know why."
Ace was confused. The tingling all over his body increased, as if he had itches all over his body. His brain was pounding, as if something was knocking on his memories.
He let the chaos of the battlefield fall away and he focused on himself.
Everything fell silent and it was as if everything clicked.
"This war… was a battle that was never supposed to have happened," Ace murmured. "Too many people have died. It was a meaningless reason because All are Equal Before Death. You cannot judge a child for the sins of their parents, especially when Death will judge themselves. Death is supposed to be the Next Great Adventure and they are ruining it."
His brain was screaming in confusion, but Ace blocked those thoughts. The tingling and tingling increased, as if electricity was buzzing all around him.
"I refuse to let this stand."
"Oh no. Ace, please hold on for a moment-" Hermione said frantically, but Ace thrusted his hand and pulled.
People who had their limbs rubbed apart and died from bleeding were glowing a white color. Their bodies were reassembled and their wounds were healed. People who were slashed down or decapitated glowed. Their eyes snapped open as they were fully healed.
His enemies and comrades who all died were being raised from the dead because Ace was making things right.
He wasn't done.
He pushed his hand back out, concentrating on the island.
"This execution never should have occurred. This war never should have taken place. All are Equal Before Death and you cannot judge someone for the sins of their ancestors. Unless you want to be and I promise you that Death can make that happen," Ace declared loudly and he gave a smirk. "You will never understand the power of a Mother's Love and I will not watch you spit on it. In righting all the wrongs here, and as a reminder, no one can be harmed on this island anymore. I am making things equal and right, restoring losses on both sides. But I can easily take that away. This war… is over."
There was a suffocating feeling in the air as a heavy presence weighed down on them. It was Ace's presence of Haki, but it was also filled with something more threatening.
Everyone was staring at the Second Division Commander, who should be dead, but was saved by mysterious comrades. Those comrades somehow restored Moby Dick, their home, and healed Pops. Then they just watched Ace literally bring everyone back from the dead.
Marines were thinking a Devil had just been created, and they were afraid. The Pirates were just glad that their family was whole again.
Ace glared at everyone in warning, before turning to smile at Hermione. It just felt right at the moment, before spots flickered in his vision. He collapsed from exhaustion. The buzzing was gone.
"You literally just came back from the dead. Can you stop being a self-sacrificing idiot for ONE moment!?" Ace heard Hermione muttering. Ace looked at her and she looked very concerned.
From the corner of his eye, Ace thought he could see a ball of fire flying towards him. Was it Marco? No, it was white. It looked… like… a… bird…
Ace woke up to being wired up and beeping.
The last thing he remembered was dying and Luffy.
He screamed. He could hear sparks and mini explosions.
"Ace-ya, calm down!" an unfamiliar voice barked at him. "You are still injured- Hey! Stop pecking at me! I'm trying to HELP him and stop him from making his injuries worse!"
"Hurt the bird, and I promise you I will make it painful," a male voice said. That was familiar. He felt safe hearing it. "Ace, calm down. You're okay, yoi. Everyone survived Marineford thanks to you. Pops is alive and well. Luffy is also alive. You are safe."
He felt a warmth covering his body as if it was hugging him tightly. It whispered warmth, love, and home.
Ace relaxed and fell back asleep.
Ace woke up again and there was someone holding his hand. It was Marco, but he was asleep.
"He refused to leave your side. Nurses had to threaten him to take a shower and eat, or else they would leave his division. I'm glad you found someone so loyal and also level headed. Maybe he can stop from jumping into things, but knowing you, you're a trouble magnet no matter what," a voice said quite fondly at him. Ace turned to see Hermione. She was looking at Ace and Marco with such loving and soft eyes, Ace didn't understand.
"Blimey, Hermione. He just woke up. Just saying you're happy he found a good partner would be good enough," Ron said, rubbing the back of his head. He grinned at Ace. "Glad you see you're awake, mate."
Ace stared at Ron with narrowed eyes. "I'm not your mate."
Rom blinked at him in confusion. "Huh? I just meant- No, no, no, no. Not in that way. You're a brother to me," Ron sputtered, looking a bit green. Hermione laughed at him.
Brother? He only had Luffy, Sabo, and crew as his family. Unless these two joined the crew and he didn't know it, but Ace doubted it.
But also, why did being called a brother by this man just feel… right?
He had a thought, but was afraid to say it. However, it was on the forefront of his mind.
"This isn't my first life, is it?" Ace said quietly. Ron and Hermione exchanged looks, before glancing at the other individuals in the room.
"I don't know if you want to talk more privately…" Hermione trailed off.
Ace stared at them. "They are my family. Whatever you say in front of them, I trust them." They fought a war against the World Government for me, he did not say. Even though he asked them not to.
Ron shrugged. "Hermione, a lot just happened. He at least deserves an answer if he wants to know. He trusts them." Ron turned to Ace. "Yes, you're right. This isn't your first life. Everything that just happened could be explained with that."
Ace stared at Ron. His mouth felt dry. He didn't think it was true, but it was. Ron could be lying, but it was so absurd. Ace also FELT like it was the truth. It was as if something in his soul knew the truth all along.
Hermione was giving him soft eyes. "We promised your Captain that we will give everyone an explanation with you there. Get some rest first, okay?"
Ace wordlessly nodded, even if his mind was racing. He heard some flapping of wings, before talons gripped his shoulder. He got some light peckings.
He stared at a white owl perched on his shoulder. She seemed to glow a bit.
"Hedwig," Ace murmured. He knew her name immediately. "You're a…"
"A phoenix. After wondering all my life about them, I am surprised to know my boyfriend actually had one as a pet," a voice drawled, and Ace felt a light squeeze on his hand. Marco stared at him with loving eyes, as if he was afraid Ace would vanish any moment from now.
Ace felt choked up.
"Marco. I-" Ace tried to say, but Marco stopped it with a soft kiss. Even now, Marco made Ace's heart skip a beat.
"I'm just glad you're safe and alive," Marco said softly. "Don't scare me like that again, yoi. Also, I am never leaving your side again. Take me with you wherever you go. I will always follow."
Ace laughed happily, feeling a bit teary eyed. He was so grateful for Marco's love for him. He leaned in for another kiss, before he was interrupted.
Hedwig whistled in protest. They looked at each other, before laughing.
"Someone is a bit jealous," Marco said, before gently stroking Hedwig. She gave him assessing eyes, before closing them and relaxing. Marco's eyes sparkled with wonder. Marco has seen so much at sea already, but those eyes made Ace fall in love with him even more. "She wouldn't let me touch her before. She wouldn't let anyone, really. She stood even more vigile by your side than me. She even pecked Pops for entering the room because she didn't want anyone disturbing your sleep."
"She's my… familiar," Ace said. The word felt foreign on his lips, but it felt right. He gave a soft smile at Marco. "Maybe this was always meant to be."
They shared smiles, before someone coughed loudly.
An unfamiliar doctor was standing nearby. Wasn't he one of the rookies?
"Ace, I need to check on your injuries. Marco-ya, you can also help me," the rookie said and the two exchanged nods. Ace regretted a bit for not paying attention to the other bounties. He didn't care about anyone else but Luffy at the time, even though Marco sometimes scolds him for being so unaware.
Ace blinked and looked around. "Where did Hermione and Ron go?"
The rookie sighed, looking a bit tired and a bit dead inside. "They left to give you two some alone time." But you two were lost in your own world, Law did not say.
Ace gave a quiet oh in response, before shrugging. Meh, he loved Marco. You can't blame him for that.
Ace checked up on everyone. He got a lot of hugs, laughs, and some scolding. Gratefully, no one mentioned what happened at Marineford because Ace didn't even have any answers. He checked up on Luffy, who was still unconscious, but he was alive. That was what mattered.
Then he was summoned to a meeting.
"You two promised me an explanation," Pops said alongside all his commanders. They were all staring at Hermione and Ron. "I am grateful for all your help, but I have a lot of questions. I am especially worried for Ace and what happened in the infirmary."
Ace blinked in surprise in his spot on Marco's lap, before pointing at himself. "Huh?"
Marco leaned in and whispered an explanation in his ear. "When you woke up, you were screaming. It caused all the machines to short circuit and all the lights started flickering, until you calmed down." Oh. The medics and mechanics probably weren't happy with him.
As if reading his thoughts, Marco reminded him about all his attempts to kill Pops. They still loved him then and now. That was true, considering how much of the ship he destroyed back then, but they still welcomed him into their family.
Meanwhile, Hermione tilted her head, deep in thought, before inhaling deeply. "It's because magic and electricity don't mix well."
Everyone blinked in surprise. Pops raised a brow.
"Magic, you say?" he sounded intrigued, and so were the others. There were a lot of mysterious things on the Grand Line, but each had an explanation. Magic was more of a… wishy washy explanation for those less knowledgeable.
But that didn't mean they hadn't heard of magic before. There were many strange powers in their world.
"Wait, does that mean Ace has magic?" Izou asked. He was holding his fan tightly and his eyes were narrowed.
Ace just blinked. Sure, he's heard of Haki, but he had magic too?
"Well-" Hermione started, before being interrupted.
"You're a wizard, Ace!" Ron exclaimed loudly, before snickering. He looked so relaxed, despite having the presence of Whitebeard before him. As if reading his mind, Ron said, "I have Hermione here and Ace. I am not scared of anything."
Everyone glanced between Ace and Ron, but Ace was just as feeling lost as everyone else. Was that how everyone felt when he dragged them around into his weird antics?
Ron continued on. "Long story short, I'm sure you have heard of the rumors since you guys are all gossips. Yes. This isn't Ace's first life. In his first life, he actually had magic and was actually powerful. Most importantly though, he was our best friend. That's why we are helping you guys."
Ace's head pounded. A memory flashed into his head. Ace winced and clutched his head. Marco worrily hugged Ace tighter and his healing blue flames flickered on hand.
"We… met when I was 11. We went to school together," Ace said slowly. He shut his eyes tightly in pain. "We went through a lot of adventures together." His eyes snapped open. "So many died for me. You fought a war for me."
Ron rolled his eyes and laughed. Hermione shook her head fondly.
"I am not worth that!" Ace protested. He could feel the unimpressed stares from his fellow Commanders. Marco even used some Haki to pinch him.
"Still being the hero carrying the world on your shoulders," Hermione teased him, but she kept giving him fond looks. "Ace, you might not remember this, but I was willing to throw away everything for you. I erased the memories of my family and lived a life on the run for you. Ron loves his family more than anything, but he wasn't going to leave you either. You're our best friend. People are willing to love you and die for you because you are worth loving."
"Gurarara, well-said," Whitebeard laughed. Pops gave Ace a smile. "You're our family. You are worth it."
Ace gulped. His throat still felt dry. Marco squeezed Ace's hands reassuringly.
"That isn't a full explanation though," Haruta said, looking up from his notes. He looked like he wanted to dissect all the answers from Ron and Hermione.
Hermione took out her stick- No. That was a wand. Everyone in the room stiffened because they had seen what Hermione had done with it. She performed miracles, but was also clearly dangerous if desired.
"Ace, do you recognize this?" Hermione asked as she stared at him.
His hand twitched and it felt warm. "It's a wand. You said you were protecting it."
Hermione hummed and nodded. "I was protecting it because it doesn't belong to me. I was waiting until its rightful owner was ready." She gave Ace a smile. She then walked over to Ace. Her small footsteps rang loudly in the silence. She held it out to Ace. "It belongs with you."
Ace hesitantly took it, and immediately the wand felt like it was humming in joy. He felt a light wind swirl around him and a powerful presence fill the room, before vanishing.
Ace looked at Hermione. "This is the Elder Wand."
Hermione nodded silently.
Fear gripped his heart and he bit his lip nervously. "This is a Deathly Hallow, isn't it?"
Hermione gave Ace a sad smile.
"This wand's history was built on blood. People killed each other to have this wand. It started countless wars and murdered countless people because it was the most powerful wand in existence," Ace said flatly. "It's mine?"
"It can't be destroyed. You tried it before because you didn't want it and its power. You never wanted fame or power, even in your first life. No matter how far you are though, it will return to its rightful owner. That's you," Hermione explained.
"It's a curse."
Hermione closed her eyes, before nodding quietly. "You never wanted any of this. If you had your choice, you probably would have lived an adventurous life, but never for fame, money, or power. You know better than most how desires of such things can tear families apart." Her eyes flicked to the empty seat left for Thatch.
"Since Hermione returned that to you, this also belongs to you," Ron said, before taking something out of his pocket. He handed Ace a ring.
Ace fiddled with it, before looking at Ron. "This is the Resurrection Stone. It could summon anyone who is dead as shades."
Ron nodded. "Those that have already accepted Death and have settled there no longer belong to the Living World, but this stone could bring them back temporarily to see them again."
Ace closed his eyes.
"I'm the Master of Death now, aren't I? This is why I have the Deathly Hallows," Ace said. Ace knew it was the truth. Then, his head exploded from another memory.
Hermione was holding the Wand, Ron was holding the Resurrection Stone, and Ace (No, no. His name was Harry back then) was holding a cloak. They were performing some kind of ritual.
Ace understood why they were here.
"You tied your souls to mine. You gave up your afterlife to stay by my side," Ace said feeling a bit horrified. He wasn't worth that, so WHY would they do that?
Hermione and Ron both gave Ace flat looks.
"Ace, you never wanted to be the Master of Death. You never wanted fame, power, or money. You did not want to force those who died to stay by your side, even when they have moved on. And most importantly, you understood death. You understand your own mortality and when it came, you didn't run away. You never longed for immortality unlike those before you. Death said it was waiting millions of years for someone like you when so many before you have failed to understand that," Hermione explained, but she had a pained look on her face.
Ron's face had a quiet look of fury. "Of course, because you didn't want that, Death gave you exactly that. Immortality, until you were willing to move onto the next life and world. You accepted that, but you never said what you actually ever wanted. You didn't want to watch those that you loved move on forever. The best deal was for us to give up our afterlife to stay by your side. We have already been through hell and back together. We weren't going to leave you alone then or now," Ron said with a grin and laugh. Ace couldn't understand why they were so happy.
Marco, seeing Ace shaken up, let Ace silently hide his face in his chest. He quietly exchanged looks with Ron and Hermione.
The duo turned away from Ace to look at Whitebeard.
"I'm afraid you guys are going to be stuck with us for a while. We aren't going to leave Ace alone again," Ron declared calmly.
Whitebeard assessed them, before nodding.
"We always repay our debts. Plus, you two might make things a lot more lively around here!" Whitebeard laughed, before drinking his water. Hermione healed him and that Surgeon of Death rookie gave him a few more years with his family. He wasn't going to waste it anymore.
"That doesn't explain what's going on with Marineford though!" Haruta exclaimed. His notes looked like a conspiracy theory board.
Ron raised an eyebrow, looking a bit confused. "Ace is probably one of the most powerful individuals in the world, once he gets a handle on his magic, and is immortal. He cursed that island so no one could harm each other. Of course, when Blackbeard showed up, he couldn't touch any of you guys because he wished to deal you all harm. The same with the Marines. On the flip side though, even though you guys were furious, you can't touch Teach either. Ace made the Marine Headquarters the ultimate neutrality zone."
Haruta's eyes widened, before looking between Ace and the duo. "Tell me everything about your abilities!" Haruta demanded.
Ron looked at Haruta fondly. "Sure, as long as you and Ace play some fun pranks and invite me in on them!"
Everything was quietly winding down, and the group began to laugh and exchange stories. They even talked about once Luffy woke up, they would throw a huge party. It was quite a surprise to see how many people invested in the Straw Hat's recovery. They definitely weren't expecting Rayleigh, Boa Hancock, and Shanks to show up.
In the chatter, no one noticed Hermione quietly tell Izou that someone wants to talk to him later with Ace's help.
Meanwhile, Marco took his boyfriend outside of the room. Ace was very overwhelmed by all the information he just received. Hedwig, the loyal phoenix she was, followed them. She flapped her wings, fussing over Ace in her own way.
Marco chuckled as he heard quiet snores. Ace fell asleep.
He carried his boyfriend to his room, before laying his boyfriend on their bed. He mulled over everything that was revealed, but the one thing that stuck out to him was the immortality part.
Marco was at peace with the fact that everyone he loved would outlive him. Ace and Marco talked about it a lot, but decided to live in the moment. They were pirates, after all. They could die any moment.
Ace was worth loving, despite the pain.
Marco gently kissed his boyfriend's forehead.
Ace was also worth loving for all of eternity. They apparently had an entire eternity to figure everything out.