blood and preperations

Later the Strawhats had left the Moby Dick to follow the original flow of time and hopefully nothing happened. Ace and Sabo insisted they will watch on the sideline to make sure what they plan won't fail. Whitebeard allowed them but they had to take Marco with them. Now the three were on the good hiding spot as they watch the Strawhats trying to save their friend mermaid with an octopus fish man named Hatchman or Hashi.

Marco was quiet for a while until he glanced to Ace, "May I ask you something... maybe sensible?"

Ace blinked in questioned before responding, "You already asked so... what is it?"

"The secret you have." Marco started, "Was it... about you... actually be the Pirate King's son?"

Sabo had steady himself in order not to give any ways of confirmation but he did turned to Ace to know how he will respond. Ace bit his bottom lips for a moment before sighing, he knew sooner or later this young teen will be able to connect the dots, its not really hard after seeing his reaction and hearing so much about the Pirate King.

"I am..." Ace admitted softly before turning to the teen, "Do you hate me for it?"

"I don't really have anything to hate him." Marco said honestly, "I have no right to judge him unless I met him. Beside if I should base someone through rumors to hate him, does that mean I have to hate the Revolutionary Dragon as well? Dragon's son is Luffy and in future will have Anna as his daughter. Does that mean I have to hate her? She raised me and I see her as a mother not someone those rumors says."

Sabo can't help but laugh as low tone as possible, "I like you kiddo." He smiled purely, "Thanks Marco."

Marco blinked for a moment then back to Ace who looks relief for some reason. He pondered about this fact until it clicked, "So... we're same... in a different way but same."

"In a way... I guess." Ace murmured, "You can now see the reason why the Whitebeard pirates entered war over my execution."

"An execution not because your a pirate or a commander but as..." Marco felt horror and wanted nothing but to vomit to the World's twisted way they called justice. "Those bastards, no wonder Anna took Dragon's place."

"Agreed. They're too corrupted for their own good... I feel glad that I actually joined the Revolutionary, not only that but also made alliance with the Whitebeard Pirates." Sabo said then turned to Ace who took a deep breath to calm himself before announcing the two, "I heard Oyaji wanted to announce his alliance with the Strawhat pirates after their two years training, it will be the exchange of the supposed war so they can take the whole world's attention."

"Really? How?" Marco questioned. Sabo thought for a moment before remembering some certain facts, "He declared war to the World Government or enemies."

Marco bump his right first to his left palm, "That makes sense."

"You know..." All swift to Ace who looks worried and confuse at the same time. "I don't know but brother feeling maybe, why do I feel like not only that and Oyaji's announcement of alliance will be the only thing that will take the world's attention?"

Sabo blinked and looked up, because Ace wasn't the only one who felt that way. "I agree, I wonder why do I feel unsettled."

Marco decided to remain silence, not understand that part at all.

They watch everything played even if they're seeing their little brother and his crew were being chased by Marines and an Admiral named Kizaru, how Rayleigh who heard about their plan from Whitebeard helped them from an admiral and how a Shichibukai, Sabo recognized as Kuma was there to fight and actually the one who had separated the crews from different places for who knows how long distance.

They watched for a moment before Sabo decided to have a talk with Kuma in private, Ace and Marco behind him. Getting a chance to be alone with him, Sabo began the conversation.

"So it was you who will separate them." Sabo narrowed his eyes, "You brought them to safety, did you?" There's no lying about his protectiveness to his little brother. Ace was same who's glaring dagger at the Shichibukai. Kuma answered, "Don't worry, I brought each and single one of them to a place where they could be trained. It's an order coming from Dragon."

That shocked the two. Ace was the one who questioned this, "From Dragon? Really?"

"Only the part where they should be sent." Kuma answered, "The orders from the marine was to capture or kill them while Dragon ordered me to separate them to a place suitable to their ability to be refined. I'm quite surprise you didn't do anything there, knowing that Mugiwara Luffy is your little brother."

"It is planned and my brother and his crew decided to be separate to train themselves for two years." Sabo explained that actually questioned Kuma. "I see that you know something that I do not know."

"Only knew a moment ago." Sabo said, Ace added. "So Dragon knew this, I wonder how."

"I could only think one." Marco pointed which the two brothers immediately thought one person, Luffy's daughter.

"That will make sense." Ace commented. Intrude, Kuma questioned. "Who?"

"Anna" Chorus answer of the three. Kuma knew who they were pointing, the Blood Dancer Anna who died fighting the marines and from what he had gathered, even though she's one person it took a lot of casualties in the marine side to bring her death.

"So, what are you going to do next?" Sabo questioned Kuma who truthfully answered, much to the three's beyond disbelief.

Few days later and Sabo was about to leave the Whitebeard pirates when they read a shocking news in the newspaper.

Monkey D. Luffy stormed Impel Down that caused most prisoners to escape!

"WHAT!?" Exclaimed the two brothers. Not only the brothers were shocked but the whole Whitebeard Pirates. "EHHHHH!"

Whitebeard can't help but laugh, "Gurahahaha that cheeky brat really did it."

"But why? Who's caught? I'm not there!" Ace exclaimed in little panic. Marco looked at Anna's note to see some clues until he found it. "Did someone told him about Jimbe who refused to cooperate with the pirates and Ivankov who was captured as part of the Revolutionary?"

That made the brothers think before facing the one who most likely know about their little brother's action.

Whitebeard kept laughing" Gurahahahaha... I might have said loudly about how the Marines wanted to force Jimbe to fight against us."

Ace sigh in defeat, "Oyaji..."

"Gurahahahaha he escaped!"

"But that would really bring attention toward Luffy!" Sabo pointed.

"The Revolutionary are capable of watching those rats." Sabo was about to argue when he saw his point. In the end, he sigh in defeat, "They are fixated of bringing you down."

"Try it because we won't let them." Thatch exclaimed that caused cries of agreement from everyone.

"The same goes for me, beside you have my reckless brother here." Sabo said with a grin while Ace snorted, "I do remember being older than you."

"But taller than you." Both now glared each other.

Marco could only sigh as he returned the notebook to its special pocket. "Still, it doesn't change the fact that even we able to change the worst kind of history the Marines will keep eyeing on us. They only need time until they strike."

Marco's word made everyone pause, the fact that their Oyaji's health was getting worst and even though he's known as the strongest man in the world and a Yonko, there's no mistaking the fact he's human and could die as well.

Whitebeard hummed in agreement, "I know son." He gazed everyone on deck and bellowed, "Children from now on each division will be start training under the the commanders according to your skills and weapon. To the commanders if gain time I want each of you to train yourselves. If those Marines wish for war, we give them war. No one messes with our family!"

That made everyone roared in agreement, Sabo joining with them.

'Looks like I will need to ask him to make sure to really train the newcomers. If war may come we, no I definitely don't want to miss this.' Sabo's eyes darken as he remembered the name of the Admiral that will kill his brother in the war known as the war of the best. 'I will have to keep an eye on that dog too.'

"Oyaji there's a ship coming this way." That was enough to take everyone's attention to see an unknown ship from a far heading their way. Only Sabo recognized the ship, "Oh that's the Revolutionary Ship. They must have come to pick me up."

That made Ace frown a bit, "So soon?"

"I'm a Chief of Staff, Ace, I can't be gone really much longer than I already have." Sabo said apologetic before smiling, "But I promise if ever we come across I'll visit you."

Ace grinned, "Same here. Call when you need me."

Sabo chuckled, "Same to you brother." He took something to his pocket and it was a small den den mushi with a vivre card written his name and number.

Ace smirked as he took them. In exchange he too gave his vivre card written his name and number which Sabo gladly took.

"I secretly gave mine to Luffy. Its in his hat and I saw yours there too." Sabo informed in case he questioned about giving one to Luffy. Ace nodded, glad that he did.

"Sabo" The Chief of Staff turned to the Fourth Division Commander holding a devil fruit that made everyone grimace. "Its the Yami Yami no Mi, the devil fruit that had a power to neutralize any other devil fruit's power." He pushed the fruit to Sabo's hands, "And I want you to have it."

The revelation shocked everyone, especially Sabo.

"Are you sure Thatch?" Ace questioned in little disbelief, knowing this was the fruit that Teach so wanted to the point he would never hesitate to betray a family.

Thatch nodded in absoluteness, "I don't mind and beside, I don't particularly want to lose my ability to swim thank you very much." He grinned toward Sabo, "You are Ace's brother, meaning you too are the Whitebeard pirate's brother and family. I trust you to any decision you will do with that fruit."

Sabo blinked in disbelief before glancing to Ace in confirmation because he's part of the Revolutionary not Whitebeard Pirates, it would really better for this fruit to be given to his fellow crew, much more fellow commander but no, Thatch gave it to him. Also, even though Thatch said he too was part of their family he's still not sure if he should accept such gift, especially a devil fruit no less.

Sensing his brother's insecureness, Ace gave a smile telling him to accept it because Thatch made a decision and he's sure if its in Sabo's hand everything would be safe. Sensing his surroundings, Sabo noticed every Whitebeard pirates smiling/smirking, they have no problem about Thatch's decision at all.

Sabo took a deep breath before smiling toward the fourth division commander, "Thank you Thatch, I promise this will be in better use than that person."

Everyone knew he's pointing Teach and everyone felt more relief more than ever.

"So Sabo what are you going to do with that fruit?" Ace curiously questioned. Sabo hummed as if thinking for a moment then smiled as if making up his mind. Ace had never expect for Sabo to actually eat the fruit. "SA-SABO!"

Sabo ignored his brother as his senses were all filled up with a disgusting taste in his entire life but forced himself to swallow it. "No wonder every Devil Fruit user don't want to have another taste of this fruit ever again." He commented in disgust, making everyone laugh especially the devil fruit users except Marco knowing its true.

'So the taste is really disgusting... for some reason I'm thankful I have no memories eating mine.' Marco thought as he stared Sabo's disgust toward the devil fruit.

"So how do you feel?" Whitebeard asked grinning. Sabo checked himself for a moment before struggling, "I feel normal. Maybe it won't manifest that much yet."

"It will take time to learn how to use that fruit too." Jozu said that made Sabo grin, "I'm smart so I may learn it faster than my brothers."

"Huh? Why am I being joined there." Ace glared while Sabo act so innocently that only pissed him more and before anyone knew it, Sabo was running away from his angry brother.

"There they go again." Izo commented as he sigh and shook his head while Thatch laugh so loud that everyone soon joined in too.

Later on the Revolutionary Ship arrived and Sabo jumped from the Moby Dick to their Ship then faced them to see everyone watching him off.

"See you again Sabo." Ace said. Sabo nodded, "You too, don't go to any trouble."

Ace actually frown, "Should that apply to Luffy."

Sabo chuckled and soon followed by Ace.

"Take care." Whitebeard said and Sabo nodded. "I'm leaving my temper brother to you Whitebeard-san. Please look after your health, we do want to give those Marines a heart attack."

That actually made Whitebeard grin because that's exactly what he's about to do.

Sabo wave his good bye as the ship began moving. Everyone shouted their farewell and so was Sabo until they're off to the horizon. Marco who kept staring turned to their Captain, it was all soon followed by everyone knowing Whitebeard had plans toward the marines.

"Brats let's mess with the Marines shall we." It was enough to give a roar of agreement.