Chapter 5: Interlude

4.26 p.m., outer sea around Marineford

"How is this an execution? All I am seeing is marines running around like crazy.", Heat said, lowering his spy glasses. "Fire Fist is not even placed on the scaffold."

"Something isn't right. Fire Fist was supposed to be executed at 3 p.m. sharp, and now close to one and a half hours have passed since the scheduled time. The marines are very pedantic about execution schedules.", added Killer thoughtfully. "Not even Whitebeard and his allies have shown up."

"This sucks! I thought we would see something impressive with Whitebeard leaving the New World to rescue his commander." Kidd threw a glare at Marineford. "I have enough. We are leaving." Turning around, Kidd stormed off and left it to Killer to direct the crew.

.*.

"The Kid Pirates are leaving, father."

"Well, he is a brute with no style or patient."

"Father?"

"Try to find out if one of our sources knows what's happening."

"Yes, father."

Bege exhaled some smoke as he glanced at Marineford.

.*.

"This is indeed disappointing." Urouge lazily leaned against the railing. "Whatever fight was supposed to happen today, it doesn't look like it will happen."

"Maybe the Whitebeard Pirates attacked somewhere else.", one of his faithful brothers suggested.

"What does the live stream say?" asked Urouge turning around.

"Still down.", answered his brother, who had stayed on a call with one of their contacts.

Urouge frown. Something had happened. That was clear, but it didn't look like he would figure out the cause by hanging around Marineford and watching marines headlessly around the plaza.

"Maybe Kidd has the right idea. It appears to be the right time to leave." he laughed.

.*.

Bonney pursed her lips.

"This is boring!" she wailed. "No Fire Fist! No Whitebeard! No fighting! Nothing! Just marines uselessly running around." Bonney grabbed another pizza from the table next to her. "Did anything get reported?"

"No?"

With a snort, Bonney bit in her pizza and glared at Marineford.

.*.

Confused, Hawkins stared at his cards.

"This is strange! The fate of Fire Fist Ace seemed to have changed, and with it, the fate of the whole Whitebeard crew." Hawkins lifted his head to once again look at Marineford. "It is alarming if one man's existence can influence the fate of those around him to this extent. I wonder what happened so that this card now appears in Fire Fist Ace's fate." Softly, he touched one of his cards.

With crossed arms, Drake looked at Marineford and frowned.

Something was wrong. Very wrong. And that there hasn't been a public statement to explain the delay of the execution of Fire Fist Ace told Drake that the leadership of the marines were still trying to understand the cause.

"We are leaving."

"Aye, captain." His men chorused.

With one last look at Marineford, he turned around. As he learned of Fire Fist's execution, he had questioned the decision, but his contact appeased him and – unnecessarily – pointed out that Drake had a mission he should concentrate on. The next time he contacted that man, Drake would grill his contact on the reasons behind the delay because he, as sure as hell, would not believe whatever the World Government would name as the cause.

.*.

Law leaned onto Bepo with closed eyes.

"Captain?" asked Sachi nervously.

"Yes!"

"Some of the others are leaving."

"Fine."

"You wanna stay longer?" asked Penguin.

Law snuggled closer into Bepo. "Hm… maybe."

"Captain?" How Bepo could ask a question with just one word. It was always interesting.

"Something went horribly wrong today. Right now, I would prefer to be close to the cause of the waves, which I am sure, will race through the seas. The further away you are, the bigger the waves you must navigate to survive." Law opened his eyes and gazed at Marineford. "If some brutes like Kid think it is a good idea to leave and race off without knowing what is happening, let them. We will cross over to the New World when the time is right, and I can gain the place I seek."

Law smirked over the confused looks of his crew.

.

.

4.50 p.m., Paradise, somewhere

Shanks bend over the sea chart thrown over the giant table in the navigation room.

"This is the last known position of a Whitebeard ally we were able to get confirmed by a source." Building Snake tapped a point on the chart. "Four hours ago! From there to Marineford, it should have taken them less than thirty minutes to reach the island, but nobody can confirm their arrival there."

"And with the live stream never going up, we don't know what's happening at Marineford.", added Howling Gap. "Why the hell did they even announce a live stream if they don't intend to transmit the whole shitshow?"

"Because something happened that they did not anticipate and derailed their whole plan.", said Ben frowning.

"You mean these rumours that something happened at Impel Down?" asked Yasopp, who leaned against the wall.

The black transponder snail was asleep in its tiny home on the table.

"Attacking Impel Down this late and with apparently most of his allies on the way to Marineford?" Ben exhaled a cloud of smoke. "That's a risky move and not something that sounds like Whitebeard would do."

"Going to Marineford to fight is also dangerous.", pointed Shanks out. "And Whitebeard still seemed to be determined to do just that."

"That is also about saving face.", countered Ben. "By publicly announcing Ace's execution, the marines forced Whitebeard into a public fight."

Shanks closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. "I know that."

"What do you want us to do?" asked Building Snake.

Shanks opened his eyes again. "We keep going but stay alert." Each of his men met his eyes. "And if there is any new information, let me know immediately!"

The men nodded and left one after another.

Only Ben stayed behind, slowly smoking his cigarette while Shanks continued to stare at the sea chart. "Don't you think you are getting on the wrong track there?" asked Ben, finally stubbing his cigarette in the ashtray beside his elbow.

"I don't!" Shanks meet Ben's gaze.

Ben raised an eyebrow. "You said Ace was special after he left two years ago. And you are awful interested in him."

"And he is! That's all why I am interested in him."

"You bet on Luffy.", reminded Ben him. "Plus, Ace is now one of Whitebeards. I am sure the old man would not like it if he knew you show that much interest in one of his men. Especially, one he made one of his commanders."

"I will always bet on Luffy. Nothing will ever change that.", countered Shanks and closed his eyes. "The way Luffy is special is very different from Ace. It's- there is something about Ace that makes me wonder if there is no second option. And I can't help myself but be curious. I will always choose Luffy again, but I am also curious. Do you understand me?"

Ben met his gaze with his calm one. "I understand.", he answers after several long seconds.

Shanks sighed.

"Maybe- " Slowly, Ben stood up and walked to the door. "-it's no wonder Ace feels special to you. After all, he is Luffy's older brother, and that little fact itself makes him special. I am right, captain?" Softly the door closed behind his vice, leaving Shanks alone.

"Yeah, maybe that's why.", whispered Shanks to the silent room.