Chapter 33: The Will to Survive!

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Garp, the renowned Marine hero, and Fire Fist Ace, the rising star making waves in two seas—an unlikely pair, a grandfather and grandson, bound by blood and circumstance.

"Haha! It wasn't easy finding you, Ace!" Garp boomed, stepping off his ship and approaching Deuce, who stood frozen, a mixture of shock and apprehension etched on his face. "Young man, mind if I have a word with your captain?"

"Of course, Garp-san. Please, go ahead." Deuce stammered, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he stepped aside.

Who hadn't heard of the legendary Garp? The man who had chased after the Pirate King, Ace's own father, the figure who had shaped an era with his strength and unwavering pursuit. Though a Vice Admiral, his standing rivaled that of Fleet Admiral Sengoku, commanding respect and a healthy dose of fear.

And he was Ace's grandfather? As Garp stood there, a jovial smile on his face, Deuce felt a wave of oppressive aura wash over him. The man seemed riddled with vulnerabilities, yet those very vulnerabilities dared anyone foolish enough to test them. He recalled the fate of Axe-Hand Morgan in East Blue.

After all, in the annals of One Piece legend, there were tales of Zoro's underlings, who, had Luffy not intervened, would have nearly slain the world's greatest swordsman, Dracule Mihawk. There was the "Sword God" "Mountain Bandit" who had challenged a Yonko with nothing but a sake bottle and unwavering audacity, These were legendary figures, their deeds etched in the memories of all who sailed the seas.

If they hadn't been stopped, the One Piece saga would have been a three-episode wonder. After all, figures like Shanks had already eliminated potential Emperors

He was a figure comparable to the Sixth Hokage of Konohagakure, who had subdued five great ninja villages with his left hand, held the Seventh Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki, the reincarnation of Asura, in his right, stepped on Sasuke Uchiha, the reincarnation of Indra, and scared off Sakura Haruno, the master of monstrous strength and healing.

Deuce was certain that if Garp unleashed his full power, this entire island would crumble before him. Those iron fists weren't earned through mere training; they were forged in countless battles against formidable pirates like Don Chinjao.

The twelfth head of the Happo Navy, a pirate with a 500 million berry bounty, Chinjao's pride and strength lay in his drill-shaped head, the only weapon capable of breaking through the ice continent and retrieving the treasure hidden within.

However, thirty years ago, he had faced Garp in a legendary duel that shook the West Blue. His drill-shaped head was shattered by Garp's iron fists, leaving him unable to access his treasure.

"I thought a fight was about to break out." Deuce sat beneath a tree, watching Garp and Ace converse peacefully. He had anticipated a dramatic confrontation, a clash between a legendary hero and his rebellious grandson. But the reality was surprisingly serene.

"I didn't expect you to come to these waters, Ace. Or rather, to this specific island."

Garp finally broke the silence, his gaze fixed on Ace.

"After all, this is where I was born, where my mother died, and where you took me in, changing our destinies forever. I had to see it again." A melancholic expression clouded Ace's face.

It was also where he had met Deuce, his loyal companion. A solemn silence settled upon them.

Unlike Luffy, Ace couldn't be disciplined with a simple punch. He was older, wiser, and far more introspective. Garp, the Marine hero, sat there, the wind rustling through his iconic dog-eared hat and Vice Admiral coat, at a loss for words.

"So, old man, are you here to arrest me? After all, I've defeated countless nobles, the very people your precious Marines and World Government are sworn to protect." Ace spoke first, his voice laced with a hint of defiance.

"Thieves and parasites, the lot of them. If it weren't for my position, I'd be the first to take them down. And the Celestial Dragons, those arrogant scum… That's why Dragon, Luffy's father, left the Marines in the first place."

Garp scoffed, his disdain for the World Government and its corrupt practices evident. As a high-ranking Marine, he was privy to their darkest secrets, their hypocrisy and cruelty. But for now, he needed their authority to maintain order in the world.

The weight of justice was a heavy burden to bear.

Even though Dragon had become the world's most wanted criminal, the leader of the Revolutionary Army seeking to overthrow the World Government, Garp still felt a sense of pride.

His son had ambition and the power to achieve it. As a Marine, Dragon had been a monster rookie, his Wind-Wind Fruit rivaling the powers of the Admirals.

"I'm here on behalf of Marine Headquarters to offer you a position… as a replacement for Gecko Moria among the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Will you accept?" Garp finally revealed his purpose, though he already knew Ace's answer.

"You didn't recommend me, did you?" Ace didn't answer the question, instead posing another. Who had made this decision?

"It was the newcomer who defeated Gecko Moria and vacated the position. He's joined the Marines, a Vice Admiral now, with the potential to become an Admiral." Garp revealed.

"Impressive. I remember he has a rare Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, right? And he's a skilled swordsman. I heard some pirates talking about him when I passed through the South Blue, and he had a clash with Kid. I didn't expect to hear such astounding news so soon. It seems the seas won't be calm for much longer." Ace's face betrayed a flicker of surprise.

"You're not bad yourself, Ace. You possess the Flame-Flame Fruit, a Logia-type no less powerful than a Mythical Zoan. You're one of the strongest rookies. Your potential rivals his. Kid is also a candidate for the Warlords, but unfortunately…"

"Old man, you know I can't become a Marine, right? Both Luffy and I are sons of the world's most wanted criminals, the Pirate King and the leader of the Revolutionary Army."

"We might be able to make a name for ourselves in the Marines, but if our identities were exposed, even with your protection, we'd become enemies of the world. To those who don't know the truth, both pirates and revolutionaries are evil."

Ace explained, after the events of the Marineford War. When his and luffy lineage was revealed, those watching through Transponder Snails had demanded their execution, branding them as devils' spawn, despite their heroic deeds and their efforts to combat injustice.

Even Garp, the hero of the Marines, couldn't fully shield them from the world's prejudice. He could only minimize the fallout.

"Ace, you damn fool! Why didn't you listen to me? Then I could have protected you and Luffy without reservation." He had lamented, his heart heavy with sorrow. Pirates might not deserve sympathy, but family was different.

His son was a revolutionary leader on par with Gol D. Roger, his grandsons were infamous Supernova pirates, one potentially destined to become the Pirate King, and he was a Marine hero.

It was a cruel irony, a tragedy that weighed heavily on the old man's shoulders. He couldn't help but think of another world, another story, where an elderly man had achieved the pinnacle of magical prowess, only to have his son become the leader of a dark guild, his grandson fueling internal conflict before being expelled, only to eventually find redemption.

Like Luffy, they were both rising stars, destined for greatness. The two old men, bound by similar fates, their lives marked by both triumph and heartbreaking loss.

"Live well, Ace." Garp knew it was time to end their reunion. He handed Ace a letter, a gesture that revealed the true purpose of his visit. The offer had been a mere formality, a chance for them to connect.

"Hey, old man, are you alright?" Ace noticed Garp's faltering steps, his once-imposing figure seeming to shrink before his eyes, weighed down by years of regret and sorrow.

"Vice Admiral Garp, you damn Fire Fist! Have you decided to become a pirate? Why didn't you accept the offer?"

"Do you have any idea how much pressure Garp-san has endured because of you and Dragon?"

"I can't believe a Marine hero raised a revolutionary and a pirate!"

"Let's go. There's nothing more to say. This is my failure. Our next target… Kid in the South Blue. He might be brutal, but he's no worse than some of the other Warlords. And the Marines need him." Garp sighed, blaming himself for his descendants' choices.

He believed it was his responsibility to guide them, to instill in them the values of justice and order. But even if Luffy and Ace had chosen the path of the Marines, their fathers' legacies would have haunted them, creating endless complications.

He had hoped Ace would accept the Warlord position, but he had underestimated the power of reputation, the world's judgment. Yet, he regretted nothing. He loved Ace, Luffy, and Dragon, and he was proud of their actions, their unwavering commitment to their ideals.

They were more righteous than most Marines he knew.

"I know all that! What do you think you know about me?!" Ace suppressed the urge to lash out at them. They were begging him to join the Warlords now, but if his true identity were revealed, they would strip him of his accolades and condemn him to execution. They would accuse him of ulterior motives, brand him as a criminal, and declare that pirates were unforgivable.

Gol D. Roger had entrusted Ace to Garp before his execution. His mother, Portgas D. Rouge, had desperately tried to conceal Ace's lineage, using all her strength to delay his birth for twenty months, sacrificing her life to protect him.

As a child, Ace had asked Garp if their existence was a mistake.

Garp had replied, "You'll find out when you grow up." A subtle promise that he would do everything in his power to change the world, to ensure their safety and acceptance.

Perhaps if Garp had refused to raise him and Luffy, they would have avoided this difficult choice. But could they blame their mother and grandfather for their sacrifices, their unwavering love and support?

"Don't worry, old man. I'll become strong enough to evade the Marines." Ace opened the letter, revealing the Six Powers and Haki training methods, mirroring the letter Ian had received. This was Garp's true intention.

He knew that any other Vice Admiral would have resorted to violence if Ace had refused the offer. Garp had intervened, preventing a confrontation and providing his grandson with the tools to survive.

"Ace, are you alright?" Deuce asked, concerned. Ace wiped away a tear and replied, "I'm fine. It was just a chat with my grandfather. Let's continue our journey."

"This world… There are some interesting people out there. Ian, don't disappoint me."

Both he and Garp, shrewd and perceptive, understood that this was all part of Ian's plan.

But why was he helping them?

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Word Count [1925]

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To Be Continued..

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