Whitebeard One Piece - Blog Posts

YOOO MEET ME INSIDE WITH ACE AND WB

Ace: Charles Lee, Thomas Conway, these men take your name and they rake it through the mud

Whitebeard: My name's been through a lot, I can take it

Ace: Well, I don't have your name. I don't have your titles. I don't have your land. But, if you- If you gave me command of a battalion, a group of men to lead. I could fly above my station after the war

Whitebeard: Or you could die and we need you alive

Ace: I'm more than willing to die

Whitebeard: Your wife brother needs you alive, son, I need you alive

STOP, MY HEART-

I've never actually stopped to think about this. Like, I knew about Stefan, but...IMAGINE WHAT HAPPENED WITH MARINEFORD-

I know with some dogs (like my own) can show loyalty to a huge group of people, but show just a little more to the person they see as their owner. And now all I can imagine is a happy Stefan waiting for Whitebeard to come back after Marineford, but he never does DX

WHAT HAPPENED TO WHITEBEARDS DOG???!

MarineFord spoilers

So if you didn’t know already (I had no clue..) Whitebeards mustache is removable. Like he can put it on and take it off. SO READ THIS REAL QUICK

WHITEBEARD HAS A DOG😭 a small ass dog at that! You know bro was probably terrified of hurting it. Imagine that big ass man with that tiny ass dog bro. Sitting on his big ass chair petting him. Imagine there being some kind of protocol whenever pirates/marines would try and board their ship and Whitebeard has one person he really trusts to get the little guy out of there and protect him at all costs during the fight. Imagine how pampered that tiny ass dog is. Bro probably had a vet just for him on the ship. Imagine his little corner with his bed and stuff, his own little room. I’m imagining one of those small, long white haired dogs. The drawing doesn’t give us much to go off of but that’s what I’m picturing in my head. I like the idea that if it is a long white hair dog that whitebeard has tried to get the groomers to give him the same mustache so they could twin. Also if whitebeard wasn’t the one that found/ got the dog and brought it on the ship then imagine one of his crew members finding it and bringing it to the ship, asking to keep it and Whitebeards just like “Fine but I’m not taking care of it!” As if he didn’t want it. Ya know how dads always do that with pets when you first get them then they fall in love with it. Then they are suddenly in love with the dog they “didn’t want”.

But that’s besides the point. What I’m worried about is, what happened to the dog after Whitebeard died???? Where is bro? Where was the dog during MarineFord? Was he storming the place too or was bro locked in a room on the ship??? Was he at the funeral?? IM LITERALLY GONNA CRY STOPPP. I need oda to write a book about Whitebeard and his dog. It will be the only book about a man and his dog I will ever read because I know one of them is probably gonna die in the end and I’m too scared. Someone please give me fanart of this dog. Write a story about bro or something I don’t care PLEASE I just need more about this little guy before I go insane

One Piece Notebook Design Masterlist!

I'll add to this once I've made more.

One piece AU where the devil fruits users can see the pasts users.

So Sabo, eating the mera-mera, start to have the Ace ghost annoying him 24/7.

I don't think blackbeard is having a great time.

One Piece AU where everything is the same, except none of it is and I replace the Straw Hats with my fave secondary characters and I apply my favorite theories to them and then I go feral about it for two months in silence-

Until now.

I'm highkey hyperfixated in. 5 different directions rn, but One Piece is the biggest one. These are my skrunklies

Hello, good morning, I hope I'm not bothering you. But I can make a request for Whitebeard and Fem Reader, which is a story of forbidden love where he is a pirate we know and she is an admiral. Respected that they nicknamed her mother to those who go with them, they had a secret relationship a few years ago before Roger's death that he also knew but unfortunately A reader like her had a devil fruit that was mysterious and valuable that deals with control From the dreams, some powers similar to those of MLP's Moon or Maleficent. But she had to sacrifice herself to save her men whom she considers sons. Against a pirate who was a Yonko who was protected by the navy And that devastated Whitebeard and those who knew her, but after a few years Whitebeard met a boy who was his son and reader Only he was raised with Garp who is practically the adopted brother of Ace Luffy and Sabo

Oh, I dreamed it and I swear I woke up crying. But I said it would be interesting to read. Take your time thank you ❤️

sounds cool anw tried my best>< tis not much but, hope u like it!

When the Sea Dreams of You

A powerful admiral, once known as "Mother" to her men, sacrifices herself to save them—leaving behind a secret love and child with Whitebeard. Years later, fate delivers the boy back into his father's world.

whitebeard x fem! reader | ONE SHOT

tags: slight angst, sfw, ooc, major character death, grief, oc

a/n: this js me trying to write ffs, this is experimental and for fun only, so expect this ffs a bit cringe and akward

word count: 1.1k

masterlist | ko-fi

: 𓏲🐋 ๋࣭  ࣪ ˖✩࿐࿔ 🌊

The sea remembered her name even if the world had tried to forget it.

She had once stood atop warships with the wind billowing her cape, marines at her side, and fear in the hearts of pirates. An admiral—respected, strategic, and maternal in a way that felt divine—earning her the nickname “Mother” from those who served under her.

But Edward Newgate had once called her something else. Something softer. Something forbidden.

“Y/N.”

Their love had bloomed like moonlight on water—beautiful, distant, unreachable to anyone else. Back when the world was simpler. Before Roger died. Before Yonko politics became tangled with Navy ambition. Before dreams became dangerous things.

She had eaten a devil fruit so rare that even the elders of Mariejois feared it: the Yume Yume no Mi, Dream Dream Fruit. It granted her the power to shape dreams, trap enemies in illusions, or soothe nightmares into serenity. Some whispered she could walk between minds in their sleep, learn secrets, or even leave part of herself behind in another’s subconscious.

The World Government had seen her as both an asset and a threat. So they used her… and then allowed her to die.

At least, that’s what the world believed.

.

.

It began in silence—after battles, beneath stars, stolen moments between two great forces who knew what their love would cost.

"You know," she whispered against his chest, fingers tangled in his wild blond hair, "this can never be more than a dream."

Whitebeard chuckled, arms like mountains holding her close. "Then let’s never wake up."

They had found each other between skirmishes, on islands not marked on maps, during ceasefires no one else knew about. She would arrive wearing her navy coat, only to drop it at his feet like a surrender flag. He’d tease her, call her dangerous in more ways than one, and then hold her like the war would never reach them.

Only a few knew—Roger had been one of them. He had laughed when he found out, slapping Whitebeard on the back.

"You're crazier than I thought, Newgate! Falling for the Navy's ‘Mother’? You really wanna die, huh?"

But Roger understood. In his own way. And then he died.

And everything changed.

.

.

The pirate was brutal. A Yonko, protected by politics, feared by soldiers. He had come for her fleet—not her—and underestimated what a mother does for her children.

Her men had screamed for retreat. She stayed.

The battlefield twisted around her as she activated the forbidden side of her fruit. A nightmare realm bloomed into existence—a dreamscape that would swallow both her and the Yonko into an endless illusion, locking them in a dimension between sleep and wakefulness.

It was her final act. Her fleet escaped. Her body was never recovered. The navy quietly declared her dead, sealing all files. Honoring her in silence.

But Whitebeard knew the truth. He felt it—like a tear in his soul.

And he never forgave them.

Years Later

He appeared on Sphinx Island on a slow afternoon, knocking over crates trying to carry supplies. Hair as wild as the sea, grin just familiar enough to sting.

Marco had noticed first. “Oyaji, you might wanna come see this-yoi…”

The boy stood with a seagull feather in his messy hair and a Marine jacket tied around his waist like a belt. His laugh—loud and reckless—could’ve belonged to Ace. But there was something calmer beneath it. More… deliberate.

“What’s your name, brat?” Whitebeard asked, looming above him like a mountain.

The boy looked up. His eyes were her eyes.

“Hoshi.”

Silence fell.

“My full name’s Hoshi. Don’t really use my last name. Garp-jiji says it stirs trouble.”

Marco blinked. “Garp? As in—Vice Admiral Garp?”

“Yeah. He's kinda like my grandpa. I grew up with his other grandkids. We were like brothers.” He scratched his head. “But I don’t look like them much. People always said I looked more like… her.”

Whitebeard’s breath caught.

The boy looked up. “My mom was an admiral. ‘Mother,’ they called her. I know she’s gone. But Garp-jiji said she loved me. Said I was a dream she left behind.”

Whitebeard’s knees nearly buckled.

He whispered, “And your father?”

“Dunno. Garp-jiji wouldn’t say. But sometimes… I dream of a voice. Loud, laughing. Warm. It’s dumb.”

Whitebeard was trembling now. Marco placed a hand on his shoulder, steadying him.

“It ain’t dumb, brat,” the old pirate said hoarsely. “You ever hear the name Whitebeard?”

Hoshi tilted his head. “Course I have. Big ol’ sea legend.”

Whitebeard knelt down so their eyes met.

“I’m Edward Newgate. Your father.”

The revelation shook the crew to its core. Most knew of her in whispers and unspoken glances. Thatch remembered her as the admiral who once spared his life. Vista swore he saw Whitebeard smile softer the weeks after her visits.

Hoshi adjusted fast. He sparred with Marco, pestered Jozu for strength training, and charmed even Izo with his mischief. But some nights, he asked Whitebeard to tell him stories about her.

And Whitebeard did.

“Your mother used to make even the sea stand still,” he’d murmur, staring out at the tide. “She held nations in her hand, but always chose to cradle her boys instead.”

“Did you love her?”

“With every bone in this old body.”

.

.

One night, Hoshi woke screaming. The crew rushed in—swords drawn, ready to fight.

“She was there!” he shouted. “I saw her! She said my name. She held me!”

Marco looked pale. “A dream?”

Whitebeard stepped in. “No… more than that.”

The Dream Dream Fruit never truly dies. Some powers linger. Some souls too stubborn to fade.

That night, as Whitebeard slept, he dreamed of a silver shore, and there she stood—older, transparent, wrapped in moonlight.

“Edward,” she said, and his heart cracked open.

“I never stopped,” he choked. “You should have told me about the boy.”

“I was protecting him. The world wasn’t ready. You weren’t safe. I thought… if he had even a chance at peace, he deserved it.”

Whitebeard reached for her. His hand passed through light.

“Is this real?”

She smiled. “As real as dreams can be.”

“Can I bring you back?”

“No. My body is gone. My soul… remains here. The price of my power.” She cupped his cheek with fingers made of stars. “But I’ll watch over him. And you.”

He wanted to scream, but all he could do was weep.

“Tell him,” she whispered, fading, “that I loved him more than life itself.”

.

.

Hoshi grew into his power, showing hints of the Dream Dream Fruit awakening within him. He spoke of visions, soft voices in sleep, sometimes warnings.

He stayed with Whitebeard’s crew, not as a soldier, but as a bridge—between past and future.

And sometimes, when the moon was high and dreams felt close enough to touch, he would feel her again.

A lullaby in the tide.

A hand on his shoulder.

The sea remembering her name.

Hello, hello, hello, beautiful, gorgeous, divine

I love your story Marco nooo I love all your stories you are fantastic

I love you, please beg for something. Can you create a Marco the Phoenix story for y/n? Where y/n saves Thatch's life by stopping Teach's attack? Thatch was injured, but not seriously, losing the yami yami nomi. However, y/n was seriously injured protecting her nakama. Marco and Ace, his brother, are very worried. More so Marco 😏 Since the young woman wasn't waking up, When she regained consciousness, she played a joke on Marco for being so worried, Pretending not to recognize them 🤣 Later, Y/n spoke to Whitebeard, discussing the traitor and how dangerous he would become in the future. When she returned to Marco, she lay down next to him, thanking him for taking care of her all that time, and that even though she couldn't answer him, she always heard him calling her. Please, I implore you.

lmaoao this is funny i like it! dahaha u can support me through ko-fi, but please know that tips are never expected but always deeply appreciated! also I hope this is to ur liking!

Teach Tried It, I Survived It

After stopping Teach’s betrayal and nearly dying, you wake up in Marco’s arms—and decide that pranking him with fake amnesia is exactly what he deserves before finally falling into the comfort of home and love.

Marco the phoenix x reader tags: slight angst, sfw, ooc, bl00d/v!olence, happy ending, betrayal, a/n: this js me trying to write ffs, this is experimental and for fun only, so expect this ffs a bit cringe word count: 2k

masterlist | ko-fi

: 𓏲🐋 ๋࣭  ࣪ ˖✩࿐࿔ 🌊

The sun blazed high over the open sea, casting golden light across the deck of the Moby Dick. The battle was well underway — a scrappy band of pirates had made the monumental mistake of challenging the Whitebeard Pirates. Bad for them. Good for everyone else who needed a bit of exercise.

You ducked under a wild swing from some random enemy pirate, spun on your heel, and delivered a solid punch to his gut. He crumpled with a satisfying oof.

"Oi! Y/N!" Thatch shouted from a few feet away, grinning like a maniac, a strange fruit in his hand. "Check this out!"

You sliced another pirate across the side with your blade (nothing fatal, you were feeling merciful today) and jogged over.

"What did you find this time?" you asked, breathing hard, a spark of excitement lighting your eyes.

Ace clambered over a fallen mast to join you. "Yo, Thatch, whatcha got?"

Thatch held the thing out like it was a newborn kitten. The fruit was round and black with swirling violet patterns, almost like the night sky had been trapped inside it.

"I found something interesting," he said proudly.

Ace squinted. "Ohhh... is that a Devil Fruit?"

You leaned closer. "Looks like one. Wonder what it does."

Behind you, a presence stiffened. You glanced over your shoulder.

Teach — good ol' big, laughing Teach — was standing there, his usual grin stretched way too tight. His forehead was shiny with sweat despite the easy fight. When he noticed you looking, he barked out a laugh that didn’t reach his eyes.

"Heh! Devil Fruit, huh? Zehahaha! Who knows? Maybe it's a lame one, like making your farts turn into explosions!"

Ace snorted. "Wouldn't put it past the sea."

You shook your head, laughing, not noticing the way Teach’s hands clenched at his sides.

That night, the Moby Dick was peaceful. The waves lapped lazily against the hull. Most of the crew was sprawled across the deck or below, snoring, laughing, or drinking.

You had just curled up in your hammock when a strange noise cut through the stillness.

Scuffle.

You bolted upright, instincts screaming. Without a second thought, you grabbed your weapon and padded silently toward the sound.

Your heart dropped into your stomach.

There, in the dim lantern light, was Teach — stabbing Thatch through the side.

"Teach?!" you gasped.

Thatch grunted, struggling, but Teach was too strong. His eyes were wild, desperate, like a man possessed.

Without hesitation, you leapt into action.

"THAT'S ENOUGH! TEACH! HOW DARE YOU!?" you roared, slamming into Teach with everything you had.

The two of you crashed into the deck. Your blade flashed; Teach snarled and swung a fist, and you met it with a grimace, blocking the worst of the blow. It was chaos — wood splintered under your feet as you battled, the sounds waking a few of the closer crewmates.

But Teach was slippery. He was fighting like a man who had nothing left to lose, and with one last shove, he pushed you back, making you stumble.

Your foot caught the edge of a broken beam, and before you could react, Teach's fist landed squarely on the side of your head. The world spun instantly, your vision going blurry as the impact sent you crashing to the ground.

“Y/N!” Thatch cried weakly from where he was still slumped, blood dripping from his side.

You blinked hard, trying to regain your senses. A searing pain throbbed in your head, and the edges of your vision blurred even further. You could barely hear anything over the ringing in your ears as your body felt like it was on fire.

Just as you tried to push yourself up, Teach took his chance, grabbing the mysterious fruit from Thatch’s weakening grip. His sinister laugh filled the night air as he turned and bolted into the shadows, vanishing before anyone could stop him.

You couldn’t chase him.

Your body was failing you.

With a grunt, you collapsed to the floor, dizziness consuming you. Your world tilted, everything spinning as blood pooled beneath you. The last thing you heard was the frantic sound of footsteps.

.

.

When you cracked your eyes open, it was to the blinding white of the infirmary ceiling. Everything hurts, your head hurts.

The room was filled with silence, save for the steady beeping of the heart monitor beside the bed. Marco sat slumped forward, elbows on his knees, head bowed in exhausted vigilance. He hadn’t left your side in days — barely eating, barely sleeping. Even Ace, who was normally a ball of chaotic energy, was quieter than a graveyard at midnight, sitting against the wall and anxiously tossing a small ball between his hands.

Then, finally, the miracle happened.

You groaned.

Marco was upright so fast he nearly knocked over the chair. "Y/N?!"

Your eyes fluttered open, squinting against the light. Slowly, you turned your head, taking in the sight of Marco — disheveled, wide-eyed, hopeful — and Ace, who had shot to his feet, mouth hanging open in disbelief.

You blinked a few times. A mischievous thought bubbled up. You couldn't resist. Then you tilted your head in confusion.

"...Who are you?" you rasped, your voice hoarse from disuse.

The world froze.

Marco actually stumbled back a step, his mouth parting in horror. "W-What?"

Ace dropped the ball he'd been tossing — it hit the floor with a pathetic little bounce. "No way," he muttered, eyes wide as saucers.

You frowned, genuine confusion painted across your features. "Where am I? What happened? Are you... my doctors?"

Marco choked on air. "Doctors?! w-well, I am! but..." His voice cracked, his wings briefly puffing out in shock. "Y/N—it's me! It's Marco-yoi!"

You gave him a pitying, bewildered look, like he was some delusional lunatic. "I'm sorry, I... I don't know any 'Marco.'"

Ace ran a hand down his face, whispering to himself, "Oh my god, oh my god, Pops is gonna kill us."

Marco dropped to his knees by the bed, panic etched into every sharp line of his face. "Y/N, please, listen! It's me! You—you always called me 'birdbrain'! Remember? And Ace—he's the loud one! You always yell at him!-yoi"

You gave a tiny, skeptical squint at Ace. "He does look like he yells a lot," you mumbled thoughtfully.

Ace put a hand over his heart, wounded. "Hey!"

"Y/N..." Marco reached for your hand, his own trembling. "Please tell me you're joking."

You pulled your hand away, shrinking back against the pillows dramatically. "S-sir!, I don't even know you! Why are you touching me?!"

Ace looked between you and Marco, starting to sweat buckets. "She really doesn't remember us?! Oh my god—I'm not ready to raise someone! I can barely keep my plants alive!"

Marco paled. "Ace, this isn't about raising—"

"We'll have to teach her everything again!" Ace wailed. "How to walk! How to talk! Oh no—do you even remember how to eat?"

You blinked at him, deadpan. "I don't know... can you show me?"

Ace immediately picked up a banana from a nearby fruit basket and started dramatically demonstrating how to eat it, like some crazed tutorial video.

"First you PEEL it," he said loudly, yanking the peel down and waving it in your face. "Then you put the FOOD PART in your MOUTH—"

"Enough!" Marco barked, his voice cracking with desperation.

He turned back to you, gripping the edge of the mattress. His eyes were so blue and so full of heartbreak that you nearly cracked right there.

"Y/N..." he whispered, voice raw. "Even if you don't remember me... I'll stay with you. I'll protect you until you remember. I swear it."

Your throat tightened.

You stared at him for a long, tense moment.

Then you cracked a wicked smile.

"...Dumbass," you wheezed, voice croaky but full of teasing mischief. "Of course I remember you, pineapple head!"

The silence was so thick you could hear a pin drop.

Ace's banana hit the floor.

Marco stared at you, eyes wide, processing... and then, "WHAT?!"

You burst into a fit of raspy laughter, clutching your sides painfully. "Oh my god, the LOOK on your face—!" you cackled, tears forming at the corners of your eyes.

"You little—!" Marco sputtered, half lunging at you and half hugging you at the same time.

"You should've seen yourselves!" you wheezed. "Ace was about to teach me how to chew!"

Ace pointed an accusing finger at you. "You gave me a heart attack, Y/N! I was ready to start teaching you object permanence!"

Marco collapsed onto the side of the bed, groaning into your blanket. "I can't believe you did that-yoi. I was ready to—!" His voice broke again.

You smiled softer now, reaching out and brushing his messy blond hair back from his face. "I'm sorry, Marco... couldn't resist. You were just too easy."

He lifted his head, cheeks flushed slightly, a trembling smile forming. "You're the worst," he said hoarsely, voice thick with relief.

"And you love me for it," you teased.

"...Yeah," he whispered back, no hesitation at all.

You blinked.

Your heart fluttered.

Ace, oblivious as usual, was still dramatically re-enacting how he was going to "re-educate" you with flashcards and alphabet songs in the background. You and Marco stared at each other, soft and quiet amidst the chaos, and for a moment, the world was right again.

You were safe. You were alive. You were home.

.

.

Later, once the fuss had died down (and Ace had finally been dragged off to sleep), you found yourself summoned to Whitebeard’s quarters.

The old man sat on his throne-like chair, the steady pulse of his IV a soft, constant background noise.

"You fought well, little one," Whitebeard said, his voice rumbling like distant thunder. His gaze was heavy, serious. "But you were lucky."

You nodded, bowing your head respectfully.

"Teach..." you began.

Whitebeard’s eyes narrowed.

"He was after that fruit," you said grimly. "It wasn’t random. He knew what it was. And if he went so far as to attack Thatch, his own crewmate..." You shook your head. "He's dangerous. More dangerous than we realized."

Whitebeard grunted, the sound low and displeased.

"A traitor among my sons," he murmured, anger flashing in his gaze. "We will hunt him down."

You hesitated. "He has the Yami Yami no Mi now. I don't know much about it, but I saw enough. That fruit... it's not normal. His power—"

"—Will be immense," Whitebeard finished.

You nodded grimly.

There was a long silence.

"You did well protecting your brother," Whitebeard said at last, his expression softening. "Rest now. Heal. We have a long road ahead."

You bowed again and left, heart heavy but determined.

When you returned to the infirmary, Marco was there, perched like a golden phoenix on the edge of the bed.

He looked up, immediately easing when he saw you.

"Hey, yoi," he said softly.

You didn’t say anything. Instead, you limped over and, without asking, slid onto the bed beside him.

Marco froze, startled — and then melted, wrapping an arm carefully around your shoulders so you didn’t jostle your injuries.

For a while, you just lay there, breathing together.

Finally, you spoke, voice quiet against his chest.

"Thank you."

He tilted his head down, puzzled. "For what-yoi?"

"For staying," you murmured. "For talking to me even when I couldn’t answer. For calling me back."

Marco’s throat bobbed as he swallowed hard.

"You heard me?" he whispered.

"Every word," you said, smiling faintly. "Even when I was somewhere dark... you were there."

Marco closed his eyes, pressing his forehead to yours.

"You scared me so bad," he whispered, voice raw. "I thought I'd lost you-yoi"

"You didn’t," you promised.

He kissed your forehead, the gentlest brush of lips, barely a touch.

"I’m not going anywhere," you said.

Marco smiled — a real one, full of love and hope and lingering fear.

"Good," he said, pulling you closer. "Because I’m not letting you out of my sight-yoi."

You chuckled softly, your heart full despite the pain.

"Guess you're stuck with me," you teased.

"Wouldn’t have it any other way," Marco said against your hair.

And for the first time since everything had gone to hell, you felt truly safe.

Hello, great and wonderful writer. Could you please write something romantic? Y/n is in the Navy. A high-ranking officer handling confidential information. A few years ago, she was recruited, or rather, kidnapped, by Shirohige's pirates. The reason was the younger sister of one of his crew members. Ace Fire Fist, his older brother. I looked at her from across the stone bars of the sea. Ace's head, part of his face, and ribs were bandaged. "You should at least listen to me. Was such violence against your brother necessary?" Go away, you whispered. Shirohige isn't my father. I hate you for bringing me here. Ace and Maco. Tell that scoundrel Phoenix he's a coward. Traitor. Y/n. I'm the daughter of the pirate king and part of the navy. I'll be promoted to Mary Geoise. Do you think they won't come for me because they have me in the Whitebeard? Let me go, Ace. Slightly blushing, ignoring Marco, who was arriving with Ace. Attacking me, attacking my subordinates by betrayal is unforgivable. This time, she glared furiously at Marco.

Please

hii! this is cool! tho i still have a bit of confusion, and i hope i delivered ur rqst well, I hope u like this~

Fractured Allegiance

Captured by the Whitebeard Pirates, Vice Admiral Y/N — daughter of the Pirate King — struggles between her loyalty to the Marines and the unexpected pull of those she once called traitors… especially the ever-patient Marco.

Marco the phoenix x reader

tags: slight angst, sfw, ooc, bl00d/v!olence

a/n: this js me trying to write ffs, this is experimental and for fun only, so expect this ffs a bit cringe

word count: 997

masterlist | ko-fi

: 𓏲🐋 ๋࣭  ࣪ ˖✩࿐࿔ 🌊

The stone bars between you and your brother were thick, carved from Seastone, humming with a subtle oppressive energy. You could feel it biting into your skin even from this distance, dulling your strength, your spirit, everything that made you you.

Ace was slumped on the other side, ribs and face wrapped in clean white bandages, his fire extinguished for now. You stared at him across the gloom of the ship's brig, arms crossed, uniform jacket rumpled but still bearing the Vice Admiral insignia with stubborn pride.

"You should at least listen to me," Ace muttered, voice cracking. "Was such violence against your brother necessary?"

You laughed — a hollow, bitter sound. "Go away," you said, coldly. Your voice didn't tremble. It hadn't in years.

You shifted your glare past him, past the flickering torchlight, to the familiar figure approaching from the stairs — golden hair, blue eyes sharp but cautious. Marco. Phoenix. The so-called First Division Commander.

You hated the way your chest clenched at the sight of him. You hated them all.

"Tell that scoundrel," you hissed, your eyes locking onto Ace again, "tell that phoenix he's a coward. A traitor. Just like you."

Ace winced, but he didn't rise to defend himself. Not today. Marco's steps slowed, his expression unreadable.

"Y/N," Marco said, voice low, too soft for your taste. "You can hate us all you want. But you're not going back-yoi"

You bristled. "Shirohige isn't my father! My blood runs from the Pirate King," you snapped. "And I'm a Vice Admiral. Marine. I earned my place. I will be promoted to Mary Geoise—" Your voice cracked, but you pushed forward, unwavering. "Do you really think the Navy won't come for me?"

Silence.

Marco's face twitched — just for a second — something like regret flashing behind his calm mask. Ace looked away entirely, staring at the floor, guilt heavy on his shoulders.

They didn’t answer. They didn't have to.

Your heart sank, cold and sharp like a knife between your ribs. They wouldn't come for you. Not when you were Roger’s daughter. Not when you were tainted.

Your fists clenched at your sides. "Let me go," you whispered, the words slicing the air like a blade. "Let me go, Ace. Marco. I'll pretend none of this happened. I'll—"

"You’ll do what?" Marco’s voice, quiet but cutting. You flinched.

"You'll report us?" Marco continued, stepping closer to the bars. His gaze never left yours. "Lead a Buster Call? Burn us alive? Like what happened to O'Hara?"

You bared your teeth. "Don't you dare compare me to the cowards who ordered that slaughter. I have honor. I—"

"You have pride," Marco corrected gently. "Same as Pops. Same as Ace."

You shook your head violently. "I don't need your lectures." The air was stifling. The walls seemed to press in. You hated them. You hated them so much it burned. And yet—

Your chest ached. You didn't know if it was from the Seastone... or the way Marco was looking at you. Not with pity. Not with anger. With something worse. Something almost tender.

You turned away sharply, feeling your cheeks heat against your will. You cursed yourself a thousand times over.

Hours passed. Maybe days. Time meant nothing inside the brig.

Ace brought you food. You didn't touch it. Marco checked your wounds. You slapped his hand away.

Every interaction was a battlefield — silent, brutal, exhausting. You refused to let your guard down. You refused to let them see you as anything but a Vice Admiral. A soldier. A daughter worthy of her father’s legacy.

But at night, when the others slept above deck and the ship swayed gently under the stars, you caught glimpses of Marco sitting across from your cell. Silent. Watching.

You thought at first he was standing guard. But it wasn’t that. It was worse.

Marco didn’t look at you like an enemy. He looked at you like someone he already mourned.

One night, when the bruises on your ribs throbbed too much to hide, you collapsed onto the cold stone floor, breathless.

Before you could bark at anyone, warm hands — frustratingly gentle — slid under your arms, lifting you with ease. You struggled, snarling curses, but Marco didn’t flinch.

"You stubborn little thing," he muttered, voice almost fond. "You're hurt. Stop pretending you're made of stone-yoi"

You froze. He could have mocked you. Could have gloated. Instead, he held you like you were fragile, precious.

You hated it. You hated that you didn't pull away immediately.

When he settled you back against the wall, slipping a folded coat behind your head for comfort, your heart hammered wildly against your ribs.

"You're a fool," you whispered hoarsely. Your throat burned, but the words came anyway. "A fool for thinking this ends well."

Marco smiled faintly — a soft, heartbreaking thing.

"Maybe," he agreed. "But you're not alone anymore, Y/N. Whether you like it or not."

You squeezed your eyes shut. You didn’t want this. You didn’t want the way your body remembered the warmth of his hands, the steadiness of his presence, the way your brother looked at you with aching hope instead of disappointment.

You didn’t want to belong anywhere but the Navy.

And yet… something inside you — broken and bleeding — whispered that maybe, maybe you were so tired of fighting.

The next morning, you sat cross-legged on the cell floor, staring at the iron key Marco had left just within reach.

No one else was around. Ace was above deck. Marco was gone, trusting you with a choice.

Freedom. Or trust.

You could leave. Slip into the waves, find a Marine ship, turn them all in. You could be the perfect Vice Admiral.

Or—

You looked at the open horizon through the porthole. The sea sparkled in the sunlight. Wild. Untamed.

Free.

Your fingers brushed the key. Your hand trembled.

And for the first time in years, you didn’t know which side you were fighting for.