The sea had finally settled after the events of their previous journey.
Despite Borsalino's warning about the World Government, the Athena sailed peacefully beneath an uninterrupted sky. Gentle waves rolled beneath her hull, a stark contrast to the chaos that had surrounded Arthur's battle with Shanks. The magnificent ship sailed steadily through the New World, her white sails filled by the morning breeze. The wind filled the white sails bearing the emblem of the ART Pirates, while the crew slowly returned to their usual routines.
There was no urgency in their movements.
No enemy fleet on the horizon.
No island looming ahead.
Only the endless ocean stretching toward the horizon.
Arthur stood at the bow, one hand resting against the railing as he watched the distant sea. The morning breeze brushed past his coat, carrying the faint scent of salt. Behind him, the crew had scattered across the deck. Some were working, others were talking, and a few had simply taken advantage of the calm weather to rest.
For once, nothing seemed to demand their attention.
Then a familiar cry echoed from above.
"Coo! Coo!"
Several heads turned toward the sky.
A News Coo descended through the morning clouds, flapping its wings heavily as it approached the Athena. A bundle of newspapers was strapped securely around its body.
Monet looked up from the papers she had been sorting.
"Another delivery?"
The bird circled once before landing on the railing near her.
Monet reached into her pouch, retrieved a few coins, and placed them into the small container attached to its leg. The News Coo immediately released the bundle and took off again, disappearing toward the horizon.
Monet caught the newspapers before they could scatter in the wind.
Monet glanced at the front page, but her eyes stopped almost immediately. The faint smile on her face disappeared.
"What is it?" Law asked from nearby.
Monet did not answer immediately.
She unfolded the first newspaper.
The headline occupied nearly the entire front page.
FIRE FIST ACE TO BE EXECUTED
Beneath it was a photograph of the shackled pirate.
For a moment, Monet simply stared.
Then her eyes narrowed.
"Everyone."
The single word was enough to draw attention.
Robin looked up from her book. Hancock turned away from the railing. Baby-5 stopped what she was doing, while Sugar leaned over to see the newspaper from across the deck.
Bepo approached first.
"What is it?"
Monet held the newspaper out.
"Portgas D. Ace has been captured."
The atmosphere changed immediately.
Law took the paper and read the headline himself.
His expression hardened. "Fire Fist…"
Robin quietly closed her book. "An execution?"
Monet nodded.
"The Marines have announced that Ace will be publicly executed at Marineford."
Hancock's eyes narrowed as she read the smaller print beneath the headline.
"Marineford…"
She already understood what that meant.
Robin reached for another newspaper.
The reports were filled with speculation.
The Marines had deliberately announced the execution to the entire world. The location was public. The date was public. Every major pirate crew would know exactly where Ace would be.
And everyone knew who would come for him.
Whitebeard.
"They aren't simply executing Ace." Robin slowly lowered the newspaper.
"They're baiting Whitebeard." Hancock's gaze shifted toward Robin.
"Exactly."
The words settled over the deck.
Even those who had not followed the details of the announcement understood the implication.
If Whitebeard moved, the Marines would be waiting.
If Whitebeard did not move, one of his commanders would be publicly executed.
Either choice would carry enormous consequences.
Hancock folded her arms.
"Then Marineford is going to become a battlefield."
Robin's gaze remained on the newspaper.
"Not just a battlefield." She looked toward the horizon. "A turning point."
No one answered.
The Athena continued cutting through the waves, but the peaceful feeling from moments earlier had vanished.
Arthur finally turned from the sea.
"Give it to me." His eyes settled on the newspaper in Monet's hands.
Monet walked toward him and handed it over.
Arthur took the newspaper and silently read through the report. His expression remained unreadable as he absorbed every detail—the execution, Marineford, and the growing rumors that Whitebeard was already preparing to move.
Arthur reached the bottom of the page.
Then he stopped.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
"What are you thinking, Young Master?" Baby-5 watched him carefully.
Arthur folded the newspaper once.
"I'm thinking the Marines just placed a match beside a powder keg."
A gust of wind swept across the deck.
The newspaper fluttered slightly in Arthur's hand.
Behind him, the crew remained silent.
Everyone knew the name written across the page.
Everyone understood what Ace's execution could trigger.
But no one yet knew what Arthur intended to do about it.
And Arthur offered no answer.
Sabo was the only one who couldn't let the matter go.
He approached slowly, stopping a few steps behind Arthur.
"Captain Arthur."
Arthur did not turn.
"Please... help me save Ace." Sabo tightened his fists.
The plea carried more weight than any explanation could have.
Arthur finally glanced over his shoulder.
Sabo's expression was unusually tense. The confidence he normally carried as a Revolutionary Army officer had disappeared. What remained was simply a brother desperately trying to save another brother.
"Ace is going to die," Sabo said quietly. "They're going to execute him in front of the entire world."
"I know." Arthur studied him for a moment.
"I can't just stand here."
Sabo stepped closer.
"I lost my memories once before you saved me. You gave me a family when I had lost everything. And you helped me remember my brother when I thought I had nothing." His voice trembled despite his effort to control it. "I'm not going to lose him again."
Arthur turned fully toward him.
The wind moved between them.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Arthur asked, "What are you asking me to do?"
"Help me." Sabo's answer came immediately. "Please, Captain Arthur. Help me save Ace."
There was no hesitation in his voice.
Arthur looked past Sabo toward the rest of the deck. Robin had quietly stopped reading. Law was standing near the mast, listening without interfering. Hancock watched from a short distance, while Baby-5 had lowered her gaze.
Everyone understood what Sabo was asking.
Arthur lowered his eyes to the newspaper again.
"Ace is bait. Whitebeard is the target."
"And the Marines know exactly what will happen once he comes." Sabo replied.
Arthur nodded.
"And he won't come alone, one wrong move and all whitebeard pirates erased from the sea."
Sabo swallowed. "And if he doesn't came?"
"Then Ace dies."
The blunt answer made Sabo's jaw tighten.
Arthur's gaze hardened.
"But if Whitebeard comes, Marineford will become a battlefield."
He paused.
"And when that battle begins, the balance of the sea will change."
"But I can't just join this war," Arthur continued. "Whitebeard will not want me to help him."
"But I can't simply force my way into Whitebeard's battle. If he comes to Marineford, he'll come with his own purpose."
"But..." Sabo hesitated.
"But I can promise you this," Arthur continued. "I won't stand by and watch him die."
Sabo slowly exhaled.
That was enough.
"Thank you."
"And if Whitebeard falls…" Robin finally spoke.
Arthur's eyes shifted toward her.
"The consequences won't stop with Marineford."
Robin nodded slowly.
She understood.
The World Government had chosen its target carefully. Ace's execution was not merely about punishing a pirate. It was an invitation to a war.
The sea remained calm, almost unnaturally so.
For several heartbeats, only the sound of the waves could be heard.
Then Arthur spoke.
"Do you know why this execution is different?"
Sabo frowned slightly.
Arthur continued, his voice lower now.
"Because this time… it isn't just the Marines setting the stage."
His eyes narrowed.
"There is someone else who benefits from this war more than anyone."
"I remember him. He killed Thatch, disappeared, and then resurfaced by handing Ace over to the World Government to claim the Warlord title." Hancock's expression hardened with disgust at the mention of Teach.
"Marshall D. Teach."
Arthur nodded once "Blackbeard."
The name alone made the atmosphere on the deck shift.
Arthur turned slightly, facing them now.
"He's been moving in the shadows for years. Waiting. Planning. And now, with Ace captured, he has the perfect opportunity."
Robin's eyes widened slightly.
"You think he will interfere?"
Arthur's tone was calm, but firm.
"I think he will do more than interfere." He paused. "He will turn Marineford into something the World Government never intended."
Sabo's voice dropped.
"What are you saying?"
Arthur looked at him directly.
"Whitebeard will attack Marineford to save Ace."
"That much is certain for everyone now."
"But while the world is focused on that war…"
Arthur's eyes darkened slightly.
"Teach will make his move."
A heavy silence fell over the deck.
Even the wind seemed to slow.
Arthur continued.
"He doesn't care about justice. He doesn't care about the Marines or Whitebeard. He only cares about power."
"And Marineford… will be the perfect chaos for him to take what he wants."
Hancock narrowed her eyes.
"So you're saying this war is not just Marineford vs Whitebeard."
Arthur nodded. "It will become something far worse."
"A three-way conflict…" Robin exhaled slowly.
"Worse." Arthur corrected her softly. "Because Teach doesn't fight like a pirate or a Marine."
"He waits until everyone is bleeding… and then he takes everything."
Sabo clenched his fists.
"Then we need to stop him."
Arthur glanced at him.
"We will."
That answer was immediate.
Sabo's eyes widened slightly.
Arthur continued.
"When the time comes."
The weight of those words settled over the deck.
Hancock folded her arms.
"So what will you do?"
Arthur said nothing.
His gaze remained fixed on the horizon.
After a few moments, Hancock spoke again.
"I've already told Bepo to prepare the ship."
Arthur glanced at her.
Hancock glanced toward the shifting sails. "Sabaody?"
A faint smile touched Arthur's face.
"Sabaody." Arthur folded the newspaper. "So it has begun."
Law approached. "You expected this."
Arthur looked toward the open sea.
"I expected Whitebeard to move. I didn't expect the Marines to make their intentions so obvious."
Sabo stepped forward.
"Then we need to go too." Sabo's voice was steadier now. "I don't care how dangerous it is."
Arthur's attention shifted toward him.
Arthur folded the newspaper and handed it back to Monet.
"We're going."
Sabo exhaled, almost in relief.
But Arthur's expression remained thoughtful.
"We're not rushing blindly into Marineford."
Sabo frowned.
"Then where are we going?"
Arthur turned toward the sea.
"Sabaody."
The answer caught several of them off guard.
Hancock raised an eyebrow.
"Sabaody?"
Arthur nodded.
"We have someone to meet first."
Robin immediately understood.
"Rayleigh."
Arthur said nothing.
That was confirmation enough.
Sabo looked toward the horizon, then back at Arthur.
"And Luffy?"
Arthur's expression hardened slightly.
"That's exactly why we're going there."
The crew fell silent once more.
The implications were becoming clearer.
If Ace was going to be executed at Marineford, Luffy would never simply remain where he was.
Arthur knew his younger brother's nature well enough.
Luffy would come.
The only question was how.
The Athena slowly altered its course.
The sails shifted with the wind, and the ship began cutting through the waves toward the archipelago that stood between their present route and Marineford.
Sabo remained where he was for a moment, watching Arthur.
There was still uncertainty in his eyes.
But for the first time since reading the newspaper, there was also hope.
Arthur passed him without stopping.
"Get some rest, You'll need it."
"Captain Arthur." Sabo looked after him. "Thank you."
Arthur glanced back.
"Don't thank me yet." His eyes turned toward the distant horizon."We haven't saved him yet."
With those words, Arthur continued toward the stern while the Athena sailed steadily toward Sabaody.
None of them knew what awaited them there.
But somewhere beyond the horizon, another man had already begun preparing for the same war.
And his name was Monkey D. Luffy.
...
Several hours passed.
By then, the Athena had already traveled deep into the New World, with Sabaody still several hours ahead. The crew had settled into their duties once more, though the news of Ace's execution remained at the back of everyone's mind.
Monet come to Arthur's side with paper latest reports in her hand.
Through her network of informants, she had already received urgent reports from across the seas—every major allied faction of Whitebeard had begun moving. The Whitebeard Pirates' allied fleets were mobilizing, converging toward Marineford. The war was no longer approaching. It had already started to take shape.
"So it's begun." Arthur turned his attention to the horizon. "The pieces are moving into place."
The words left a quiet tension over the deck.
Then—
Brrrrr... Brrrrr...
A Den Den Mushi rang.
Everyone turned.
The sound came from Arthur's coat.
Arthur reached inside and pulled out the small snail.
Its face had already taken on the appearance of someone with a serious expression.
Arthur answered.
"Hello?"
Static crackled briefly through the receiver.
Then a familiar voice came through.
"Arthur."
Arthur's eyes sharpened.
"Rayleigh."
Several members of the crew immediately looked toward him.
Arthur's expression remained calm.
"I heard about the Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division Commander." The former Dark King spoke without his usual relaxed tone. "And I assume you already know what Luffy is going to do."
A short silence followed.
"I did."
"That idiot won't stay out of this." Rayleigh sighed.
"No. He won't." A faint smile appeared on Arthur's face.
"That's why I'm calling." Rayleigh's tone became more serious. "I need you to help him."
The deck grew silent.
Even Sabo turned to listen.
Rayleigh continued.
"Luffy is determined to save Ace. He'll try to reach Marineford whether anyone goes with him or not."
Arthur's gaze hardened.
Rayleigh paused briefly before continuing.
"But if he goes there without understanding what he's walking into, he'll be swallowed by the war."
Arthur remained silent.
Then Rayleigh said something that made everyone on deck listen more closely.
"Arthur, you're the only one who can help him without throwing him blindly into Whitebeard's war."
The wind swept across the deck.
Sabo looked toward Arthur.
Arthur looked toward the horizon.
"Where are you?"
"Sabaody."
Arthur's expression changed slightly.
"We're heading there."
"I'm waiting."
A quiet chuckle came through the Den Den Mushi.
Then another voice suddenly came from the other side.
"ARTHUR!"
Arthur's eyes widened slightly.
The voice was unmistakable.
"Luffy?"
"Yeah!"
Luffy's voice came through the Den Den Mushi, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.
Sabo immediately stepped forward.
"Luffy!"
"Saboooo!"
Sabo's expression softened at the sound of his brother's voice.
"You're with Rayleigh?"
"Yeah! We're at Sabaody!" Luffy's voice suddenly became serious. "Arthur..."
Arthur waited.
"I need your help."
Luffy's voice became serious.
"I have to save Ace."
Arthur remained silent.
Luffy continued.
"I don't care how dangerous Marineford is. I have to get there."
His voice tightened.
"Ace is my brother."
Sabo closed his eyes briefly.
Arthur could hear the determination in Luffy's voice.
Then Luffy spoke again.
"Rayleigh said you're the only one who can help me."
Arthur glanced at Rayleigh's Den Den Mushi.
"Did he?"
"Yeah! So please, Arthur—help me save Ace!"
Arthur shook his head slightly.
"Rayleigh has a habit of making things sound more complicated than they are."
"I don't care!" Luffy's response came immediately. "Just help me save Ace!"
The deck fell completely silent.
Arthur looked at the crew around him.
Then at Sabo.
Sabo stepped closer to the Den Den Mushi.
"Luffy."
"Yeah?"
"Listen to me carefully. Don't do anything reckless."
Luffy hesitated. "...I'll try."
"That isn't reassuring." A faint smile appeared on Sabo's face.
Luffy laughed awkwardly from the other side.
Sabo clenched his fist.
"We're going to save Ace. But don't rush in alone. Wait for me."
"I'll wait!"
Luffy fell silent.
There was a brief silence.
"I'll come to you. Whatever happens, don't act until I get there."
"Okay."
"Promise me."
"I promise!"
Sabo finally smiled. "Good."
"Then hurry up!" Luffy's voice became energetic again.
"I will." Sabo laughed quietly.
Arthur watched the exchange in silence.
Two brothers who had once been separated by years were now preparing to fight their way into the same battlefield.
Luffy suddenly spoke again.
"Arthur!"
"What?" Arthur raised the Den Den Mushi.
"Please!" There was no hesitation in Luffy's voice. "Help me save Ace!"
Arthur closed his eyes for a brief moment.
When he opened them again, his expression had changed.
"I won't let Ace die."
Luffy immediately shouted:
"YES!"
Arthur continued before Luffy could celebrate.
"But you listen to me too."
"Okay!"
"Then follow the plan. Don't charge into Marineford alone."
"I won't!"
"And wait for Sabo."
"I promised!"
Arthur gave a faint smile.
"Good."
Rayleigh's voice returned.
"Then I suppose we've settled it."
"Where should we meet?"
"Shakky's place."
Arthur nodded.
"We'll be there."
The call ended.
Arthur lowered the Den Den Mushi.
The weight of his words settled over the deck.
Sabo stared at the sea.
"Luffy really hasn't changed." Then he let out a quiet breath.
"No." Arthur gave a faint smile.
Sabo folded his arms.
"And that is exactly why we need to get there before he does something stupid."
A few members of the crew chuckled despite the tension.
The brief moment of levity faded quickly.
Arthur walked toward the helm.
"Bepo."
"Yes, Captain?"
"Full speed."
Bepo smiled.
"Understood."
Arthur stepped away from the railing and walked toward the center of the deck.
"Get ready for war."
"Yes." Everyone nodded and immediately moved toward their station.
The Athena accelerated.
Her bow sliced through the waves as the white sails expanded beneath the strengthening wind. The ship surged forward, leaving a long trail of white foam behind her.
Sabo remained at the bow.
His eyes were fixed on the distant horizon.
Somewhere beyond it was Sabaody.
Beyond Sabaody was Marineford.
And somewhere inside Marineford, Ace was waiting.
Arthur stepped beside Sabo.
Neither spoke.
They didn't need to.
The decision had already been made.
The Athena raced toward Sabaody as the morning sun climbed higher above the New World.
The calm sea that had greeted them earlier was disappearing behind the ship.
Ahead waited Rayleigh.
Ahead waited Luffy.
And beyond them—
Marineford.
Arthur's coat snapped violently in the wind.
His eyes remained fixed on the horizon.
The Athena raced toward Sabaody, carrying the ART Pirates toward Rayleigh, Luffy, and eventually Marineford. Beyond the horizon waited a war that would shake the entire world.
And this time, Arthur would not simply witness history.
He intended to change it.