After sitting motionless on the deck for what felt like an eternity, something seemed to shift in Ace's expression. His eyes, which had been clouded with uncertainty and confusion, began to regain their characteristic brightness. With a newfound sense of purpose, he stood up and walked directly toward where Whitebeard had gone.
The conversation that followed was private, conducted away from the prying eyes and ears of the assembled crew members. Ace found the old man in his quarters, seated and looking out at the endless expanse of the New World. The air was thick with the scent of sake and the silent, immense pressure of the world's strongest man.
For a long moment, neither spoke. Whitebeard didn't turn, but his voice rumbled through the cabin, deep and resonant. "Have you come for your 101st attempt, boy?"
Ace walked forward until he stood just a few feet from the massive chair. He shook his head, his voice quiet but steady. "No. I came to talk."
He took a breath, the words he had held captive for a lifetime finally breaking free. He asked a question that seemed to come from the depths of his soul. "Do you think a demon deserves to live?"
The unexpected question made Whitebeard turn his head fully, his gaze sharp. "What foolishness is this?"
"My father is the Pirate King," Ace said, his voice dropping to a near whisper, heavy with shame and resentment. "My father is Gol D. Roger."
The name struck the air like a bolt of lightning. For the first time, Ace saw a flicker of genuine shock in the old man's eyes. The memories of a bygone era, of a rival who was both a friend and a fearsome enemy, washed over the Emperor. He stared intently at Ace, truly seeing him now. He saw Roger's defiant grin, his untamable will, and his reckless spirit reflected in the young man standing before him.
"So, he actually had a son," Whitebeard mused, a slow, knowing smile spreading across his face. "Gurarara... Now that you mention it, I see the resemblance. You have the same damn fool look in your eyes."
He paused, his expression turning serious once more. "You ask if a demon deserves to live? Every man is born a child of the sea. It is the world that brands them, that tries to chain them with the sins of their fathers. Roger was my rival. We fought, we drank, we tried to kill each other more times than I can count. But what does any of that have to do with you?"
He leaned forward, his voice a powerful tremor that resonated deep in Ace's chest. "It doesn't matter whose blood flows in your veins, boy! No man gets to choose his father, that is a fate decided for him. But every man has the right to choose the family he belongs to and the flag he is willing to die for."
Whitebeard's gaze was unwavering, piercing through decades of Ace's pain and insecurity. "So, tell me, Ace... will you keep running from a ghost, or will you accept a place at my side?"
Tears welled in Ace's eyes, hot and unrestrained. Not tears of sorrow, but of profound, earth-shattering relief. This was the absolution he had been searching for his entire life—to be seen not as the son of a demon, but simply as a man worthy of a family. The weight of his lineage, a burden he had carried since birth, finally shattered.
He fell to his knees, his head bowed low, his voice choked with emotion but ringing with absolute conviction.
Nobody knew the full extent of the words exchanged between the young fire-user and the world's strongest man, but when Ace finally reappeared on deck, he seemed fundamentally transformed. The defiant fury was gone, replaced by a quiet, unshakeable confidence. He had walked into those quarters as Fire Fist Ace, the upstart challenger. He walked out as a son of Whitebeard, finally at peace with who he was, and ready to embrace the future.
The change was so dramatic that even casual observers could sense something significant had occurred during that private meeting.
As evening approached, the night settled over the fleet like a cool, dark poem. The moonlight shining on the silent sea seemed to add a touch of melancholy to the atmosphere, as if the ocean itself sensed that important changes were coming.
On The Piece of Spadille, all the members of the crew had gathered together for the first time in many weeks. The familiar faces looked older, more mature somehow, shaped by their months of experience within the Whitebeard Pirates.
"It's been quite a while since we've all been together like this," Deuce observed, looking around at his assembled crewmates with evident emotion. "About half a year, right?"
"Yeah, time really flies," Mihar nodded thoughtfully. "In the blink of an eye, half a year has passed. Now I'm almost afraid to blink anymore."
"Why?" Jerry asked with a mischievous grin. "Are you worried that if you blink too much, your banana will turn from green to yellow?"
"Get lost!" Mihar shot back with mock indignation. "You're the yellow banana!"
The crew members laughed and joked with each other for the first time in months, the familiar banter helping to ease some of the tension that everyone could sense building in the air.
Wallace sat quietly nearby, his massive Fishman frame relaxed but alert. Skull was fidgeting with excitement, clearly having stories to share about his recent adventures in intelligence gathering. Kotatsu lay sprawled across multiple laps, purring contentedly as various crew members took turns scratching behind his ears.
As Jerry watched this joyful scene unfold, he noticed Ace standing slightly apart from the group, his expression thoughtful despite the cheerful atmosphere. There was something in their captain's demeanor that suggested this gathering was more significant than a simple reunion.
After a few minutes of casual conversation, Ace seemed to come to some internal decision. He stood up, drawing everyone's attention, and when he spoke, his voice carried a weight that immediately sobered the mood.
"Everyone," he began, his tone formal and serious, "I'm sorry, but please allow me to speak to you like this for what will be the last time as your captain."
The laughter died away instantly, replaced by a tense silence as the crew members realized this wasn't going to be an ordinary gathering.
"I know that because of my willful behavior and stubborn pursuit of my own goals, I've put all of you in danger," Ace continued, his voice heavy with genuine remorse. "We challenged one of the Four Emperors without really understanding what that meant, and we paid the price for my arrogance."
He paused, looking each of his crewmates in the eye before continuing. "Fortunately, it was the Whitebeard Pirates we encountered. Everyone has remained safe and sound throughout this ordeal, and for that I've been grateful every single day."
With deep, sincere emotion, Ace bowed deeply to the assembled group. "I am terribly sorry for putting you all through this!"
The crew watched in stunned silence as their captain—who had always been confident, sometimes recklessly so—displayed such vulnerability and self-reflection.
"Whitebeard spared our lives when he could have easily killed us all," Ace said as he straightened up. "He gave us food, shelter, and the opportunity to atone for our transgressions against his territory. This is a debt of gratitude beyond measure."
His voice grew quieter, more personal. "And I... I shamelessly challenged him one hundred times, and was forgiven one hundred times. In other words, I owe him one hundred lives. I just can't ignore that level of kindness and mercy."
Jerry found himself nodding slightly, understanding the moral complexity of their situation. In the pirate world, such magnanimity from an Emperor was virtually unheard of.
"Pirates may live outside the law," Ace continued, "but we still have to abide by certain moral principles. If I were to run away shamelessly or continue challenging him unreasonably after everything he's done for us, even I would lose respect for myself."
The weight of his words settled over the group as everyone began to understand the dilemma their captain had been wrestling with for months.
"After the Spade Pirates were defeated, we were given a chance to atone for our sins within the Whitebeard Pirates," Ace explained. "But that arrangement was always temporary. Now I have to choose between two paths."
He held up one finger. "The first option is for us to leave collectively, regroup somewhere else, and continue our original mission—either looking for new opportunities to challenge Whitebeard or changing our target to a different Emperor."
A second finger joined the first. "The second option is for me to stay with the Whitebeard Pirates permanently and become one of them."
At this point, most of the crew members could already sense which direction Ace was leaning, but they waited respectfully for him to say the words.
"So..." Ace took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he knew would be a difficult admission. "I was confused for a long time. I thought about it endlessly, weighing every option and considering every consequence. And finally... I've decided to join the Whitebeard Pirates."
Even though they had expected this announcement, hearing it spoken aloud still had a profound impact on the assembled crew members.
"Everyone," Ace continued, his voice gentler now, "does anyone have any thoughts about this decision? I want to hear what you're thinking."
He looked around the group, making eye contact with each person. "I know that some of us didn't originally go to sea to become pirates. Some of you even got into this business by accident, following me on what was supposed to be a different kind of adventure."
The concern in his voice was evident as he added, "If there's anywhere you want to return to—family, friends, a home you left behind—I'll find a way to make sure you get there safely."
Although these words were clearly difficult for him to say, Ace forced himself to continue. Now that he had made his decision about his own future, he felt responsible for ensuring that his crewmates had the freedom to choose their own paths.
For a moment, the deck was quiet except for the gentle sounds of the ocean and the distant conversations from other ships in the fleet.
"I..." Mihar was the first to speak, his voice thoughtful and slightly melancholy. "I don't really have anywhere to go anymore. Although I still miss my hometown and the little school where I used to teach, I think things and people have probably changed a lot since I left."
Wallace nodded slowly. "I'm pretty much in the same situation. The life I had before joining this crew... it wasn't really a life at all."
As they went around the group, sharing their feelings and concerns, it became clear that most of the crew members had found something with the Whitebeard Pirates that they valued—whether it was security, purpose, or simply a sense of belonging.
One by one, they expressed their willingness to follow Ace's lead and join the Emperor permanently.
"Jerry, Deuce," Ace said finally, turning to his two closest companions and original crewmates, "what about you two?"
Jerry looked thoughtfully at his friends and companions, then scratched his face with a characteristic gesture before speaking.
"Actually, I talked to you a little bit about this before everyone got back together tonight, but let me say it again now for everyone to hear."
He met Ace's eyes directly. "Ace, are you absolutely sure that what you've been searching for all this time—your place in the world, your purpose—is really here with the Whitebeard Pirates?"
The question hung in the air for a moment before Ace answered with complete conviction, his eyes shining with certainty.
"Yeah... I think I've finally found it here! This is where I belong."
Jerry smiled, genuinely pleased by the confidence in his friend's voice. "If you've found what you were looking for, then don't hesitate. Move forward bravely, and work hard to protect the people and things you've come to cherish."
Although he had expected this outcome, Jerry felt moved by the positive change in Ace's demeanor and was sincerely happy for his friend's newfound peace.
"Yeah... I will!" Ace nodded solemnly, understanding the weight of Jerry's blessing.
"As for my decision..." Jerry continued, his expression becoming more animated. "Don't say I'm not a good friend for this, but..."
He gestured broadly toward the ocean surrounding them. "The world is so incredibly vast, and I want to see all of it! I don't want to retire and settle down in this particular corner of the sea, no matter how comfortable it might be. I want to travel around the entire world!"
His enthusiasm was infectious as he continued, "I'm going to contract all the fishing spots and catch all the legendary fish! I'm going to find the ALL BLUE that exists somewhere out there in my heart!"
Jerry's declaration captured the spirit of adventure that had originally brought them all together, and even those who had chosen to stay could understand and respect his desire to continue exploring.
Ace, who had already suspected that Jerry wouldn't choose to remain with the fleet, patted him on the back with a warm smile.
"I knew it," he said with genuine affection. "Although you look peaceful and contemplative when you're fishing, there's actually a restless spirit inside you that can never be truly still."
He then turned to their final original crewmate. "Deuce, what about you?"
"Me? I... actually..." Deuce hesitated, clearly struggling with his own internal conflict about the decision.
"You want to keep traveling and having adventures, don't you?" Ace prompted gently. "After all, your great adventure novel hasn't been written yet. You can't complete that masterpiece if you settle down in one place."
Looking at Deuce, constantly worrying about others and managing the practical details of their lives, Ace felt that maybe it was time for Deuce to prioritize his own dreams for once.
"Well, yeah," Deuce admitted slowly. "Although I really do like the atmosphere here and I've learned so much from the medical staff..."
He met Ace's encouraging gaze and found the courage to state his true feelings. "I do want to continue having adventures. There's still so much of the world I want to see and document."
"Then go for it!" Ace said with genuine enthusiasm. "Besides, we have Den Den Mushi, so we can stay in contact no matter where we end up."
His eyes lit up with anticipation. "I'm really looking forward to reading your adventure novel when it's finished!"
The conversation continued as various crew members shared their thoughts and feelings about the future. Despite the emotional weight of the moment, there was a sense of excitement about the new possibilities opening up for everyone.
Most of the crew had chosen to follow Ace and join the Whitebeard Pirates permanently, but a few had decided to continue their adventures elsewhere.
"Skull, what about you?" Ace asked, turning to their enthusiastic intelligence officer.
"Oh, haha, Boss Ace!" Skull replied, his skull costume somehow managing to convey excitement even without facial expressions. "Even here with the Whitebeard Pirates, I can still realize my full value as an intelligence master and expand my collector network."
His tone became more serious as he continued. "But I've decided I want to travel around the world with Boss Jerry. That way I can continue gathering intelligence while pursuing my collecting hobbies on a global scale!"
The skull's jaw opened and closed in what everyone had learned to recognize as Skull's characteristic expression of enthusiasm.
At this point, Kotatsu seemed to sense that important decisions were being made. The large lynx padded over to Ace and rubbed against him affectionately, purring loudly. Then, as if making his own choice, he trotted over to Jerry and curled up at his feet with a contented sigh.
"Hahaha, Ace," Jerry laughed, reaching down to scratch Kotatsu behind the ears, "it looks like our furry friend wants to come with me and help eat all the big fish in the ocean!"
"Yeah! That's perfect," Ace replied warmly. "Everyone should be free to live the life they want according to their own ideas and dreams."
As the conversation began to wind down and everyone had shared their decisions, Ace's expression became more solemn. He looked toward Deuce, who had been quietly holding something in his hands.
"Then... Deuce, I think it's time."
"Ah, yes," Deuce replied, understanding immediately what Ace meant.
Everyone's attention focused on what Deuce was holding—the flag of the Spade Pirates, the symbol that had represented their crew and their adventures together for so many months.
"Yes," Ace said quietly, his voice heavy with emotion. "I think we won't be needing this anymore."
He took the flag from Deuce's hands, holding it carefully as it fluttered in the gentle evening breeze.
"Today, at this moment, I think it's time to officially announce that the Spade Pirates are hereby disbanded," Ace declared, his voice carrying across the deck with finality.
"Let us say goodbye properly to this chapter of our lives."
With solemn ceremony, Ace ignited a flame in his hand and set the flag on fire as it danced in the wind.
When everyone saw this scene, all kinds of memories flashed through their minds—their first meeting on that deserted island, their adventures in the East Blue, their challenges and triumphs in the Grand Line, and all the bonds of friendship they had forged along the way.
For a moment, everyone found themselves lost in reminiscence about the days they had spent together as a crew.
All good things must come to an end, unless you can somehow manage to eat for free forever.
The Spade Pirates' journey had reached its conclusion, and what was about to begin were new journeys in life for each of them.
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