The sea was quiet, but the silence felt heavy. It was the kind of silence that lingered after screams had finally died out, after the clash of titans had ended, after blood and fire had settled into ash.
On a secluded island far from Marineford, two graves stood freshly carved into the earth. One bore the name of Edward Newgate, the man the world called Whitebeard, and the other, Portgas D. Ace, his beloved son. The air smelled of salt and incense. The remaining Whitebeard Pirates stood in rows, heads bowed, their shadows long beneath the sinking sun.
Marco, the weary first division commander, placed the last of the flowers before Ace's grave. His usually sharp eyes were clouded, his body still scarred from the war. Beside him, Vista and Jozu stood in silence, their usual confidence dimmed, replaced with an aching void. Around them, the rest of the crew mourned not just their captain and brother, but the family they had been robbed of in one brutal battle.
"We couldn't protect Pops… we couldn't protect Ace…" one of the younger pirates muttered, his voice breaking. Marco closed his eyes, taking in the sting of those words. He had no answer, because he felt the same weight crushing his chest. But amidst their grief, one thought bound them together: they had to live on, for the sake of those they lost.
Meanwhile, on Amazon Lily, Monkey D. Luffy woke from his coma. His chest heaved, his arms trembled, the scar on his chest burned, and the memory of Ace's final moments burned hotter than any flame. "ACE!!" he screamed, thrashing violently as though trying to claw back through time. His body shook with fury and despair, so much so that even the Kuja warriors flinched at his raw outburst. His voice was full of despair and pain. It was Jinbei who reached him first. Strong, steady, unyielding. He wrapped Luffy in a strong hug as Luffy trashed and screamed Ace over and over, his voice cracking
"Luffy!" Jinbei's voice carried like a tidal wave. "Your pain is real. Your loss is real. But remember… You are not alone. You still have your crew. Luffy's fists beat against Jinbei's chest until they weakened. His cries turned into hoarse sobs. The memory of Ace's smile as he thanked him echoed inside him. His crew—Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, Robin, Franky, Brook—faces he had to see again. Faces he had to return to.
He fell to his knees, clutching his hat. "I… I still have them…" Jinbei's massive hand rested gently on his shoulder. "Yes. You must live on for them." Luffy looked up, familiar determination replacing the pain; it was there, it would never fade, but he would use it to become stronger for his crew, for his dream for Ace, and those who stood in his path would see his wrath
Not long after, ships appeared on the horizon. Tattered but still bearing the Whitebeard insignia, they docked on the shores of Amazon Lily under the wary eyes of Kuja warriors.
Marco stepped off first, his presence calm but heavy. Behind him came Vista, Jozu, Izo, and the remnants of their once-mighty fleet. Their eyes found Luffy immediately. Luffy looked up his eyes full of determination and pain, which mirrored Marko's
Marco spoke first, his voice deep, tired, but resolute.
"Straw Hat… we've come to a decision. Ace gave his life for you. Pops gave his life to protect the future. We've lost too much to scatter now." He paused, his gaze steady. "So we'll follow you. If you'll have us… the Whitebeard Pirates will sail under you." He stared at them—these were Ace's brothers, his father's crew, his family. The family Ace loved.
Luffy gripped his straw hat tightly and placed it on his head, the shadow covering his eyes as a wide grin broke on his face. It was the same infectious, wide grin, but tempered in pain and loss of one dear, and his voice was filled with steely determination and ambition. " Alright then," join me, and let's turn the world upside down."
The Whitebeard remnants grinned, a new fire igniting in their hearts. For the first time since Marineford, the horizon didn't feel like an ending. It felt like the beginning of something greater—an alliance of wills, bound by grief, by loyalty, and by the unshakable dream of freedom. Rayleigh watched this from beside Jimbei behind Luffy; he saw a Gol.D.Roger, his Captain and Best Friend, grinned proudly and wiped a tear
Hancock watched her Beloved proudly, her eyes locked only on his Wide Grin, her heart beating so fast she thought it would jump out form her chest
all around the world. Each member of the Strawhats pirates felt a Shiver run down their spine. Zoro Smirked, Nami smiled softly, Ussop grinned broadly, Sanji puffed on his cigarrete, a slight smirk tugging on his lip, Chopper puffed in his research, nodding resolutely, Nico Robin let out an amused giggle, Franky let out a Superrrr Brook in his cage, let out a Yohoho, but all thought one Thing. 'Welcome back, Captain '
And thus, from the ashes of war, a new era quietly began.