The Oro Jackson cut steadily through the calm waters, sails full, the golden figurehead gleaming beneath the afternoon sun.
On deck, the crew was scattered in quiet leisure.
Hiyori sat beside Okiku near the railing, humming softly as she tuned a shamisen string.
Carrot leaned dangerously far over the side, ears twitching as she laughed at the sea spray. Pedro stood nearby, arms folded, ever watchful.
Perona floated lazily upside down midair, ghost companions drifting around her.
Mihawk sat beneath the mast, eyes closed, Yoru resting against his shoulder.
Near the ship's rail stood Lilith.
Unlike the others, she wasn't relaxing.
She held a small Den Den Mushi device in her hands, adjusting its dials thoughtfully while glancing occasionally toward the horizon. Her sharp eyes missed nothing.
"The seas have been too quiet lately…" she murmured to herself. "That usually means something big is brewing."
Inside the captain's cabin, Ada stood over a table filled with maps and reports, eyes sharp, mind calculating.
Then—
A seagull's cry pierced the air. "Coo!"
A folded newspaper dropped from the sky.
Perona caught it absentmindedly. "Oooh? Let's see what the boring world is up to—"
She unfolded it.
Her playful smile vanished.
Her eyes widened. "…No way."
Her hands trembled.
"CAPTAIN!!!"
She shot toward the cabin in a panic, accidentally dropping the newspaper in her rush.
Hiyori startled. "Perona?!"
Carrot blinked. "What happened?!"
Mihawk slowly opened one eye.
"…What has you so disturbed?"
He stood and picked up the fallen newspaper.
His sharp eyes scanned the headline.
For the first time in a long while—
They widened.
"…So it has come to this."
Pedro stepped closer. "Mihawk?"
Carrot tugged his sleeve. "What is it?!"
Before Mihawk could answer, Ada stepped out of her cabin, slightly annoyed.
"Perona, what's all the shouting abou—"
Perona stopped in front of her, pale. "It's Ace!"
Ada paused.
"Oh?" she said calmly. "And what about Ace?"
Perona swallowed hard. "He's going to be executed… at Marineford!"
The words slammed into the deck like cannon fire.
Hiyori gasped, standing up abruptly. "Ace… got captured?!"
Okiku covered her mouth in disbelief.
Carrot's ears flattened. "That's impossible…"
Lilith stepped forward quickly and snatched the newspaper from Mihawk's hand to confirm it herself.
Her eyes scanned the details. "…Public execution."
Her voice dropped. "They're broadcasting this to the entire world."
Ada's expression changed instantly.
"…Captured?"
Mihawk approached, snatching up the newspaper that Lilith took.
"Not exactly," he corrected evenly. "He was turned in."
The crew turned to him.
"After being defeated by Blackbeard."
The name darkened the air.
Carrot clenched her fists. "That traitor…"
Mihawk continued.
"Blackbeard secured the Warlord position left vacant by Crocodile… by handing Ace over to the Marines."
Silence fell.
Ada's fist clenched tightly at her side.
"…Teach."
The wind whipped her coat around her.
Hiyori looked at her, worried. "Captain…"
Ada's eyes softened briefly — and for a moment, she wasn't the terrifying Emperor.
She remembered.
A freckled boy grinning brightly.
"Aunt Ada!" Ace had called out brightly, leaping onto the deck of the Oro Jackson without permission as usual.
He had grown taller since the last time she saw him, freckles more defined, fire in his eyes stronger.
Ada had been seated in her chair, reviewing reports, when he plopped down cross-legged in front of her.
"You won't believe what Luffy did this time!" Ace laughed.
She raised an eyebrow faintly. "Oh?"
Ace scratched the back of his head, grinning. "That idiot won't shut up about becoming Pirate King. "
Ada's lips curved slightly. "That sounds like him."
Ace leaned back on his hands, staring up at the sky. "He's so stupid, you know that? Always rushing into danger… always smiling even when he's losing."
His tone softened. "But he's strong. Stronger than he thinks."
Ada listened quietly. "He's reckless… but he's got your eyes, Aunt Ada."
She paused at that.
Ace laughed again. "I still can't believe it sometimes. If that moron ever finds out his mom is an Emperor of the Sea…"
He snorted.
"I wonder what kind of face he'll make."
He mimicked Luffy's shocked expression dramatically.
"EEEHHHHH?! YOU'RE MY MOM AND AN EMPEROR?!" Ace burst into laughter.
The deck erupted in laughter.
Perona, floating nearby, clutched her stomach. "Pffft—! That would definitely be his reaction!"
She wiped a fake tear from her eye. "I can already picture his dumb face!"
Hiyori covered her mouth, trying to remain elegant but failing as she giggled. "Forgive me… but that does sound exactly like him."
Even Okiku allowed a small amused smile.
Carrot's ears perked up excitedly as she leaned forward.
"I want to meet him too!" she exclaimed. "If he's anything like that, he sounds amazing!"
Ace grinned proudly at that. "He's loud, he eats like a beast, and he never thinks before jumping into trouble."
He crossed his arms, nodding. "But he's the kind of guy you'd follow without even realizing it."
Ada watched them quietly, the corner of her lips lifting just slightly.
"Maybe he'll surpass all of us one day," she said calmly.
Ace smirked. "Yeah… he probably will."
Ada had simply watched him, a rare softness in her gaze.
"Don't tell him," she said calmly.
Ace blinked. "Huh?"
"Not yet."
She reached forward and ruffled his hair firmly, smirking slightly. "When the time comes… I'll tell him myself."
Ace grinned. "Man… Luffy's gonna lose his mind."
The memory faded like mist over the sea.
Her jaw tightened. "…Damn it."
The sea breeze grew heavier around the Oro Jackson.
Pedro stepped forward carefully. "Captain… what do we do?"
Hiyori rose from where she stood, her eyes glistening with worry. "Captain… are we going to save him?"
Ada did not hesitate. "Yes."
Her voice was absolute — no room for doubt.
"He is my former captain's son."
Her eyes darkened, a rare emotion surfacing beneath her composure.
"And… my son's sworn brother."
She paused, her gaze steady.
"He is part of our family."
Carrot's ears lowered slightly. "Are we… teaming up with the Whitebeard Pirates?"
Ada shook her head immediately. "No."
She crossed her arms. "Even if we were comrades once… Newgate is a prideful man."
A faint, knowing smile appeared. "He would never allow me to interfere in a matter involving his son."
Mihawk gave a small nod. "That sounds like him."
Silence lingered.
Then Ada looked toward the horizon, eyes narrowing. "But to think… Rocks' son has come this far."
Mihawk's gaze shifted slightly. "Blackbeard…"
Ada's eyes hardened. "Seems the apple fell far from the tree."
Her voice dropped colder. "The only thing he inherited from Rocks… is his hunger for ambition."
Perona crossed her arms. "Tch. That Blackbeard guy gives me the creeps."
Pedro added quietly, "He's been moving far too carefully. Too calculated."
Ada's eyes sharpened suddenly. "But… this is also the perfect opportunity."
The crew blinked.
"Mihawk," she said firmly, "if they plan to execute Ace publicly, then the World Government is declaring war on the entire Whitebeard Pirates."
Mihawk nodded once.
"And if war is declared," Ada continued, "the Warlords will be summoned to Marineford."
Her gaze locked onto him.
"Gather every piece of information you can. Troop movements. Defensive formations. Ace's condition. The Admirals' positions."
Mihawk placed a hand over Yoru.
"Of course."
Ada inhaled slowly.
"If he is being held in Impel Down first… then we can only hope Bullet and Ivankov are already aware of what's happening."
Perona tilted her head. "You think they'll cause trouble down there?"
Ada's lips curved slightly. "They always do."
She turned, pacing slowly across the deck.
"This also perfectly aligns with our plans."
The crew looked at her.
"Perhaps it is time to contact Dragon and expedite it."
Pedro's eyes widened slightly. "You mean… now?"
Ada nodded.
"We have not forgotten our current objective."
Her voice grew firm.
"To destroy all three major Marine strongholds."
She began counting calmly.
"Enies Lobby was already reduced to rubble… thanks to Bullet and my son."
Carrot's eyes sparkled. "Yeah. That was amazing. The marines were restless after that."
Ada continued. "If Bullet and Ivankov wreak havoc in Impel Down… then there is a chance they will cross paths with Ace there."
Hiyori spoke softly, "And if they do not?"
Ada stopped walking. "Then we leave Impel Down in chaos regardless."
Her eyes burned with resolve.
"And we meet them at Marineford."
The wind whipped harder around them.
"With a war of this scale…"
Her voice softened slightly.
"It is almost inevitable that I will see my son."
Perona smirked faintly. "You think he'll show up?"
Ada gave a small, knowing smile.
"He will."
"He would never sit still knowing Ace is in danger."
A quiet maternal warmth flickered in her gaze — quickly replaced by steel.
"I won't let those boys die."
Lilith then adjusted her glasses slightly, thinking quickly.
"If this turns into full-scale war, Marineford will mobilize everything. Admirals. Vice Admirals. Pacifistas."
Her eyes narrowed. "And the Warlords."
A brief silence followed.
Okiku spoke carefully, trying to ease the tension. "…We do not have to worry too much about the Warlords, correct?"
The others glanced at her.
"I mean… Mihawk is with us."
Mihawk said nothing, but the corner of his coat shifted slightly in the wind.
"And Jinbe is also part of our crew," Okiku continued. "He would never stand against us."
Carrot nodded quickly. "That's true!"
Okiku hesitated slightly before adding,
"And… Hancock owes Lady Ada a great deal."
Perona floated upright. "Ohhh, that snake princess? Yeah, she'd totally side with us."
She twirled midair and added confidently,
"And don't forget Kuma! We're his friends."
Carrot nodded eagerly. "Yeah!"
Pedro remained thoughtful. "Kuma walks a complicated path… but his loyalty is not simple."
Lilith folded her arms, voice steady and analytical. "Even so… we cannot ignore the rest."
Her eyes sharpened. "There's Doflamingo."
A faint tension passed through the crew.
"Moria."
Carrot muttered, "Luffy already beat him…"
"And Blackbeard."
That name alone shifted the mood on deck.
The sea breeze seemed colder.
Lilith continued calmly, "Each of them has their own agenda. If this war becomes an opportunity for them… they will take it."
Mihawk finally opened his eyes fully.
The red of his gaze gleamed beneath the shadow of the mast.
"Do not concern yourselves with them."
The air grew heavy.
"If they interfere…"
His hand rested lightly on Yoru.
"I will handle them."
There was no arrogance in his voice.
Only certainty.
Perona grinned. "That's so cool when you say it like that."
Carrot's ears perked up in admiration. "You're amazing, Mihawk!"
Pedro gave a respectful nod. "With you at the front, we do not lack strength."
Ada watched quietly, then spoke.
"This war will draw out monsters from every corner of the sea."
Her coat fluttered sharply in the wind.
"Let them come."
Her eyes hardened with imperial authority.
"If they wish to stand in our way…"
A faint smirk touched her lips.
"They had better be prepared to fall."
Her voice then turned cold and commanding.
"A war of this scale would require almost all of the Marines' forces."
She looked toward the horizon, mind already several moves ahead.
"If they gather everything at Marineford… their other strongholds will weaken."
Pedro's eyes sharpened. "A calculated risk."
Mihawk gave a faint smirk. "Typical of the World Government. Overwhelming force."
Ada turned back to Lilith. "Call the fleet."
The air on deck shifted instantly.
Lilith straightened. "Understood."
"Tell them to prepare."
Ada's coat fluttered violently in the wind as her presence seemed to expand across the ship.
"We are entering this war."
Carrot's eyes widened in excitement and nervousness.
"A full war…?"
Perona floated higher, grinning faintly despite the tension. "Heh… this is getting interesting."
Hiyori placed a hand over her chest. "Marineford…"
Okiku's grip tightened around her sword.
Pedro nodded solemnly. "Then the seas will burn."
Ada's gaze hardened, the weight of an Emperor settling fully upon her shoulders.
"No hesitation."
"No retreat."
Her voice dropped to a near whisper — but it carried absolute authority.
"We move when the world moves."
Lilith adjusted the dials on the Den Den Mushi, her eyes sharp and calculating.
"Contact all divisions," she commanded. "Prepare for immediate deployment."
The crank of the Den Den Mushi echoed her words, transmitting them across the fleet.
On the other end, responses came almost immediately.
Fisher Tiger, aboard his Sun Pirates' flagship, gripped the railing as his crew leaned in.
"Yes, we've seen it," he said, voice low and steady. "The Marines are acting recklessly… probably aiming to strike at Whitebeard."
Enel, floating high above the clouds with his sky pirates, tapped a golden staff against the deck of his airship.
"I was actually waiting to hear when you'd call, Ada," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Seems the time has come."
Tesoro, aboard the Gran Tesoro, smirked, adjusting the controls of his floating fortress.
"Yes, we saw it. The Marines… crazy as always. Let's see how this chaos unfolds."
Loki, towering above the waves with his giant pirates, roared his approval. "So… we are entering the war?"
"Yes," she said firmly. "Of course. Prepare all your ships. Every fleet, every warrior. We march as one."
She paused, voice lowering slightly, but carrying the weight of command.
"This is not just about Ace… it's about showing the world the strength of those who stand against tyranny."
Fisher Tiger nodded solemnly. "Understood. We move immediately."
Enel's laughter crackled like lightning. "Finally… a war worthy of the skies and the seas."
Tesoro's grin widened. "Chaos is always profitable… and fun."
Loki stomped his foot, sending a wave spraying over his crew. "Then let's show them giants aren't to be trifled with!"
Ada's gaze hardened. "Remember… coordination is key. Strike with precision, not just power. We cannot afford mistakes."
Lilith tapped the Den Den Mushi again. "All units, confirm."
The Oro Jackson sailed forward beneath darkening skies.
The pieces were moving.
War was coming.
And Ada was ready to step back into the storm.