East Blue
A heavy tension, like a rising tide, crept into the tavern and smothered all sound. Where there had once been laughter and clinking glasses, now there was only silence. Every patron sat with their drink untouched, eyes fixed on the news that had shaken the world.
Ace… why was this happening?
At the bar, Makino's tears fell freely, soaking the worn wood beneath her hands. When the bulletin first arrived announcing Ace's scheduled execution at Marineford, she had refused to believe it. She had suspected a cruel rumor or a forgery. But the official newspaper laying open before her bore every Marine insignia it should, leaving no room for doubt.
Ace was family to her, just as Luffy and Sabo had been.
Sabo was gone already, lost to the World Government's sea of fire. Now Ace was condemned to die. And there was nothing she could do to stop it.
"We can only hope the Whitebeard Pirates win," a farmer said quietly, "so Ace can be saved."
His sentiment found agreement.
"Exactly, as second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, Whitebeard will come for him," another villager in overalls said, lifting his cup in a trembling gulp.
A scarred man nodded. "If Whitebeard wins, Ace won't die."
"But this is Marineford," said a shorter man barely 1.2 meters tall, "even Whitebeard might not pull through."
Crash!
A man with a pointy nose and a green hat slammed his glass on the table, drunk and fiery. "You idiots, Whitebeard is the World's Strongest Man. He can't lose."
"That may have been true before," the man in overalls replied with a sigh. "These days, the strongest is Rolan."
The scarred man brightened at once. "Right! Rolan. How did I forget? He's close with Ace. If he shows up at Marineford, nothing can stop him."
Thump… thump…
A cane struck the floor as an elderly voice bellowed with authority, "Quiet now, you brats! Are you seriously talking about rescuing a pirate in my tavern?"
All eyes turned as the village chief, slightly bent with age but sharp of voice, entered.
"That's Ace, not just any pirate," the man in the green hat said, raising his drink again.
The village chief's eyes, though tired, still gleamed with emotion beneath his hat. "My eyes aren't swollen," he grumbled, turning his head away. "I just need a nap."
Makino wiped her cheeks. "We absolutely cannot let Dadan hear about this."
A collective murmur of agreement rose. Dadan wasn't a robber of homes; she protected the village. Everyone knew how she cared for Luffy, Ace, and Sabo like her own sons. When Sabo died, she hadn't eaten for days. If she learned Ace might die too, the consequences would be unimaginable.
The village chief looked up at the ceiling, voice low and heavy, "This world is already on the brink, must another war break out?"
Gum-Gum Island, South Blue — Take It Or Leave It Restaurant
"There are only five hours until the execution. Where is Whitebeard's ship? Is he really coming to save Ace?" a one-armed man asked while wiping his sword.
His red-curly-haired friend shrugged. "Who knows if he's coming. Whitebeard's old now. You almost never hear news of him at sea anymore."
The sword-wiper nodded. "If that's true, then he might lose at Marineford."
Bang!
A glass shattered against the table, drawing every eye to the corner where a pirate sat with one eye covered by an eyepatch. He wore the attire of a seasoned seafarer who had long since retired from the Grand Line.
"Don't underestimate him," the pirate said with a grin, "Whitebeard hasn't aged the way normal men do. Five years ago, my crew and I looked at him and thought all hope was lost."
The man with red hair frowned. "Is Whitebeard really that strong? Then why did Rolan take his title as the strongest?"
The pirate chuckled. "It's not that Whitebeard became weak, it's just that Rolan is something else entirely. Otherwise, why would the Marines throw every force they have against Whitebeard now?"
Grand Line Entrance, Twin Cape
An old man with soft eyes stood beside a massive whale, looking out at the slowly drifting clouds.
"Hey Laboon, do you think it'll happen?" the old man asked quietly.
Laboon responded with a curious coo, tilting his head as though trying to understand.
The man, Crocus, ship doctor of the legendary Roger Pirates, sighed as he gazed toward the horizon. "What will become of this world? Chaos already stalks every sea, and now another war looms."
Crocus understood the strength of the Whitebeard Pirates better than most. Before Rolan's rise, Whitebeard had stood unrivaled. But now, with the combined might of the Marines and the Warlords arrayed against him, the outcome seemed uncertain. Regardless of who won, Crocus knew the world itself would pay the price.
West Blue — A Church Filled with Vows
Dozens of couples stood before the altar, exchanging vows.
"Do you take this woman to be your wife, to love, honor, and cherish her, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?" the priest asked.
"I do," came the unified response.
Then the next line.
"I do."
They were ordinary people, yet today they chose this moment to declare commitment because the world felt like it was slipping into chaos. If they didn't grasp love while they could, who knew what tomorrow would bring?
A nun watching them clasped her hands and prayed softly, "God, what will become of this world? Can common people still live in peace?"
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