I'm not satisfied at all with this, but it's necessary for what's to come.

Yeah, don't believe me next time I'll say it's a two-part story.

________________________________________

Years ago.

«The tattoo seems fine.» you smiled, giving a light prod to the man's shoulder, then gesturing him to get down from the infirmary bed.

Fire Fist smiled back.

«Thanks doc!»

You could see he was happy.

Ace just joined a couple of months before, and he was starting to call Whitebeard "Pops".

Thatch and Marco were able to drag him among the other crewmembers like one of you, and, well, he was integrating perfectly.

«So, what's the deal with you, doc?» Ace asked while you were reordering your medical tools.

«The deal?»

«Yep, you being the "precious daughter" and everything. I mean, does Whitebeard allow his sons to hit on you or is it forbidden?»

«Umh...» you curled your lips, slightly annoyed by the perception everyone had of you. The untouchable daughter.

Even when Whitebeard wasn't looking, most of the other commanders used to act bossy with everyone who tried to approach you.

They were just having too much fun with the role of big brothers, those assholes.

«I don't know if it's forbidden or what.» you huffed «I just never met a guy brave enough to face Pops and all the commanders to find out.»

Suddenly, it was too hot all around you.

You turned to find a cheeky freckled face hovering too close to yours. His body radiating heat, as he loomed on you.

«Well, they call me brave.» he said in a low tone.

You smirked.

«And stupid.»

But your voice wasn't breezy as you hoped, and didn't discourage him at all.

«Do they?» he hummed, getting closer.

Surprisingly, you didn't feel uncomfortable at all.

It was not typical of you to let a half-stranger hitting on you like that... maybe he was just too handsome to make any girl uncomfortable.

God.

Is this man fire?

...right.

You hold your breath, lips lightly parted as he bent on you, eyes locked, noses brushing, and...

Heavy knocks on the door made you both jump.

«Doc [Y/N]!!»

«WHAT!» you groaned, grasped on the desk «I'm busy now!»

Ace chuckled.

«Commander Marco is back!» the voice seemed to quiver, behind the door «He's... a little injured.»

«What?!»

Marco was never injured.

You pushed Fire Fist aside to reach the door and shut it open.

«Get him here!» you ordered to the man in front of you.

He nodded and disappeared on the deck.

«Sorry, Fire Fist.» you sighed, rubbing the back of your head «Brothers come first.»

He shrugged, unimpressed.

«Hey, I'm your brother too now.»

«True.» you flashed him a smile over your shoulder «Get injured and you'll come first too.»

Now.

You were kneeled on the broken plaza of Marineford, beside Ace's body.

Just a little too late, even for saying goodbye.

Your eyes got filled with tears, as you searched his expression.

He seemed... peaceful.

«I'm sorry. Ace, I'm sorry.»

But you can't hear me.

I had so many things to tell you.

His mouthy smirk was burning your mind.

Memories were flowing in your eyes, but at the same time you couldn't dethatch your orbs from his lifeless face.

People were screaming, crying, fighting all around you.

Friends? Enemies?

You weren't even able to hear them.

It was a huge blow which stirred you back in the battlefield, just a few metres from your position.

The shockwave sent you against the closest person. Who was...

«Strawhat?»

Your eyes widened when you saw his face.

Is he dead too?

You turned to see Marco still holding back Akainu.

«STRAWHAT'S SURVIVAL WAS ACE'S LAST WISH!»

His voice filled your ears.

«IF WE LET HIM DIE IT WILL BE A SHAME FOR THE WHITEBEARD PIRATES!»

You pressed both your hands on your mouth not to scream. Tears were running freely all over your face.

Jimbe appeared beside you, lifting Strawhat's inert body.

«[Y/N]! Assist him!» Marco yelled.

It was hard to see through the watery curtain that covered your eyes. Magma and blue flames were almost burning your body.

The thought of leaving Ace was killing you, but Marco was right.

He died to protect his little brother, you couldn't let it go wasted.

You bent over Ace one last time.

Brushing fingers moved a lock of black hair away from his freckled face.

«I love you, big brother. Goodbye.»

You placed a light kiss on his cheek.

Then you bolted towards Jimbe and Strawhat Luffy.

Trying your best to ignore the battle around and the ripped chest inside, you focused on Luffy, giving him a first assistance with what you had.

«It's not good!» you yelled to Jimbe.

Running away and stabilizing his blood pressure at the same time was a hard task.

«We need to reach a ship in the bay! I need more equipment or we'll lose him!»

Jimbe gritted his teeth, accelerating.

Something similar to an earthquake shook Marineford and you almost lost your balance.

«Pops?!»

Whitebeard somehow created a crated which divided all the pirates from him and the Navy.

But it wasn't all.

You were far by now, but it was like half of his face was missing.

«Oh god.»

A wave of nausea had you on your knees.

«[Y/n]-san!!» Jimbe called you with urgency «Please, don't give up! I need you!»

You growled painfully, forcing yourself back on your feet. Violently, you pushed all the feelings on the back of your head.

Later.

I'll let you devour me later.

Just...

Just make it right this time.

You turned to the plaza and took the deepest breath. Then yelled at the top of your lungs.

«I LOVE YOU POPS!! THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!!»

You never knew if he heard you.

Somehow, Teach was there. He was the one who killed Pops, in the end.

You resisted the urge to go back and kill him (there was, maybe, a tiny rational part of your brain that knew you couldn't beat him, but it was silent at the moment), and kept running along Jimbe and Strawhat.

Akainu came back for you. Ivankok stepped in the battle, but he wasn't strong enough.

«[Y/n]-san!» Jimbe addressed you «We'll meet each other on that ship! You did all you could now. We cannot stop Akainu, but if I can reach the sea, I'll have a chance.»

Behind you, Ivankok went down.

You hesitated.

«Fine!» you finally grunted «Head for the sea! I'll be waiting on the ship!»

You parted your ways. One second later, a blow of magma pierced Jimbe and Strawhat both.

«JIMBE!!»

They fell on the frozen sea, followed by Akainu.

You run towards them.

This is how I die.

You realized.

Akainu was going to kill you, there was no doubt about that. But it was okay to die for Ace's legacy.

I'll hurt you like you hurt me, Akainu.

All the feelings you were holding back, you let them blast inside you the very moment he entered your strike zone.

«EMPATHIA!»

In that moment, Crocodile attacked him too, probably saving your life. At the same time, he managed to send Jimbe and Strawhat flying towards a strange man with a big red nose.

Akainu recovered quickly, thanks to his haki.

You stepped in front of him, alone.

Just a few moments had to be enough.

Now that you gave up your life, you felt almost calm.

«[Y/n], Whitebeard's daughter.» he observed «You stabilized Strawhat, didn't you?»

He was shaken from your attack, even if just for a second.

Targeting at an emotional level could be the key with him. But it didn't matter anymore, because now he would have never allowed you to hit him again.

I'm sorry, Marco. I faced a Shichibukai AND an admiral today.

I am a terrible little sister.

His hand morphed in magma as he closed his fist.

Yeah, I want to see you using a psychological attack on THAT, [Y/n].

Nevertheless, you focused.

«I sentence you to death, [Y/n] of the Whitebeards.» he claimed.

«NO YOU WON'T!»

In a second, almost all the commanders and the allied captains were by your side.

«You won't touch our sister and you won't touch Strawhat, yoi.»

«Try to stop me, then, Whitebeard pirates.»

«[Y/n].» Marco called you, without moving his eyes from Akainu's «Take care of Strawhat, yoi.»

You swallowed, then turned and ran away, as the battle begun.

«Oi, Red Nose!»

You were trying to catch the attention of the flying pirate, running on the frozen sea.

«Who did you called Red Nose, damn girl?!»

«Take them on a ship! A big one, like–»

The ice cracked and a yellow submarine merged from the sea.

You recognized the Jolly Roger almost immediately.

A black-haired guy stepped on the deck, waving at the clown.

«Give me Strawhat-ya! I'll treat him!»

«And who the hell are you, little boy?»

«Law!!» you yelled.

Finally, something good happens!

«[Y/n]-ya?»

He seemed surprised for a moment to see your ragged figure running alone on the ice, but the sudden appearance of Kizaru caught everyone's attentions.

Shanks showed up and stopped the war.

Everybody retreated, and, somehow, Law managed to leave with Strawhat and Jimbe on board. You knew they'd be safe in his hands, because once you experienced it yourself.

Kizaru was stopped by Benn Beckman, Shanks faced Akainu directly, and Aokiji was distracted stopping some marine girl with a rifle who was trying to get herself killed between Augur's and Yasop's crossed fire.

Finally, Sengoku gave the order, and the Navy ceased fire.

The Blackbeard's Pirates were also starting their retreat.

There was just one thing left which was not exactly tamed.

«TEACH!»

You.

After reaching your brothers, you started to lose it.

The little lucidity you still had was hardly enough to maintain the power of your fruit under control, and you couldn't afford to unleash an unrestrained nightmare among your crewmates.

So you wanted to blow it in Teach's face.

You jolted towards the huge captain, not even realizing what you were doing.

«I'M KILLING YOU! I'M KILLING YOU, TEACH!»

Strong arms grabbed your upper body, restraining you.

«[Y/n], stop!»

«Yes, hold her back, Marco.» Shanks ordered, stepping between you and Blackbeard's crew.

Teach, that bastard, burst in his hateful laughter.

«[Y/n]! Long time no see! You're untamed as always!»

«SHUT UP!» you screamed, desperately trying to get away from Marco's grip «I'LL KILL YOU, YOU FILTHY TRAITOR! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!»

«[Y/n], please, calm down, yoi!» the first commander groaned in your ear.

«Yes, Marco, keep her warm for me. I'll soon come and claim my wife.»

Teach threw his disturbing grin in your faces.

You felt Marco's grip growing stiffer.

«Disgusting bastard.» he hissed.

Blackbeard gave a hint to his men, and they quickly disappeared.

Once they were gone, the silence fell on the bay.

Even when you calmed down, Marco didn't let you go. Thankfully.

His solid warm body against your back was probably the only thing that kept you together.

You grasped his arms, still wrapped around your torso, unable to let go the only thing you had left.