The battle was raging, it was difficult to discern who would win. Casualties were high on both sides. The Admirals faced the captains of Whitebeard's fleet without blinking. Ships were sunk. Captain Little Oars Junior had fallen after leading the way for his captain's crew, who were struck down by Bartholomew Kuma. The Warlords were finally on board, taking full part in the fight. Lucia was breathing hard, paralysed by the spectacle before her eyes. Even if she knew that this war would break out, witnessing it in the flesh was something else entirely. Even more so, being forced to be a spectator was a torment for the young woman.
Completely caught up in this macabre spectacle, it took her a few seconds to realise that Garp had now also climbed onto the scaffold and stood next to Ace. He sat down next to his adopted grandson as painful memories flooded back to him. Ace had always proclaimed his desire to become a pirate, protecting Luffy and Lucia constantly. He remembered the shared laughter. Of his affection.
"I have no sympathy for criminals..." the Vice Admiral began. "But for family it's different..."
Lucia turned her attention from the ongoing battle to Garp's words, turning her head at the same time as Ace to look at him. A sad smile stretched Lucia's lips, the old man obviously cared about Ace. And there was no doubt that he was suffering more than anyone else to have to lead his grandson to the scaffold. His thought was reinforced when Garp, usually so serious, stoic - or angry - began to sob, letting the tears roll down his grey beard:
"So tell me, what am I supposed to do? Ace, you little fool, why didn't you become a soldier like I told you?"
Ace bit his lip, understanding that the reason Garp had pushed them so hard to become soldiers was to protect them from this day. The day he would be forced to arrest and convict them.
"Grandpa..." he murmured, his voice trembling.
Lucia turned away, also feeling tears welling up. There was no way the old man was going to see her crying at this moment.
A shadow in the sky caught her attention. She craned her neck to try and get a glimpse of the unidentified object. She heard the voices. She heard the scream. Her jaw literally dropped from her face, her eyes opened so wide that the air stung her retina. She was stunned.
"FOR GOD'S SAKE THIS CHILD IS A PAIN!" she screamed in despair.
"I'M COMING AAAACE!" thundered Luffy in his free fall.
Ace couldn't speak, the shock was too much for him. First Garp letting his emotions go and now Luffy falling from the sky. The ship that accompanied the escapees from Impel Down crashed hard into the bay, into the only hole on the ice surface. Once he came to, Luffy called out to his brother without stopping, searching for him all over Marineford. He finally saw the stage on which the execution was to be held, Ace in the foreground of it, flanked by Sengoku and Garp. Once he got past the initial joy of finally finding his brother, he discerned the figure of Lucia behind them. Jinbei had told him the truth, it was no longer just his brother's life that was at stake, but also that of his sister at heart. The Elementalist Lucia. Taking no more breath, he yelled out the first name of his two siblings:
"AAACE!!! LUCIAAAA !!!!"
The two convicts shouted back in unison, spitting out Luffy's name. The sounds echoed in the dusty air of the Navy HQ. Completely stunned, Lucia discerned the men flanking Luffy. Crocodile. Ivankov. Baggy. Jinbei. She thought back to what she had said to Ace earlier in the prison, as she had expected Luffy had indeed surrounded himself with allies. And not the least. His entrance stunned all the forces present. Pirate captains and soldiers alike were amazed. Yet their alliance soon seemed obsolete as Crocodile rushed in to try to kill Whitebeard. Quick as a flash, Luffy stepped in and pushed the former Warlord away.
"Am I dreaming that he's chatting with Whitebeard without blinking? Well, my friend, only him can do that!"
She laughed out loud when Luffy proclaimed that he would be the Pirate's King, his face tense with rage. She knew, she knew, that his boldness and integrity would win the legendary pirate's heart. It was only a matter of time. Luffy was made of the stuff of those who are respected and valued.
"May I ask what you're laughing at?"
She gave to Ace a proud look before answering:
"I just think that there's never one of them to catch up with the other two. No matter what happens, no matter who's ahead of us, we've got to get smart and shout. Some siblings, huh?"
"I don't think it's funny, Lucia," Ace replied, looking more worried than ever.
She calmed down:
"Don't get me wrong, I'm scared for him too. But I know better than anyone to not underestimate him. I'd prefer him to leave this place wisely, but I have the divine intuition that he won't change his mind until he gets here, in front of us. That runs in the family too."
Ace was terrified. More than Lucia, much more. He felt guilty. His crew, his brother, his family, all risking their lives here to save him. Unable to bear it, he screamed:
"Don't come to save me Luffy !"
Interloqued, Lucia looked at him without understanding. Then she saw his face tense with pain and grief and immediately closed the mouth she had opened to retort. Her face broke down as she finally understood the feeling that had overtaken Ace since she had found him at Impel Down. Until then she had barely understood what had caused him to give up so easily. Now she understood. She blamed herself for taking so long to put the pieces together. Ace felt guilty, he had not lived up to her expectations. He had gone against his captain's orders, lost to Blackbeard, and now those he loved might die to save his life. In his mind, he was responsible for their lives right now, and he might be responsible for their deaths if they happened. And he didn't want people dying for him.
"You know very well why I say that, don't you? You and I are both pirates! Each of us sails free and goes wherever we want! This is my life, my destiny and my adventures! I have my own crew and my own companions! I have no desire for you to interfere in any way with my business! To see a runt like you here trying to save my life is an affront to me, a shame I could never accept!"
Lucia looked away, unable to bear to see Ace's face distorted by these words. Fear, grief and anger were all mixed up in his features as he screamed at his brother. She didn't really know where the truth was in his words, but one thing was for sure: he was being deliberately harsh with Luffy to make him turn back and save his own skin while there was still time.
"I want you to leave ! Why did you come?"
"Ace..." Lucia murmured, her head down, taking in every sentence and the pain that went with it.
I can't just sit back and do nothing, it's just not possible. She'd always been told not to act, to keep a low profile, not to make waves. Ever since she was a little girl. Shut up and obey. Don't show yourself. Don't say anything. Just wait. Don't move. Be patient. This time she had had enough, she was about to speak when Luffy's voice echoed through the bay:
"I am... I AM YOUR BROTHER!"
Damn it! As if he wasn't in enough trouble as it is!
**
"Let me tell you something. If we exchange cups of sake, we'll be brothers."
"What about me?"
"You're a girl, girls don't drink!"
"Yes I do!"
"No, you don't."
"She's kind of our sister, though, isn't she? Come on, Ace, be nice to her for once."
"I said no!"
"You're not nice!"
"I don't care, whiny princess!"
"Shishishi, I will let you drink from my cup!"
"So will I!"
"Did you two listen to me? I said no!"
**
Tears welled up in Lucia's eyes, tears of rage that were rooted in a deep-seated resentment. It was unfair. Deeply unfair. While Ace and Luffy continued to spar, Sengoku took the opportunity to reveal his identity to the world, linking him to Monkey D. Dragon the revolutionary. The men in Marineford were overwhelmed by the shock of this second revelation in the space of a few hours.
"The die is cast..." Garp breathed, "There's no point in hiding the truth any longer. The two brothers are as stupid as each other I think!"
Yes Garp, indeed, but you can't say you don't like them for that.
"AAACE!" shouted Luffy. "Say what you will, brother, but you and Lucia, I'll save you even if it kills me!"
Ace was completely disillusioned, his words had had the opposite effect of what he had hoped for. Instead of pushing his brother to turn back, he had only fed his determination and his rage to win. And what was worse, he had ended up transmitting his energy to all the pirates in Whitebeard's fleet who were now following him, driven by the same sacred flame.
Completely overwhelmed, Ace began to tremble. He bent over and laid his head on the ground, jerking as one question swirled in his mind: why?
I am... YOUR BROTHER!
In its circle it touches dozens of other men and women who care about you and want you to live. And I am one of them, damn it. I refuse to see you die like this!
"You're idiots..." Ace articulated, forehead still on the ground. "Luffy... Lucia... and you too father..."
Join me and become my son !
"What's wrong?" Garp called out.
"Whatever my fate is... I am ready to accept it. I will take the hand that is held out to me, I will accept the blade that will punish me. I have decided... not to fight any more. For their sake I must remain dignified."
"Make a fool of me again and I swear that it is by my hand that you will die!" shouted Lucia
Ace turned to her:
"You said you would respect my choices."
"Save your energy," she said simply, looking out to the horizon. "Indeed, stop fidgeting. But don't lose faith."
"Forget Lucia..."
"Never!" she spat.
He was not surprised, she had always been like that. Impulsive, arrogant. It was part of her character. She wouldn't give up until they killed her. Deep down, he hoped that his family would indeed make it here, not to save him, but for her. She had nothing to do with this conflict and she did not deserve to die, to share his fate here. So he closed his eyes and silently implored his brother to stay alive and save her, to save his sister.