right to be born

Before Phoenix knew it everyone were drinking, laughing, eating, gaming and etc. As he watched everything he can't help but ask loudly.

"Is this normal?" He heard laughter from behind then felt an arm rounded his neck just to see it was Vista. "That's very normal, we're pirates!" A loud cheer of agreement was heard.

Phoenix sigh, "Fifth commander"

"Vista"

"Vista your heavy." Vista immediately adjust his weight over him. "Sorry Marco forgot you're a kid."

"I'm fourteen"

"Still a kid."

"I prefer to be called teen or young teen but not kid."

That made everyone laugh.

Ace grinned widely, "Who would really have thought the one who saved Thatch is actually the lost brother and I must say it's a very good to meet you." He began eating large amount of food. To those who took a peek on what Phoenix's reaction would be after seeing their second commander eat, they never expect for him to see it normal.

"But you know, I'm kind of curious about this Anna so I took a little research and found something interesting." Haruta said as she brought out a paper for them to see. "Anna known epithet as Blood Dancer Anna was wanted two years ago and died in the hands of the marine.

She became wanted after poisoning a large number of nobles and massacred not one but many Tenryuubito." They noticed Phoenix downcast from the cause of her death. "It says there's another person who became wanted as well but due to not knowing the appearance nor its name he was classified as Cloak Man. The report say this Anna pushed the cloak man off the cliff for him to get away while she fought the marines until death."

"They thought she did." Phoenix decided to add on knowing they would ask him about it, "When I return back the battlefield I had seen many dead marines, Anna however was missing. I searched for her when I heard them talking about not finding her and when I did... she's not dead but almost due the loss of too much blood and grave wounds. That's when she gave me this notebook and her sword, ask me to fulfill her last wish and live as who I truly am... Marco the Phoenix."

"Marco" Haruta whispered in concern.

He took a deep breath to continue, "In her last breath, her last words were... If anyone told you, you don't deserve to live, question them. If I don't deserve to live then who gave you a right to live, who gave you a right to judge who exist and who doesn't. Because I believe that ones you are born in this world, you have an automatic right to live and no one had a power to take that right from you, not even yourself... Now let me prove to you that I am glad and happy for you to live and die for your safety. I love you and I'm sorry for keeping so many things from you. Now at this point you must live as you really are... Marco... Marco the Phoenix..."

Those who heard were driven to silence, especially Ace who still until now question about his existence.

For a long silence, Izo questioned heavily, "Why did she... told you that?"

Phoenix curled himself and that's when everyone realized how afraid their new Marco actually was.

"Ever since that day... the day those... tenryuubito arrive to our island... he gave orders to capture every single one of us to become slaves... went to the point my power was revealed after saving a grandma who's very kind to me... they're about to take me when... Anna appeared and killed them, even the World Noble and the knights, living none of them to escape.

This was enough to give fear those who live in the village so Anna threaten change their location because if no one does she will kill them which gave them an automatic response to gather their things and escape... Then Anna told me to sail on the next island and wait for her. I didn't know why she told me to wait and not escape together until I found why... she... took all the lives of all unconscious knights to prevent leaks but... one of them woke up and reported about me.

This cause an assumption that it was me who had done it. In order to shift their priority... Anna waited for the Marines to arrive, fought against them then escaped. Hunt another Tenryuubito ship that's supposed to return back to Mariejois then massacred them with no remorse, fought another marines then escaped to reunite with me again."

He paused before continuing.

"Anna and I being chased almost day and night. Anna kept fighting and prohibiting me of either helping or showing myself. She... pushed herself so hard to the point I blame myself for everything and actually blame my existence and powers of it... Although Anna insist I mustn't because to begin with, she's the one who started it by poisoning the crops that killed a lot of nobles."

All became sad toward Marco and angry toward themselves for not being there when their brother needed them, mostly furious toward the Tenryuubito for making Marco question about his existence.

"Marco" The Phoenix didn't move from his curled self. He felt someone comforting him which he knew it was Whitebeard. "Ever since you step forward the sea, you are already a child of the sea. No matter what past you bear or what kind of darkness lures within you." His eyes harden in resolute, "If anyone harms my son, they will face me first before they get to you."

His promising words really shocked Phoenix and he could hear some saying they will too and another until it became a cries of many. This caused him to feel his heavy burden to be lift off, knowing he's no longer alone. He whispered, "No need now because they thought I died... but I appreciate it... Cap... Whi-Whitebeard... ehh..."

Whitebeard gave a loud laughter and joined by the others. They never heard their Marco stumble in words before, now even if he's a new Marco it's still new and funny.

"You may have a new life but feel free to call me Oyaji like the rest Marco. New or old you are still my son."

Phoenix blushed so hard that he had to curl himself ones again to hide it. Everyone kept laughing except Ace who's actually in deep thought. He recalled Phoenix words that this Anna told him.

"Because I believe that ones you are born in this world, you have an automatic right to live and no one had a power to take that right from you, not even yourself."

Ace sigh deeply as he looked above the sky, 'Automatic right huh... even if it means it's the son of the demon... you still have a right to... exist?'

Ace kept pondering the words that he didn't sense Phoenix approaching him until he called.

"Ace" His gazed turned to Phoenix who has a serious expression and a notebook in hand. "Anna in this note told me to tell you this if ever we meet personally." Ace sat straightly to hear what it's about to say. Phoenix looked at the notes and read out loud.

"Portgas D. Ace I'm Anna someone you know very well told me a lot about you. I had left a message for you in hope Phoenix had met you personally. Ace please live more, because someone out there wanted to meet you. That someone was your other brother, Sabo. Sabo is part of the Revolutionary Army, leading as the Revolutionary Dragon's number two. Their current location as I had ones confirmed before is Baltigo. Before meeting him however there's something you must know, Sabo had lost his memories, it happened when his small boat was burned by Tenryuubito and currently doesn't remember you nor Luffy, that's the reason he had never told you he's actually alive... He will only do ones he reached the news about the War of the Best and learned your death which he had totally regret for not coming there for your rescue. If you are Ace who doesn't know about the War of the Best ask Phoenix, it is his second mission if ever he had failed to save Thatch."

Ace had a lot to process. One his brother Sabo whom he believed was dead but if Anna said was true, he's actually alive and currently part of the Revolutionary Army. Two his brother Sabo doesn't remember him nor Luffy, the reason he didn't come to tell them he's actually alive nor any indication that could say he's indeed alive. Third was something he had never expected, he died and from the looks of things its early death and it's in war but war with whom and why, who would dare declare war to the Whitebeard Pirates? Fourth what does she mean being rescued? Sabo regret not rescuing him? If the amnesia said was true well it's only natural, he won't be there for his... rescue...?

"What war? Why regret rescuing me? How did it start?" Ace questioned and everyone wanted to hear it too because its war and someone actually declared war against Whitebeard the strongest man in the world.

Phoenix search about the war until he found it.

"The war was called War of the Best, a war between Whitebeard Pirates and Marines." That shocked them. "Anna didn't say much information but all it says because the Marine had planned your execution in Marineford."

"Wait, Ace was captured!?" Jozu exclaim in disbelief. Phoenix shook his head, "He's not captured but was handed over by Marchal D. Teach." The revelation shocked them. Phoenix continued, "If we look closely, if Thatch actually died last night then Ace as you all noticed felt very responsible and took off to find Teach and kill him but maybe he did not expect the devil fruit that's actually known as Yami Yami no Mi, a devil fruit that could neutralize any devil fruit user's power."

That gave another shock but Thatch felt different, he felt horror because it would be his own carelessness that could lead Ace and the other crew to be led to war.

"From my second mission if ever I failed the first, Ace maybe in the platform of execution but Monkey D. Luffy, Ace's little brother who also infrared Impel Down just for his rescue went to war and fought with one thing in mind and save him was able to free him and pirates made a run but Admiral Sakazuki known as Akainu had bad mouth about Whitebeard, leading you to fight him."

Ace had to use everything he could in order not to burn everything. He had pushed himself to calm down before asking, "Was that how I died? Because of my personality of not running in the fight?" To his surprise Phoenix shook his head.

"Instead of continuing fighting you, Akainu head off to kill your little brother instead." That widen Ace's eyes in disbelief. "Luffy from this notes don't look like he had enough strength to either dodge or run, he must have seen him coming in front of him with no strength to save himself." Phoenix took a deep breath before revealing them the truth, "Instead of your brother, you intercept and used your own body to protect him. You died in his arms."

Ace felt horror, body trembling because imagining it actually happened made him sick, how much more when it actually happened? Imagining himself in Luffy's place doubled it. Thatch was no exception because he now felt responsible if ever that will actually happen.

Phoenix took deep breath ones again before facing Whitebeard who has an unreadable expression. "After Ace's death, Whitebeard will soon follow by sacrificing himself to have the rest escape." That made them everyone felt horror. "You are killed by Teach who became part of the Shichibukai after handing Ace over the Marines. He took your Gura Gura no Mi to become his own." He looked away, "The notes said Marchal D. Teach was the first person who had two devil fruit powers. How he done it must have something to do with Yami Yami no Mi. On the other hand, you had said something in your final breath, leading another new era of Pirates just like Gol D. Roger did ones in his execution."

Whitebeard closed his eyes, somehow knowing what he had bellowed for the world to meet the new era. He didn't really mind what's about to happen to him, he really would rather die fighting than in bed. As he processed everything knowing well the real reason the war actually happened was because of Ace's parentage, something clicked.

"Your second mission, it's about preventing Ace's death." It's not a question knowing its true. Phoenix glanced to him and added, "And so is yours."

Whitebeard's eyes harden, how can Anna actually ask something like this heavy to a young teen to deal with? Punishment for his failure in saving Thatch or huge trust he could actually do it. Since he had never met her he had no right to judge her.

Before things could go more depressing it broke when Thatch began his crocodile tears and rocket himslf to hug Ace.

"Ace my brother I'm sorry because of my carelessness and died there you will have to face something that you don't deserve to happen! Ace how can I redeem myself to you? Should I kill myself as my apology, should I drown myself, please tell me!"

Ace began pushing him but he won't budge at all, "Let me go Thatch! Let me go!"

"Let him go Thatch because it's not only him you should be apologizing." Turning around, Thatch saw the dark looks of his brothers, weapon in hands. "G-gu-guys?"

"It's time for punishment... Thatch." Haruta said so dark that Thatch began to shriek and run for his life, everyone chasing him.

Phoenix could only blink, not expecting that kind of reaction. Observing closely there's no real anger within those eyes, only determination which he was sure about not letting it happen no matter what, they would protect their whole family, especially Ace and the said person looks very down founded and never noticed the determination within them.

"Ace" He heard Whitebeard approaching Fire Fist and whispered something that made Ace tear up and nodded. Whitebeard smile before turning to Phoenix. Gaze was enough for Phoenix to receive the silent message that made him smile. He returned the message which made Whitebeard laugh heartedly.

You are my son and I will protect you with my life.

Don't take everything too much, give us some credit.