On the Run

The sun had barely risen over the horizon, casting a faint golden light over the turbulent seas. Aboard the Thousand Sunny, Luffy leaned against the railing, his straw hat pulled low over his eyes. Despite the calm of the early morning, tension filled the air. Ace was free, but the danger was far from over.

The events at Marineford were still fresh in everyone's minds. Luffy had managed to rescue his brother with the help of their allies, but now, they were fugitives, being hunted by the Marines. The escape from Marineford had taken everything out of Luffy, and though Ace was alive, they were both badly injured.

"Luffy," Chopper said, approaching him cautiously, "you need to rest. You're not fully recovered yet, and neither is Ace."

Luffy shook his head, his eyes dark with determination. "We don't have time, Chopper. The Marines are going to come after us, and Blackbeard won't stop until he finds Ace again."

Behind them, Ace lay on a makeshift bed in the infirmary, his body covered in bandages. He was breathing steadily now, but the toll of the battle weighed heavily on him. Chopper had done everything he could, but Ace's wounds were deep, both physically and emotionally.

"I won't let them take him again," Luffy muttered, clenching his fists. "We'll keep running if we have to, but we're not going to let anyone touch Ace."

Meanwhile, across the sea, Blackbeard stood on the deck of his ship, staring out over the waters with a sinister grin. News of Ace's escape had reached him, and he wasn't happy. Ace was supposed to be his ticket to further cementing his power. Now that he had gained Whitebeard's ability to cause quakes, Blackbeard wanted to crush his enemies and claim dominance over the seas—but having Ace escape him was an insult he couldn't stand.

"Zehahahaha!" Blackbeard laughed, his grin stretching across his face. "That brat Luffy managed to get Ace out of Marineford, but I'm not done with them yet. He's still a key to my plans."

Shiryu, his right-hand man, leaned against the mast of the ship, eyeing Blackbeard with a mix of boredom and curiosity. "What do you want with him now? You already got Whitebeard's power."

Blackbeard turned to Shiryu, his eyes gleaming with a dark ambition. "Ace is more than just a stepping stone to power. He's the son of Gol D. Roger. His bloodline makes him valuable—dead or alive. If I take him out, I send a message to the whole world: that I, Marshall D. Teach, am the one who will inherit the throne of Pirate King."

Shiryu smirked, drawing his sword casually. "So we're chasing him down, then?"

"We'll hunt him to the ends of the earth if we have to," Blackbeard growled. "And once we find him, I'll crush him, just like I crushed Whitebeard."

The Blackbeard Pirates set sail with renewed determination, their dark flag flying high as they pursued their prey.

Back on the Thousand Sunny, the crew gathered in the galley, discussing their next move. Nami spread out a map on the table, her brow furrowed as she traced their route.

"We can't keep going like this," she said, her voice tinged with frustration. "The Marines are everywhere, and if Blackbeard is looking for us too, we won't be able to outrun them forever."

Sanji, leaning against the doorframe with a cigarette dangling from his lips, nodded in agreement. "She's right. We need a place to lay low, at least until Ace recovers. If we keep running like this, we're going to burn out."

Zoro crossed his arms, his expression as calm as ever. "So where do we go? Anywhere we hide, they'll find us eventually."

"What about the Revolutionary Army?" Robin suggested, her eyes thoughtful. "They might be able to offer us protection, especially if they know Ace is with us. He's important to them."

Luffy's ears perked up at the mention of the Revolutionary Army. His mind immediately went to Sabo, their brother, who had been raised by the Revolutionaries after losing his memory. Luffy hadn't seen him since the battle at Dressrosa, but if anyone could help them now, it was Sabo.

"We'll head toward the Revolutionaries," Luffy decided, his voice firm. "Sabo can help us. I know he will."

The crew exchanged glances, nodding in agreement. The Revolutionary Army had the resources and the manpower to keep them safe, and Sabo would stop at nothing to protect his brothers. But getting to them would be dangerous. The Marines and Blackbeard's crew were closing in fast, and the journey through the New World was never easy.

As the Thousand Sunny sailed toward a distant island rumored to be a hideout for the Revolutionary Army, the crew kept their guard up, knowing they could be attacked at any moment.

"How's Ace doing?" Luffy asked Chopper, who had just come from the infirmary.

"He's stable for now," Chopper replied. "But he still needs more time to heal. His body took a lot of damage at Marineford. We have to be careful not to push him too hard."

Luffy's face darkened with worry, but he nodded. He knew Chopper was right. Ace had barely escaped death, and the last thing they needed was to end up in another fight before he had recovered. Still, Luffy couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out.

As if sensing his thoughts, Nami called out from the crow's nest. "Luffy, we've got company!"

Luffy's eyes snapped to the horizon, where he could see the dark silhouettes of Marine battleships closing in on them. His heart raced as the sight of the ships brought back memories of the war, but this wasn't the time for hesitation.

"Everyone, get ready!" Luffy shouted, his fists already clenching. "We've got to fight them off!"

The crew leaped into action, preparing for battle. Zoro unsheathed his swords, Sanji flicked his cigarette to the side, and Usopp loaded his slingshot. The Marines weren't going to let them get away easily, but the Straw Hats weren't going down without a fight.

As the first volley of cannon fire erupted from the Marine ships, Luffy's heart pounded in his chest. They were fighting for more than just their lives now—they were fighting for Ace's freedom. He couldn't let them take his brother away again.

With a battle cry, Luffy launched himself toward the enemy ships, ready to face whatever came next.

On the Marine battleship, Vice Admiral Momonga stood at the helm, his eyes cold as he watched the Thousand Sunny dart between the waves.

"Straw Hat Luffy," he muttered under his breath. "You're not escaping this time. We'll bring Ace back to face justice, and your pirate crew will fall with him."

As the Marines closed in on the Straw Hats, the chase across the New World had begun. But Luffy wasn't going to stop. Not now, not ever.