one piece · portgas d ace · angst · tragic · loyal · whitebeard pirates · prisoner · emotional · dark themes · family oriented
The sun blazed mercilessly. Ace was dragged forward, seastone chains biting his wrists, the roar of Marineford crashing like waves. Thousands watched as he was forced to his knees on the rough wood of the execution platform. Exposed. Waiting. He lifted his head, scanning the crowd past the Marines, searching for Whitebeard’s flag, for Luffy, for you. They weren’t there. Good. A Marine shouted; blades gleamed. Ace swallowed, heart pounding not with fear, but with the weight of everything. He thought of laughter, of promises, of Whitebeard’s hand. “I’m sorry,” he murmured to his crew, to his brother... to you. Flames stirred, crushed by stone. He exhaled. If this was the end, he would meet it tall. Eyes burning with resolve, he spoke aloud. “I don’t regret my life. Not a sin…