A Different Ending

Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece.
Warning: The italic parts are memories.

"Marco!" Ace screamed with all his might. Marco just smiled in his direction with the magma fist through his chest. 'No! No! No! This can't be happening!' Ace thought as he stared in shock as Marco's body fell against his. "A-Ace," Marco said with blood dripping down his mouth. "I'm sorry but I guess I'm leaving ahead of you, yoi." "No don't say that Marco. You'll be fine." Ace said even if he didn't actually believe it. "Ace please don't make this any harder. I love you, yoi." As Ace was about to interrupt Marco stopped him. "Please let me finish. I'm sorry that I have to go so soon. I love you so much Ace. Don't blame yourself for this because its not your fault. Its the world thats to blame. If I had any regrets it would be that I can't spend more time with you and the crew, yoi." Marco coughed out blood and it landed on Ace's shoulder and his beaded necklace.
"You'll be fine Ace. You'll continue living and you'll watch your brother become the king of the pirates. I believe that you can get past this, my love. You're stronger then this and I know that you'll live for the both of us. I love you so much and I'm glad that you were born, yoi." Ace's eyes were streaming with tears and snot was falling from his nose. "I love you too. Goodnight Marco." With those words Marco smiled and closed his eyes for the last time. It was their agreement that if one of them was dying in the other's presence then they would send them off with a good night wish. Ace hugged Marco's corpse close to his body as he screamed his sorrow for the world to hear. "MARCO!"

Ace awoke with a jolt. As he gathered his senses he realized that he was lying in bed. As he remembered his dream he burst into tears with sobs racking his body. Oh how he hoped it was just a dream and that Marco would walk through the door but he knew better. Marco was dead. It wasn't a dream but a nightmare. A memory of what happened in Marine Ford. With that thought a new wave of tears burst from Ace's eyes.

First Thatch left then Marco and even Oyaji! Ace didn't know how much more he could take. He got up and stumbled to the bathroom. What was left of the crew were on the Moby Dick. Shanks, who arrived too late to the war, was able to secure them an island to place grave markers for the dead. When Ace got a good look at himself in the mirror he noticed the dark bags under his eyes and how red his eyes looked. His eyes ignored that though and instead looked directly at the small tattoo he has on his collar bone. It was a name but not just any name. It was the name of his dead lover, Marco.

He remembers when they decided to get it to show others who they belonged to. Marco had a matching one on his own collar bone with Ace's name etched into the skin.

"Marco~" Ace called out with a sing songy voice as he entered their shared room. Marco looked up from the paper work that he was working on to look at his young lover. Marco smiled lovingly at Ace and that made the younger pirate's heart skip a beat. "Yes, yoi?" Ace sat down on Marco's lap knowing that Marco would never reject him.
"I have an awesome idea about something we could do as a couple." Ace said happily as he rested his head on Marco's shoulder. Marco began to brush his fingers through Ace's hair as he hummed to show Ace that he's listening. "We should get matching tattoos!" Ace said excitedly. Marco raised an eyebrow, "How long did it take you to come up with that one, yoi?" Ace pouted, "Don't be mean but its to show our love." Marco smiled, "I don't need something like that to tell me I love you. My heart already does that, yoi." Ace blushed heavily, "Don't be such a cheese ball!" Marco chuckled before kissing Ace. "You love it though," Marco whispered in Ace's ear.
This made Ace blush even harder but he didn't deny it. That made Marco laugh. "Anyway its to show other people that we belong to someone." Ace said with the blush refusing to disappear. Marco smiled before kissing Ace's cheek. "That's a wonderful idea, yoi." Ace smiled brightly, "I know but what kind of tattoos should we get?" Marco thought about it for a bit before kissing Ace on his collar bone, "Right here and you can get my name and I'll get yours, yoi." "Okay!"

As Ace was remembering that sweet memory he heard someone knocking on his door. When he answered it he found Izo on the other side. Izo was wearing light make up instead of what he usually wears but was wearing his usual pink kimono. Ace noticed that Izo's eyes were red just like his were when he looked in the mirror. "Hurray up and get ready its almost time to say our goodbyes." Ace nodded and Izo walked away. Ace was suddenly hit with the memory of when Izo and Thatch finally got together a month after he and Marco announced their relationship.

Ace was sitting with Marco watching Izo and Thatch act weirdly. "What do you think is wrong with them?" Ace asked Marco. "I don't know, yoi. If it was something that would hurt the crew then I'm sure they would tell us." Ace nodded then sighed while leaning against Marco. "I hope they're okay."
A few days later the crew was having a party when Izo and Thatch had an announcement to make. Ace, who was still sober, was talking to Haruta when they began to talk. Ace excused himself and joined Marco. "Okay so Izo and I have something to say. We've been meaning to tell everyone but never really got around to it." Thatch said nervously. Izo elbowed him because of his stalling. "Izo and I are dating." For a moment it everything was silent except for the gentle waves of the sea. Then everyone started cheering for the two commanders.
After everyone finished congratulating them Ace and Marco could finally talk to them. "Thatch I never expected you to actually be into men." Ace said excitedly. Thatch sheepishly smiled, "Me neither but meh love changes people." Ace laughed, "It sure does." The two then began to grin like idiots before their respective lovers dragged them off.

Ace smiled bitterly at the memory before he finished getting ready. He had on his usual outfit from before the war but over his belt was Marco's silky blue sash that he always used to wear. Ace couldn't bring himself to leave it at Marco's grave and it made him feel closer to his lover. Ace sighed before walking out of the room. The one he and Marco used to share.

Author's Note:
Hello~ This is just a story idea I had. I don't know if anyone will actually like this but if I get like ten views or one vote then I'll add more. Hope I didn't hurt anyone to badly. I know that I cried as I wrote the beginning of this. Until next time (I think) Luckies! *waves fiercely*