ONCE but never TWICE [One Shots]

Ablaze [One Piece] - part 1

On a battlefield, ablaze with the will of becoming the triumphant one, in front of where the pirate king's execution had occurred. A war between pirates and the Marine, a governmental organisation that aim to restrict the pirates, whom they see as degenerated criminals.

In this war, the pirates are led by one supernova, Monkey D. Luffy, who desperately wants to save his sworn brother, Portgas D. Ace from his execution.

An execution, only, prompted by the finding, of the latter's blood ties to the king of pirates, Gol D. Roger, made him carry the burden of being dubbed, a cursed child. Why does the child have to pay the price for the parents' mistakes? If the father or mother is guilty, then is the child also guilty of something, he or she didn't do? Will a child become like a perfect copy of the parents, despite being different?

The point here is that nothing is set in stone, not now, not ever.

Luffy was so occupied, battling to reach his brother who was on death row, while defending himself against the multiple attacks of the Marine's officers, that he didn't notice that one of them, had managed to slip behind him.

The said officer, being Akainu, one of the three admirals; one despicable individual that, believes that all things, including innocent people, can be sacrificed, to reach his goals.

That same man is prepared to strike down, the unaware teen. Nobody had noticed, except for Ace, who hurried with all his will, to put himself in front of his brother and take the brunt of the aggression; to save the former. It would have done it as many times as needed, if it meant losing his life, in exchange; believing that, if he could save him, then nothing else mattered.

All things happened, in slow motion, the fist made of magma was at only a few centimetres from Ace's back, when suddenly, a gust of wind appeared from nowhere. Making all people in the surroundings, close and cover their eyes. Reopening them, they could see a woman dressed in a black and white outfit, standing there casually with, a menacing glare in her glass-covered eyes that hide her eyes' actual colour. Her outfit, very similar to the Marine officers' outfit, are also widely different.

The woman was wearing a loose black shirt with, frills near the end of the sleeves, matched up with white pants and an overcoat, that looked like a cloak, although, more elegant. Her platinum blond hair was styled in a high ponytail, reaching the middle of her back. And finally, a black plague doctor mask, with the tip painted in scarlet red, strangely reminding them of the colour of the blood. Nobody truly knew the reason behind that choice, but many theories have already been made.

All of them were shocked to see her here at this exact moment on the battlefield. Knowing that she typically wouldn't even take a step on one because she is known as a pacifist. She had never sided; with either the Marines or the pirates. She is neutral.

The two, who recovered from their initial shock, are Luffy and Ace, who excitedly shouted something that astounded the other even more. If, they weren't in the middle of a battlefield, no doubt they would have hugged her, putting all their weight on her. Now then, try imagining two soon-to-be adults cuddling a woman, putting all their weight on her, and all their members embraced around her. Do you have that image in your mind? That would have happened in another circumstance, but not right now.  

"Grandma!!!" This statement alone made the battlefield pause, but it irked her.

"What? It's only now, you remember that you have a grandma. Honestly, why are you always in dangerous situations, huh? Are you purposefully going toward dangers, or is the danger attracted to you?" She said, facepalming and a throbbing vein pulsing on her forehead. Then her glare returned and was directed to the admiral, who had dared to attempt murdering one of her non-blood-related grandsons. "As for You! You pathetic excuse of an admiral! Next time, if you even think about it, will be the day I will personally take you to hell!"