Trial by Error

Chapter One

Despite the fact that Gol D. Roger is Ace's biological father Ace will always be a member of the Monkey family. Garp has never felt anything less for Ace and has always shown him the same love that he shows Luffy, including his well-known "Fist of Love". Even before Luffy had been born Ace had always held a place in Garp's heart.

That Sengoku is even allowing for Ace to be used to spark a war against Whitebeard, of all the pirates in the world, is making Garp seriously reconsider quite a few things. Resigning from the marines, for one, is looking more favorable by the second, especially if Garp's foolish grandchildren make it out of this damnable war alive. Ever since Ace had been entrusted to his care Garp had often thought of resigning and with Luffy now thrown into the fray it is an idea that Garp is definitely going to go through with.

Garp will no longer be at odds with them, forever chasing them down and cursing the fact that they have chosen to live as pirates; and if those two stick together, which Garp is quite sure that Luffy isn't going to be letting Ace out of his sight ever again, then Garp knows he won't have to worry about them as much.

Boy, does Garp worry about them. They are definitely Ds down to their cores.

They will be there to look out for each other and hopefully nothing like this will ever happen again. Garp can't bear the thought of losing one of them, let alone both of them, to the corruption that is the Navy and the World Government.

Garp stands up from the rubble and watches as his precious grandchildren flee the still crumbling Marineford, courtesy of the wily Edward Newgate. Garp starts to grin with pride as they make it halfway across the plaza, the former Shichibukai known as Jinbei closely following them, but a sense of foreboding overcomes him and Garp starts after them himself. Garp's instincts are right on the money because Sakazuki starts to insult Whitebeard, which is sure to antagonize Ace into attacking Sakazuki.

Garp's grin is replaced with a scowl as Ace stops in his escape to instead turn and face Sakazuki. 'That foolish brat!' This is exactly what the Admiral wanted Ace to do and there is no way that Ace stands a chance against Sakazuki who has the powers of the Magu Magu no Mi. It's proof enough from the burn that Ace's hand sustains from Sakazuki's Magma Fist and it has Garp moving even faster towards the fight.

Garp sees Sakazuki's intent before Ace does and right as Ace moves to intercept the blow meant for Luffy Garp makes his own move, not even thinking to use Busou-shoku Haki in the split second. The looks of shock on their faces is more than Garp cares for but his boys...his boys are now safe. It's all that matters to Garp and he is glad that he can keep he had made all of those years ago.

"Ace...Luffy, my boys,"

"Ace...Luffy, my boys." Garp grins despite the pain of having a molten fist through his torso, making it obvious that it doesn't bother him in the slightest. Even when the fist is withdrawn Garp doesn't flinch, his gaze staying focused on his grandsons.

Luffy, who is well beyond his own limits, starts to tremble while tears appear in his eyes as the realization of what had just happened sets in. "J-Jii-chan!" Luffy is clutching Ace's vivre card, his lower lip quivering as the tears fall from his wide and innocent eyes. Ace is sprawled on the ground next to Luffy, where Garp had pushed him out of the way so that Luffy's efforts wouldn't have been in vain.

"Ace, Luffy, promise me that you will live!" Garp keeps his voice firm as he gives his grandchildren a scowl, one that Ace returns with a scowl of his own along with unshed tears. "Promise me!" They each give Garp a reluctant nod and with the very last of his strength he grabs them by their forearms and throws them as hard as he can in the direction of the escaping Whitebeard pirates. "Now live!"