Edit: 19/08/12

Thanks Santoryuu3 for beta-reading this story! So here is a better version!

Also don't expect an update 'till Saturday or Sunday, is the best I can do.


Prologue:

"LUFFY!"

The man known as Monkey D. Luffy raised his head to see his crew, desperately trying to break free from their 'crystal' cage. The bars shone with a silvery luster with a glint of rose pink. Although it appeared to be made of crystal, the element had been infused with something else to make it impossible to break; even Sanji and Zoro with their monstrous strength didn't even manage to make a little scratch, although the latter's katana had been confiscated and could only use half' of his strength.

"So you have come, Mugiwara no Luffy," a man spoke from the platform to the said pirate's right. A long cloak shielded his entire body from view, save his mouth which sported a wide smirk.

"Of course! I will never abandon my nakama!" Luffy shouted as he stareddown to the cloaked man. Said man just chuckled.

"Oh! Really? I wonder…" he trailed off, watching the pirate above him with a critical eye.

Luffy was standing on one platform, which hungin the air by thick metal cable disappearing into the darkness above. In front of him were three levers, each with a nonexistent sign that practically screamed pull me. On his right side, on a different platform like his own was the mysterious cloaked man who was seriously getting on Luffy's nerves. To his left were his nakama on the 'crystal' prison, watching him with wide eyes. The ground was invisible in the darkness below, and the only light that was shed on the scene came from a single row of torches sitting in their brackets.

Luffy was looking for a way to rocket himself to the platform where his nakama were imprisoned so he could help them, when the voice of the cloaked man snapped him from his searching.

"I wonder," he began again. "If you would still save them after the offer I would give you."

This got the crew's attention. Some of them only glared at the man while others yelled that Luffy would never do such a thing, backed up by Luffy himself who said defiantly, "Nothing that you say would make me change of sa-"

"Even if I said I would bring yours brothers back?" the man said, cutting Luffy off.

This made the crew gasp and turn to look to their captain. Said captain was looking to the man with wide eyes and his mouth slightly open, as the word that he had been planning to shout next died in his mouth. He was looking like he was trying to process was his ears just heard, trying to decide what the man said was true.

"Wh-What?" he asked, still shocked as the cloaked man chuckled.

"As you hear, I would bring your brothers back and the cost will be your crew's lives."

Luffy was staring at him with wide eyes. He had forgotten how to speak and was thinking now, his brain working overtime. Everyone was looking at him in surprise, but it quickly morphed into anger and disbelief that the man could even suggest such a thing.

"Tha-That is impossible!" Nami snapped angrily, though a hidden tone in her voice suggested she was slightly horrified at the thought. "There is no way to bring back dead people."

The man smirked and turned to look at her and the crew."Did you forget where you are? Here, in the New World, everything is possible," the man laughed and extended both his arms wide as if welcoming a hug. "Now, what would you decide, Captain?"

Now everyone was staring at Luffy, who had not moved from his spot throughout the entire spectacle. He finally appeared to regain the ability to speak."Th-That is impossible, you are lying!" Luffy snapped.

"Oh! Me, a liar?" he said, his maniacal laughter echoing around them. "Then I will show you I am speaking the truth!"

He pulled from his cloak a remote control, pushing a button. Suddenly,the tunnel began shaking violently, and in front of the platform where Luffy was standing, another platform descended into his line of vision. It was at the same height as the other one, shining brightly by the light of the torches. In that platform, there were two more 'crystal' cages, each with one person their knees with handcuffs shackling their hands behind their back.

Both of them raised their head as their platform screeched to a stop, and everyone gasped.

The first man was instantly recognizable by his shirtless torso and blue shorts, with the pouch wrapped around his right thigh. Tattooed to his back was the purple and white symbol of the Whitebeard Pirates. "Ace…" Luffy whispered. Along with the supposedly dead pirate, there was a blonde man who they don't know. He wore a white shirt and a blue jacket with the sleeves pushed up to the elbows. Bright teal shorts were held up with a brass buckle, and atop his head sat a navy blue hat with goggles perched on the brim.

Luffy was still shocked; there in front of him where Ace and Sabo, both of them alive and looking well. They look a little disoriented but other than that they were fine, safe and alive ,which was the most important thing.

"H-How…?" he asked to no one in particular.

Ace was looking at Luffy with a shocked expression."Luffy..?" Ace asked, with that statement he gained the attention of Sabo, who looked up to where Ace was staring and spotted Luffy also.

"Luffy!" Sabo shouted happily with a grin on his face.

On the other hand, Luffy was still very stunned. He didn't know what to do. In front of him very close, were his brothers, and he wanted nothing more than to go there and hug them, to say how much he missed them but he knew that if he tried to move over his brothers, he would give up on the life of his crew, and that is something he would never do! He didn't want to give the life of his crew for something he wants; what was he supposed to do?

"Is so hard to decide?" the cloaked man said, snapping Luffy from his thoughts. "Then let me give you another choice."

Luffy gave his rare full and undivided attention to the villain below him, staring with cold and angry eyes. His lead was followed by his imprisoned nakama and brothers, all watching the mysterious man with a mixture of interest for what he was about to say and hatred for even capturing them in the first place.

The man moved his hand and pointed to the platform where Luffy was standing, more precise to the levels in front of him. "You see those levers in front of you Mugiwara?" he asked and Luffy nodded "The first one is the one that would save your crew, the second one will save your brothers and the third one…" he paused for dramatic effect. "Will save them, both."

Luffy immediately began to make his way to the third one and extended his hand to pull it but stopped, holding it just out of reach of the handle. "What is the price?" he asked with a serious tone, which make the cloaked man chuckle.

"You are not as stupid as the rumors said are ya'?" he asked but it didn't receive any answer, so he continued. "Indeed, there is a little price to pay for all of them… And the price for the third level is your life!" the man began to laugh hysterically.

The crew was shouting things like "That's evil" "You jerk!"and "Son of the Devil!" Zoro gave the man a hard glare,his eye squinted shut. The Straw Hats knew their captain and he would defiantly give his life if it mean saving the people he loved, so they were a little scared of their captain's decision. Him dying would completely eradicate their own dreams, for everyone knew if Luffy didn't achieve his dream, neither would they.

Luffy was watching the third lever, his hand still extended. It hadn't moved a bit even when the man has said that it will cost his life.

"What will you do?" the cloaked man shouted. "Which life will you give up on...your crew, your brothers' or yours?" he grinned evilly, the corners of his lips stretching across his cheeks.

"You decide! Everyone's life is on your hands, Mugiwara no Luffy!"

Nami watched her captain, her eyebrows furrowing worriedly. How did we end up like this? She thought sadly. Now our captain has to make a tough decision in which also hislife is in danger and everything...everything is our fault...


Nice,uh? I thought this on school I was actually planning on writing the one which Luffy lost his power first but this story was on my mind all the time so I just write it...

'Till next time~!