Regards to The Beginning from The End - One Piece Fanfic

Chapter 1 - In The Midst of War

The whole bay was a battleground, a war that was taking place all because of one objective. Rescue Portgas D. Ace from execution.

By having his heritage revealed to the world was this not an option, causing the marines to fight back at full force. Commencing a war with the strongest crew, the strongest man, who rivaled the late Pirate King for so many years, Edward Newgate - Whitebeard. The man with the ability to destroy everything that came in his path.

This was the war that was going to give the world a new fate, bringing forth a new era with it. It did not matter which side would win or lose.

For the ones fighting on the battlefield had another perspective. On the pirate side of the war did they not care for what fate would be brought in terms of justice or dignitity, while the marines did. Causing them to clash at each other.

What no one knew however, is that something would occur, something unimaginable. Sparked in the time of desperation.

This is facts from events that has already passed.

The events that suddenly changed in the course of history, influenced by a different outcome.

An outcome that changed everything, all in the split of a second.

In the span of around 45 hours, had Monkey D. Luffy infiltrated Impel Down. The most cruel and guarded prison in all of the seas. Successfully surviving the warden Magellan's deadly poison and initiating a prison escape with hundreds of the most dangerous criminals alive onboard a stolen marine warship, crash-landing from the sky down to the Navy's HQ, Marineford. Falling straight into the battlefield.

The situation seemed to have changed so drastically in the span of a few moments.

"Luffy! You've never ever listened to me and always done such crazy things!" Ace said as his body set a-flame from becoming free from the seastone handcuffs.

"ACEEEE!" Luffy screamed with a huge smile on his face.

Luffy could still feel the joy he felt in that moment. The feeling of hope of which he so had desperately sought for.

But now all he could feel was disbelief.

At his current position was he on the ground, staring intently at the scene set out before him. Panic coursing through his body. Akainu, standing behind Ace who finally had gotten free. Was going to get pierced through his chest by the Admiral's magma-hand. Who previously evaporated an entire iceberg from where the ship had fallen down.

This was all he could wonder in this moment,

"Why?

What can I do?

I have to save Ace!"

But all he could do was nothing.

"—NO- STOP!"

Right before the magma touched the skin of Ace's back,

did everything on the battlefield get blinded by a white light.

All was dark around him. He could not feel, neither see nor hear or figure out where he was. The moment he realized this did he question as to why he could not. He tried to open his eyes but to no avail, giving up falling further down into the darkness.

"..—!"

A voice? He tried again, he thought he heard something but it was to muffled to make out. But he tried to feel something now, searching for his own voice in his mind.

"…W-Where am I..?" He thought to himself. Reacting to himself from his voice, did it sound exhausted. It was at least something to start with aside from just the feeling of being in a void.

"…ang in ..-!"

There was the odd sound again, it sounded echoey. A bang of pain was felt pounding in his head. He could feel a strong headache, it made him fall down again. He tried to resist more and more.

"..-UFFY!"

The voice sounded a bit clearer now, someone was calling his name. He tried to get a feeling of his body, starting to slowly open his eyes.

"..—LUFFY!"

Upon trying to open his eyes was he met with a face that was looking down at him, with a scared and worried expression. He could make that out by the tone of their voice. His vision was very clouded and dizzy and couldn't figure who the figure was. He closed his eyes again, finally starting to feel a bit of conscious coming back to his body, slowly.

"—LUFFY! OYE LUFFY!?"

He could finally hear the voice clearly now. Still the pounding headache would not go away. He tried to recognize as to who it was from, but he could feel that everything was working too slow, his mind was in a daze. That confused him. What had happened?

He tried to open his eyes again. His vision being a little less clouded than before, by it being clearer could he make out who the voice belonged to, seeing the persons face.

It was his big brother, kneeling down beside him at his side.

"…a-ace..?" Luffy whispered out, truly realizing how weak he sounded and felt in his voice. It was raspy as his throat felt like burning as he spoke.

"LUFFY! You're okay!" Ace said back to him, his expression softening. But still showing a slight worry in his eyes as he looked back down on him.

"..okay..? what h-happened? I don't remember.." Luffy managed to get out, still feeling weak in every part of his body. Slowly beginning to rise up from the ground he was laying on.

As he was lifting his head up from where he was sitting looked he around in every direction. The place they were in was entirely white. No sign of the beginning of a wall or exit. It was endless.

Somewhat ignoring that, did he wonder to himself as to why he felt so weak and exhausted. He hadn't felt like this a second ago, the only thing he had felt was…

The only thing he had felt…

That's when Luffy remembered.

He was on the battlefield helplessly watching his brother in front of him be… killed. Right in front of his own eyes.

He hastily sat up, startling Ace.

"Hey Luffy, what's wrong-?" Was all he could ask before he saw his little brother's face. Staring in disbelief at him, as if he was seeing a ghost. None of them decided to say a word to each other until, after what felt like minutes…

"..Ace?

..A-Ace..?" Luffy repeated, continuing to stare at him not looking away. His tone was sharp like a blade, unsure of what he was seeing was actually real. Saying his name like a chant.

Before Ace could say anything was he met with a hug, accompanied with trembling coming from his little brother within his embrace.

"…Y-You're alive! ACEE!" Luffy said, tightening his grip around his brother. Muffled with cries and sobs that broke out afterwards. Refusing to let go.

It didn't take long for Ace to understand. He could feel the relief, disbelief, and confusion- but all and all just, joy. He was so glad his little brother was safe, okay, maybe hurt. But they were alive.

That's what mattered.

Then all of the feelings suddenly came crashing down, realizing the odds of what just happened, of what could, should of happened.

He could feel himself starting to shake as his brother, taking in the situation they were just in. All of the adrenaline which he had built up just drain away altogether.

Ace was sure that was the end, everything felt unreal. He quickly returned his brother's hug as the tears he hadn't known he'd been holding back began falling without hesitation. Releasing the heavy tension he had carried on his back.

Both just continued to cry into each others shoulders, not even thinking of letting each other go.

All they could think about was not letting the one or other be alone.

They didn't know for how long they had been sitting there, just holding each other in a desperate hug. However, eventually after some amount of time that had past did they both begin to calm down. They slowly let each other go from each other's grip, but still sat close to one another. Not wandering off somewhere else. The atmosphere was saying that loud and clear, and they both accepted it. Not in a stubborn way, but only because both of them simply didn't want to.

"…Luffy.." Ace said suddenly, breaking the silence between them.

"..I-I.."

"…I-I'm so-"

"ACE!" Luffy suddenly shouted, surprising Ace leaving him stunned.

"…I-I know! …and— I don't care! I know that there's been a lot, but we're here together!"

"…I know everything is weird! And I know that you didn't like me coming to rescue you but… I'm so happy that you're alive!"

"..You're my only brother… Just p-please don't ever d-do that again…!" Luffy finished looking straight into his eyes.

Ace didn't know what to say. He was baffled and all he could was stare back, he wanted to so badly apologize for… everything. For putting everyone he holds dear in such an awful situation just so save him, someone.. who might not even be worth the trouble saving. He was convinced of that.

But now, all he could think of was his dear brother had said… oh what a fool he had been. And yet it felt so odd seeing Luffy like this.. he seemed so vulnerable. Which was truly unlike him. Yet reminiscent of old times. He could't help but remember memories that came flooding back.

"You need to live a life with no regrets."

"..I promise you, that I will never die."

.

.

.

"I'm so happy that you're alive!"

.

.

He truly could never fathom as to how blessed he had been, despite being born from a demon.

He should of realized that sooner, huh? How he wished he did.

As he had been lost in thoughts and was just about to open his mouth, could he see his brother from the corner of his eye, as if in slow motion, drastically lunge backwards about to hit the hard floor.

"—OH SHIT- Luffy!" Ace cursed hastily, with every reflex of his body quickly sprinting forward just catching him in his arms, gently laying him back onto the floor.

"..A-ha, sorry Ace.." Luffy began smiling weakly.

"You idiot, you're the last one who needs to apologize! Just rest now."

All Luffy could give back was a chuckle.

..

"Thanks, Luffy." Was all Ace could reply with back, softening his expression. Just thinking about how thankful he was. Even though he himself feel he might not deserve it.

Now onto the problem at hand.

'Where in the actual hell are we?' Ace thought to himself, observing his surroundings. Reaching for the tip of his hat which he realized was not actually there. He took a mental note of him having to have to try and find it later.

'Tch' Ace let out. Looking around in every direction. 'Definitely no walls anywhere.. everything is white as long as the eye can see..' He thought as he observed. 'It's so bright, it's giving me an headache.' He continued as he turned his head up, with the hand at his forehead shadowing his eyes from the light that surrounded them. '..My memory is foggy.. all I remember is becoming unconscious. And then waking up in this damn place. I can't tell of how long I was passed out for.. but it's been hours that's for sure.'

'No food and no water, as well as no visible exit.. Ugh. This is not looking good.' Ace went on in his trail of thought. 'Damn.. I have no idea on what we should do here. We need to find a way out of this place, or whatever it is.'

Ace took a few steps to the direction of his brother, squatting down next to him. "Oye Luffy? You awake?" He said as he gently slapped his brother's cheek for any sign of response. But all that came in return were deep nicely paced breaths.

'He's out cold huh.. no wonder. At least he listened to me for once.' Ace remarked. As well as noting that they both were exhausted, dehydrated, and hungry. They were both beaten up pretty badly, but although him not being a doctor to any degree, could he notice immediately that his brother's condition was much worse. Ace payed very close attention to recognizing that fact.

He had felt the panic coursing through him rapidly until Luffy had finally woken up, responding to his desperate calls. Which he had began shouting when he found his brother after waking up himself. Laying down on the ground still like a statue, showing no sign of life.

He could feel a shudder down his spine as he recalled that. But trying to ignore that. Started he to focus back on what it was he should need to do.

'Shit, if only Sabo was here…I'm never good with this kind of responsibility.' He admitted to himself as he gritted his teeth. 'This kind of thinking just tires me out… way too much…' He finished drowsily. His body began to fall a bit to each direction, following with a slump down onto the floor, falling on his back.

'.. so tired..' He thought as he squinted with his eyes, barely holding them open. Before he knew anything had everything become black. Falling down into a deep slumber which his body and mind gladly accepted. Though through his subconsciousness still had one remaining worry in mind.

If they were alone. Or if they were not, whoever they'd find, or find them, be someone they'd know.

All he could do was hope.

[ End of Chapter 1. ]

Author's Note: Hello! This is my first story that I've had in mind for some time now. I've been working on it on and off and I finally finished the first chapter! Enjoy! -poofi

- Copyright Disclaimer | I do not own One Piece and neither characters from said series. All right's go to Eiichiro Oda. All I claim rights to is the non-canon characters (if) featured- and story. All rights reserved.