"Ace!" Luffy cried out, his lungs screaming in protest and his body had no feeling as the hormones and adrenalin tricked his mind and confused his nerves. "I'm going to save you now!" His steps as he ran were more like lunges as he traveled a yard each time he pushed off. He couldn't fail Ace like he had failed his crew, an image of Nami reaching out to him with eyes full of terror and despair as she disappeared in front of him, flashed through his mind and he picked up his speed. Iva-chan looked down at him in curiosity.
"That vas some trick, Straw-boy. Vhat vas that exactly?"
"What do you mean?" Luffy panted lightly as he continued to run towards the plat form.
"You said, 'Stop it already' and the executioners and some varriors fainted."
"I don't know what you mean, I told them to stop and they did. That's why I bothered to tell them in the first place." Luffy was confused.
Is he clueless about his own power? Ivanokov thought to himself. This boy….Dragon……your son is something special.
White Beard echoed these thoughts as he saw the reckless youth fly towards peril. He coughed up some more blood and gazed at it. "That boy's going to have to replace this past generation." He smirked. "That wouldn't be so bad if all of them had a heart like this boy. Ace…you have a good brother….your life is in his hands now." He coughed up some more blood and his vision darkened a little. "Good luck boy."
Luffy hurtled towards the platform, wind rustling in his hair. "Ace!" His face was level with Ace's for a moment.
"Luffy!" Ace breathed, tears were still hanging on his face.
Luffy smiled, but it lingered for only a second before he was hit by a punch in the face and he plunged towards the ground. "Grandfather!" Luffy said in surprise and anger as he caught himself. "I have to save Ace! Don't stop me!"
"Foolish Grandson! Why did you have to become pirates, both of you?" Garp's eyes were full of turmoil and sadness. ""I don't have a choice but to stop you Luffy!"
"Gear Second!" Luffy couldn't afford to go easy, or to be scared. He had to push forward and battle time. He had to save Ace. He rocketed at his Grandfather and their fists collided, the sound barrier shook.
"Luffy!" growled the old marine, gritting his teeth.
Luffy just glared back at his Grandfather. They seperated and collided again, and again. Both of them were repelled backwards and Luffy skidded to a halt by Ivanokov. "Dragon's own father….the famous Garp himself." Ivanokov smiled as he stepped forward. He looked back at Luffy. "I don't know if I should be doing this but," he gestured towards Ace who was leaning over the edge overhead, watching them fight. "I'll fight Garp. You just worry about saving your brother."
Luffy frowned. "Thanks." He jetted up to the stand. Garp followed him, but was shot down by one of Ivanokov's winks.
"Gahh!" Garp landed crouched. He smirked up at Ivanokov. "Well, I thought that this would happen."
"Really now?" Ivanokov smirked back. "I'll have to defeat you here…." He shot another wink at the old man who then blocked it, and their battle began.
"Ace!" Luffy called again, the rushing air obscuring his words a little. He saw Ace's face again as he shot passed him and then started to descend. What worried him now was the man with the strange sea gull on his head. Sea gull….
"Why do you have a bird on your head?!" Luffy exclaimed as he landed before the giant man. "That's so…cool!"