Hello, my lovelies!

So, I was trying to work on other things, but your reviews where just so motivating that I couldn't resist and I typed this up! You guys are so amazing! 24 reviews just for one chapter! So here's your reward! XD

There's actually not a whole lot of dialogue in this chapter, but there is a LOT of action. This is a really big chapter in the plot and I think a lot of you will be incredibly satisfied with it. Like hugely satisfied. In my humble opinion anyway. Amazingly, we don't have a time skip this chapter! I mean we kinda do; it's been about a week since the end of the last chapter, but it's only a week so I don't really think it counts. We're past the major time skips for the most part, there might be another at some point later on, but for now there will be none.

To my guest reviewers:

kuroivy: Yes! Marco as appeared! And, yes, he is awesome. He's actually one of my favorite characters. XP And I know I was really mean to Luffy last chapter. But I needed it to happen for the plot. It was kinda a catalyst for Ace. So...yeah. Didn't do it cause I wanted to, but it was a plot device because at this point, Ace doesn't care much about himself. So for the plot to progress, something bad had to happen to Luffy. Sorry. :/

me: I know! I'm sorry! I'm so mean to both of them! I'm glad you like the story despite that, though. :D

Warnings: slavery, child slaves, hints of past sexual abuse (non-explicit), violence, blood

Disclaimer: I'm really sleepy for some reason...

ONWARD!

~Learning Freedom~

Chapter 3

Rekindled Fire

"Is this the place, Commander?"

Marco nodded. He and several of his men were observing the comings and goings of the nobles' celebration from a nearby roof top. Thatch had taken the rest of the crew and split them into teams, each one heading to a separate estate. Marco decided he would command the team that took care of the party. With all of the nobles in one place, it meant the Tenryubito would be present. Which meant when they executed their plan, it would be a high possibility that the Marines would be called on to deal with the disturbance. Because the Tenryubito had the Government in their back pockets and if they deemed it so, the Nobles would have high-ranking Marines swarming island in less than an hour. Marco was here to act as a buffer.

"Phili," Marco said, "When all hell breaks loose, you're in charge of getting everyone out, got it?"

Phili nodded. "Yes, sir. Should we engage anyone directly?"

Marco shook his head. "Not unless they engage first. This is a rescue, not a battle. We want to get in and get out as fast as possible. Stick to the shadows and don't draw attention to yourself. Try to free as many people as you can but make sure that none of them move until I give the okay."

His men nodded and he signaled them forward, watching as they all dropped off the roof before pulling a baby den-den-mushi out of his pocket. "Thatch, did you find them?" he asked.

"I've got Ricky and Chris," Thatch's voice came through, "Kevin's team found Amara and Kale. We're still trying to find the others."

"Keep looking," Marco replied, "My team's moving in."

"Be careful, Marco."

Had Marco been anyone else, he would have snorted. "They couldn't throw a punch to save their lives."

"True," Thatch acknowledged, "But you know they have the Marines in their pocket, some of whom actually pose a challenge."

Marco chuckled. "Just get out as soon as you can. And try not to blow anything up."

"Me?" Thatch asked innocently, "I would never!"

Marco rolled his eyes and hung up, tucking the den-den-mushi back into his pocket before following after his team.

Marco stuck to the shadows, discretely slipping between slaves and servants and avoiding the nobles. He made sure to keep an eye on his men's positions and their progress as they crept through the crowd. Marco had already used the keys he had nicked off of some nobles earlier that week to free several slaves. Their eyes shown with gratitude and they listened with surprising attention as Marco calmly and quietly explained what was going on. The freed slaves continued about their work as if nothing was amiss. The pirate scanned the crowds for other slaves. By his estimate, about eighty-five percent of the slaves had been freed from their shackles and collars.

He grinned slightly when a familiar figure caught his eye. The slave he had seen that day in the market place. The kid was wearing that same blank mask on his face, but his eyes still burned. He'd been left alone, standing against the wall of the ballroom without a noble anywhere near him. The chain that was linked to his collar had been secured to one of the many hooks that lined the walls. Marco grimaced mentally as he made his way over; the kid had been tied up and left as if he were nothing more than a dog.

When he was only a few feet away, the boy turned to him. Marco watched as deep brown eyes widened slightly in shock, recognition flashing across them. He grinned and held a finger to his lips as he came to stand next to the kid. The boy's eyes narrowed in suspicion, but other than that, his face gave nothing away. He was wary, that much Marco could tell, but he was curious as well. This boy had been able to find him that day in the market, had seen him when no one else had. With the other slaves that Marco had approached that night, they'd all had some level of fear or despair in their eyes. The blond could tell that they had all wanted to cower away from him, but, as that was a punishable action, they didn't. This boy though, he showed no such fear. Not towards Marco or the Tenryubito. If anything, those brown eyes held anger. At what specifically, Marco wasn't sure. But the boy's body language told the pirate that he would fight. His feet were braced and his eyes never looked away from Marco's. It didn't matter what the punishment was or who was stronger or who would benefit. He would fight.

Before he was aware what was happening, Marco had slipped the key into his slave collar and unlocked it. The kid's blank mask shattered when he heard the click of the lock being undone and he looked up at Marco in open surprise, clearly not expecting such an action on Marco's part. His brown eyes were wide with wonder and awe, all of which was directed at Marco. The boy's gaze was completely open, unguarded, and the blond felt this was something not many people saw. He was seeing something rare.

The pirate smirked at him. "Don't cause any trouble just yet," he whispered, "We're going to try and get everyone out, so just wait a few minutes. We're almost ready."

The boy's mask was back in an instant as he pressed his lips into a thin line. His eyes were brighter now, more alive. They shined with furious determination. Marco took this as consent and turned back to the ballroom to scan the crowd again. It was almost time. By the time he'd turned around again, the boy was gone.

Marco blinked for a moment, caught off guard. Then he realized the ring of keys he'd been holding was no longer in his grip. Further inspection revealed that the knife he'd kept hidden on his person was also missing. Slowly, a sly grin crept across his features.

Yes, there was definitely something different about this boy.

Ace was bored as hell.

He hated being dragged to parties. He never did anything at them. He wasn't told to serve or clean or cook. Nothing. He just stood there, led around by whatever noble held his chain. He was there to be admired. Never acknowledged. Not that he really wanted to be acknowledged by these prissy, self-centered assholes. But that wasn't the point.

Luffy had been dragged to the party as well, something that made Ace furious. Normally, he wouldn't care; nothing happened at these stupid parties anyway. But Luffy was still healing, could barely stand. Any wrong move on his part and blood would be dripping down his legs.

They had been separated when they were being taken to prepare for the party. Ace hadn't seen Luffy since, though he knew the boy was here.

Eventually, the Tenryubito holding Ace's chain – he never bothered to remember any of their names; put actual effort into making sure he didn't - had grown tired of him and cast him aside, leaving him by the wall. Ace could care less. He was away from the Noble, and while he wasn't allowed to leave his position, not that he could, being chained to the wall and all, he was free to do as he pleased.

So, partially because he had nothing better to do, but mostly because of the growing worry in his stomach, he spent his time looking for Luffy. He watched the crowd, the people coming and going, passing by him like he wasn't even there, trying to find the small boy.

Ace wasn't sure how long he'd been looking when he felt eyes on him. It was the same gaze as before, cool and without the sickening heat. He turned and came face to face with the man from the market. The one who hadn't bowed. He was wearing a finely made cloak, one that looked like it was worth quite a bit of money, with the hood up to hide him from view. He walked silently and gracefully, easily slipping past people without them noticing him.

He was so surprised to see the man that Ace couldn't stop his eyes from widening in shock. What was he doing here? There was no way he was a guest. If he was a pirate, then maybe he was here to steal some gold? But no one in their right minds would try to do anything against the Tenryubito. Besides Ace of course. To everyone else the potential punishment was too steep. But when you were like Ace, like someone who had nothing to lose but everything to gain, such things didn't matter. This man though, Ace didn't see that kind of desperation in him.

This man was calm, in control. He knew exactly what he was doing and who he was doing it to. When he reached Ace's side, he grinned slyly and held a finger to his lips. Ace frowned mentally. What was he trying to do? Ace shifted slightly, ready to fight this man if he had to. He knew his chances weren't good; this man was clearly a fighter, and he had not been living in ideal conditions. His body was weak. And he knew it. But that didn't mean he would just give in. It wasn't in his nature.

A sudden click caught his attention. The man's arm was extended, hand reaching the back of his neck. Where the lock to his collar was. The constant pressure on his neck was suddenly less and the chain leash fell back against the wall.

Ace couldn't keep his mask in place. His eyes went wide as he slowly came to the realization of what this man had just done. His eyes snapped up to the stranger's blue ones, wonder and awe and surprise clear on his face. It was the first time in years he had looked at someone other than Luffy with an open, honest expression. And the man in front of him seemed to understand that on some level, if the acknowledgement in his eyes was anything to go by.

The man smirked slightly at his surprise. "Don't cause any trouble just yet," he whispered, "We're going to try and get everyone out, so just wait a few minutes. We're almost ready."

Ace shut down at that, mask reforming in an instant, lips pressed into a thin line. He was grateful to this man for what he'd just done. He was. But freeing him didn't give him the right to control him. Ace wouldn't bow to him. Wouldn't bow to anyone. He wasn't going to lose one master just to gain another.

So when the man turned away, Ace nicked the keys from him and grabbed the knife he saw hidden in the man's clothes. He'd learned quickly and pickpocketing was second nature to him now. Occasionally, when he was brought to the market be the Nobles, it was for more than being paraded around like some prize pony. The trend was that when one of his mistresses brought him out, them usually made him carry the wares they had purchased. Or took. After all, why pay when everything already belonged to you? Ace had made use of this and nicked things that he and Luffy could use as supplies when they escaped and hid them in specific locations around town.

He ducked away, crouching behind a pillar. He slid the knife into the hem of the silk wrap around his waist, and removed his collar, hooking it on his arm for later use. The collar itself could be a valuable weapon. Then he flipped through the keys on the ring, trying to find the one to the sea stone bands that locked his fire away. If it was here. He'd be able to make do without it if he had to.

The fifth key he tried, though, slid cleanly into the lock of the band on his right wrist. Ace grinned, eyes lighting up, and quickly unlocked the other wrist band and the ones on his ankles. As soon as the seastone was no longer in contact with his skin, his fire flared to life, rushing to the surface of his skin. Ace relished in it, the heat, the glow, everything. For the first time in a long time, he felt complete. Whole.

He forced himself down from his high though, reigning in control and drawing the flames back under his skin. He could immerse himself in the bright heat later. Now though, he needed to focus on escape. The man had said that they were trying to get everyone out. Meaning he needed to find Luffy. And quick.

Ace peered around the pillar, scanning the crowd. He crept silently through the shadows, sticking close to the wall. After a few minutes of searching, Ace saw the boy in the middle of the ballroom. He was wearing so many necklaces that he looked like he was drowning. They covered the giant scar on the boy's chest though and Ace supposed that was their purpose. Luffy's eyes were glassy and slightly unfocused. They were hazy with pain even though his face was blank. His body was tense and his knees were locked. Ace could see the fine tremor that ran through the boy. Luffy was in no condition to be moving around like this.

The Tenryubito at his side wasn't even paying the boy any attention, not that that was really surprising. He did, however, absently reach out and smooth a hand over Luffy's dark hair from time to time. Luffy's face twitched every time the Noble's hand came in contact with him. He looked like he wanted nothing more than to be as far away from there as possible. Then the Tenryubito turned to Luffy and grinned down at the boy.

Ace felt his blood go cold at the gleam in the Noble's eyes. He recognized that look. He had been on the receiving end of it many times. It made him sick to his stomach to see it directed at Luffy. He was going to get Luffy away from here if it was the last thing he did.

Luffy hated this man.

He'd never felt this toward anyone before. He didn't really like the feeling, but he couldn't make himself feel anything else. This man had hurt him. A lot. More than he'd ever been hurt in his life. And he still hurt. His lower back was in agony and if it weren't for the fact that he had locked his knees, he would have been down on the floor in a heap. His legs were trembling as it was, he was reaching his limit. He wouldn't be able to walk anywhere; it was taking everything he had just to stay standing in this one spot.

Then, to his dread, the Tenryubito turned and began to walk away, his chain in his hand. Luffy stayed where he was as long as he could, but the chain was pulling him forward soon enough. He pressed his lips into a thin line, mentally bracing himself, and unlocked his knees, taking a step. Pain shot up his spine and he had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from crying out. It hurt. Ace had told him not to move. That he would heal better if he didn't push himself. But if he didn't start walking soon…

He was suddenly pulled forward harshly. Unable to regain his balance quick enough, he crashed to the floor, a small cry of surprise passing his lips.

"Come now, pet, get up. Time to move on."

Luffy shuddered at the voice, unable to help himself. He pushed himself up on his hands and knees, but his body wouldn't let him go any further. He was tugged forward again, making him fall back to the floor. He felt the Noble's eyes on him and the insistent tugging at his neck. But his body wouldn't listen. He could push himself up onto his elbows, but his legs wouldn't move no matter how hard he tried.

"I said get up."

Luffy flinched. The Tenryubito's voice was hard now, taking on an impatient edge. Slowly, fearfully, Luffy looked up. The Noble was frowning down at him. The boy could do nothing but watch as he drew his leg back to kick him. He closed his eyes, waiting for the impact to come.

But instead of feeling a foot connect with his small body, he heard the Noble cry out in pain.

Luffy's eyes snapped open in time to see the Tenryubito go flying back. Ace was standing over him, fist raised, a fierce glare on his face. The ballroom went completely still. No one moved and everyone was quiet, staring in shock and horror at what Ace had just done.

But Ace was unconcerned. That thing had touched Luffy. His little brother. His little light. And he was not going to let such an act go unpunished. Ignoring the stares and the guards rushing over to check on the Tenryubito, Ace knelt down in front of Luffy.

Luffy stared up at him, eyes wide in shock. Ace had hit the Noble. Ace had stopped the Noble from hurting him. He watched as his big brother pulled a thin metal stick out and stuck it into his collar. He heard a click and suddenly the pressure on his neck was gone. Luffy watched with impossibly wide eyes as Ace removed the collar that had been on his neck for as long as he could remember. It was then that Luffy noticed Ace's collar was also gone. So were the bands that were always on his wrists and ankles.

Ace smiled slightly at Luffy's look of pure awe and the boy relaxed at the gentle face. The young man carefully pulled the boy into a sitting position and smoothed as hand over his hair.

"Houb darbe uob stripk mebh! (How dare you strike me!)" the Tenryubito called as two guards helped him to his feet. His face was already swelling and blood dripped from his nose and mouth.

Ace's features hardened as he turned away from Luffy and stood. He grimaced mentally; it was a testament to how weak he'd gotten that the Noble was still conscious. The Tenryubito shook off the guards and began to stalk towards him.

"Uob! I wamb uob losb awab! No foob ou waber fob a mof! I wamb himb whibbed! (You! I want you lock away! No food or water for a month! I want him whipped!)" the Noble screamed shrilly.

Ace watched him dispassionately; face betraying none of the fury churning in his stomach. He felt his fire smoldering just underneath his skin. As the Noble opened his mouth to start yelling again, Ace pulled the stolen knife from his sash. In one fluid movement, he threw it, the blade lodging itself hilt deep into the Tenryubito's throat.

The Noble choked off, eyes going wide as blood spilled from his lips. His eyes locked with Ace's and the young man grinned darkly, malicious satisfaction shining in his brown eyes, before he collapsed face first onto the floor.

The silence shattered as people started screaming and several guards rushed forward. Luffy's eyes were wide in equal parts awe and fear. He wrapped an arm around Ace's leg, his small hand coming to rest on the older male's knee. Ace felt Luffy lean against his leg, felt the tremors that still racked his tiny body.

They needed to get out over here. Quickly.

Ace let his fire rise to the surface of his skin. His control was shaky at best, what with having it locked away for so long, but he managed to maintain enough so that Luffy would remain unharmed. Everything else was fair game. Flames sprang to like on the floor around them, creating a barrier that the guards could not pass. Ace grinned, unhooking his collar from his arm and scooping Luffy's off the floor. He pulled the chain links off of them, the telling tick-tock signaling that the timer had been activated. He waited a few seconds before tossing both collars straight into the center of the crowd of screaming Nobles.

Scooping Luffy up into his arms, he had his fire make a safe path out of the ballroom and bolted just as the collars went off. When he and Luffy had safely exited the ballroom, he called back half of his flames, remembering that the blond man had wanted to get everyone out, but gave the rest of them free reign to consume and destroy as they pleased.

After seven long years, it was finally time to leave.

Woooo! Jailbreak! Well, technically not, but I'm not sure what else to call it at the moment. :P Things have been set in motion, but our boys aren't quite out of the woods yet!

Soooooo...Is it safe for me to come out of hiding yet?

Until next time,

~Elri