Last chapter! I wish this story had gotten more attention, but oh well I guess. It was a pretty short fic for me. Enjoy~

The group didn't go to the slave auction house. They were too angry and believed the father noble was going to get sick from breathing the same air as these people, so they needed to hurry away from the polluted air.

The twins were pulled back to the elevator quickly. They thought it was strange that the nobles thought that the air was bad. Neither boy was sick from breathing it. They didn't understand this.

As they went up the bubble elevator, the boys saw a giant ship sink into the ocean, covered in a bubble. They wondered if that was how they went to Fishman Island. Aladine had talked about humans needing bubbles to make it deep into the ocean.

When they got to Joy's room, they were undressed and put back in their regular outfits, and dragged back to their cells. Joy wasn't in a good mood. She didn't get to buy anymore little boys, and didn't want to look at the ones she had since it made her so angry. And she didn't like being angry. Both boys knew that.

When they were shoved into the cage, which wasn't necessary as they went in like they were supposed to, they immediately started talking about the pirates. "I can't wait to get out and be pirates!" Luffy cheered.

"I wonder what pirates are, though," Ruffy replied. It didn't take long for a few of the fishman to start talking about pirates, which they had been. When the boys were told what pirates were, and what the good ones did, both boys' big brown eyes widened.

"Adventures? Really?" Ruffy asked in amazement.

"Really. You sail across the vast seas with a crew, a group of people made up of your friends," Aladine said. They all left out what the majority of pirates did. No, they spoke about pirates like the Whitebeard and Shanks' crew. Even their own crew had been made up of their friends.

"We were pirates, too," Sandersonia said with a light smile.

"Wow! All of you are pirates?" Luffy asked. So many pirates in such a small space?

"Yes. It was only women on our pirate crew. But, we were abducted from our ship, so it doesn't have the best last memories," Marigold said. But she brought a small smiled back to her face. "But the good memories are the best I have."

Even Hancock spoke up. "Being on the sea is amazing. Our ship had sea monsters pulling it, since we lived in the Calm Belt," she said, and then described what the Calm Belt was. The pirates in the room explained the seas to the boys. It was the most enjoyable conversation the slaves had had in a very, very long time. A conversation that brought good memories.

"We'll definitely be pirates. Even though grandpa sometimes said we have to be marines. But you said marines work for the bad guys, so no! We won't be marines," Luffy said firmly.

"That's right. Marines are bad!" Ruffy agreed.

"Who knows. Maybe you two really will become pirates someday," Aladine humored them. It was best to give the boys hope while they could. Though the others were all surprised the youngest had not been broken yet. It was most likely because they had each other to comfort and love.

There were reasons the Boa sisters had broken. The little boys didn't go through the horrible things the women did. So it was understandable that the girls had broken, though Hancock grew more bitter than the other two.

The boys went to sleep that night with smiles and hope. They wondered how that guy had made blue wings. It was so cool!

-x-

The dream of being pirates stuck to them for days, which Joy didn't like. They didn't cry when hit or verbally abused. They were in a daze of hoping to be pirates when they get out. They didn't even protest being dressed up. Aladine said pirates persevere, which meant they went through things with confidence even if it was hard.

But, because they were not being upset like usual, they left to go to their cell with more bruises than they had in awhile.

"Pirates aren't weak, so we didn't cry today! But she hit us a lot," Ruffy told Adaline.

"That's true; you have to be strong to be a pirate. Though, you boys are much too young for anytime soon. So you have a lot of time to get stronger once you get out," the merman said. He couldn't help but be affected by their strong belief they will get out some day. He didn't like the feeling of that kind of hope. It had been a long time since he'd felt hope. The sisters couldn't help but be affected as well.

They never noticed Koala listened to their stories and conversations with real smiles. The optimism of the slave boys was refreshing for everyone. It was like they brightened the cold and dark room.

It was only the sisters and a few fishman along with Adaline that spoke. The others were more broken, but they did listen to the boys, though their words don't affect them much.

-x-

The slaves woke to screaming and heat. The twins shot up, and cowered in the corner. The screams were very loud, and they could see flickering orange light through the crack under the cement door that was always locked.

The sisters cowered together as well. The fishmen were the ones who looked serious and not terrified. What was going on? Why was there fire on the other side of the door. "Wh- what's happening?" Ruffy asked with a shaking voice.

"Maybe grandpa came?" Luffy asked, though he was shaking as well. But, he had never come before...Grandpa… would he light the fire? They knew that was what was under the door, along with the heat. Then, suddenly, the stone door flew open and banged into the wall. Smoke came in, but the fire wasn't right in front of the door as they thought.

They couldn't tell who was in the doorway, but he didn't take long to break open the cages, and unlock all of the bomb collars with keys he had somehow acquired. When the slaves hurried out of the cage doors, Luffy and Ruffy were stepped on, and thrown to the outside of the crowd. They wanted to be unlocked now!

They struggled to get to the front of the crowd, but everyone was too big, especially all of the fishman; they were huge compared to the six year olds. They held their hands tightly. As the crowd dwindled, the smoke started to come into the room. The unlocked slaves fled the room, mostly barefoot, and into the heat and smoke. It was the only way out, after all.

The boys were finally freed from their bomb collars, to be picked up and thrown over a fishman's shoulders. They screamed at the flames that came closer to them, and coughed from the smoke. Some of the men shouted in relief.

"Luffy, Ruffy! You were right, we are being freed!" Macro, someone who had never spoken to them, called. The boys started cheering through their coughs.

"We will be pirates!" Luffy shouted. Ruffy cheered in agreement. "We can go home!"

They saw Celestial Dragons fleeing the buildings. They saw Joy, and couldn't help but smile at her broken leg as she limped away. She saw them, and screamed at them to come back. That they belong to her.

"YOU BUTT-HEAD!" Luffy shouted loudly, the meanest insult he knew. Ruffy stuck his tongue out at her. They both giggled while the fishmen laughed. They were so full of life all of the sudden.

The boys still hadnt gotten a good look at who had saved all of them, as he was running ahead of the group of the fishmen former-slaves. They followed him closely, and the boys were facing behind, so they didn't notice that the group was nearing closer and closer to the side of the Red Line.

Then they jumped.

Luffy and Ruffy had never screamed louder than they did right then. Not even that loud when being branded. They looked down and could see the ocean getting closer and closer. The fishmen laughed, overjoyed with their freedom.

"It's alright boys, we'll keep you safe!" Aladine called, loud enough for them to hear over the whistling in their ears from falling so quickly. But the twins still screamed.

"WE'RE GONNA DIE BEFORE BEING PIRATES!" Ruffy shrieked in panic.

"NOOOO!" Luffy screamed. They couldn't die before being pirates! No, they were free, they wouldn't die now!

They all finally hit the water, both little boys encircled in strong arms so they didn't directly hit the waves. There were no marine ships waiting down there, but a single ship. It wasn't huge, but was big enough for them to all fit on comfirtably.

The boys sputtered through the waves, spitting out water. They swam to the ship, before shooting up out of the water and onto the deck with the fishman who carried them. A few of the fishmen were crying, while some were laughing. There was a total of twenty of them, while there were only two humans, two very small humans.

They cried about finally being free, though they had always believed they would be. They weren't broken! No, Joy wouldnt get the pleasure of having broken her toys. But they werent toys anymore, they were free! They were future pirates.

The ship quickly sailed away. The boys hoped the sisters had gotten away, and all of the others. Maybe they'd jumped off the side and had a rescue ship, too. It was dark out, and the boys looked at the stars.

They finally got a look at the man who set all the slaves free. He was red, and clearly a fishman like the others. He looked at them with a calculating, and not kind, look.

"Thank you!" both boys shouted loudly through their tears.

"Don't thank me, thank the others who took you with us," he said in a stern voice. The twins werent bothered. Aladine came over, grinning, and sat right in front of them.

"Thank you two for giving everyone hope that we'd escape," he said sincerely. The boys laughed.

"We told you so!" Ruffy said in good spirits.

"You didn't believe us!" Luffy laughed cheerfully. They hadnt been this happy in the year or so they'd been stuck up there with the evil people. The ship sailed away before any marine ships approached. The savior, Fisher Tiger, was confused with his fellow men who had taken the two children with them.

Macro, who had suddenly become talkative, told him all about the boys and their attitudes and how they made the long days easier. So the captain of the ship didn't protest taking them away with them.

The ship wasn't coated, so they couldn't go under the sea for awhile since Saboady would be guarded and busy, being so close to Mary Geious. They continued to sail for hours through the dark waters.

The boys got to eat real food after over a year of cold soup and bread. And they ate a lot. Especially for little kids. They devoured everything as fast as possible. Ruffy choked multiple times, but guzzled the fresh water gratefully.

It was after dinner that Aladine approached the two laying on the deck, looking at the night sky. "Where did you two live before being taken?" he asked.

"We lived on Morning Island," Luffy said. Ruffy corrected him that it was Dawn Island. "Yeah, that."

Aladine got up. It was an island at the start of the Grand Line. But, he wanted to take these boys home. They deserved to go home, and live their lives peacefully until they became strong pirates. The merman went to Fisher Tiger, and spoke to him. He asked if they could take the children back to their home island.

He was hesitant, but after looking at the cheerful kids, pointing up at the sky and talking about the stars, he agreed. They would take these two back home. He was impressed that, though children, they had not broken. Not like the other human slaves he'd set free.

-x-

"Why do you insist on having the same clothes?" Fisher Tiger asked the boys as they happily wore one of the new outfits bought for them from the Sun Pirates.

"We like being the same," Luffy replied. Then he frowned. "'Cept Joy cut my cheek and now we look different!"

"I hate her. I hope she's hurt like she hurt us," Ruffy grumbled. "She made us cry and that was embarrassing and then she made us look like dolls and hit us when we messed up the makeup!"

Aladine sighed. What an immature child that brat was. He wondered if she had died, and he honestly didn't care if she did. He had checked over the boys thoroughly when he actually had real medical tools. They had various bruises, still after a month, and were extremely malnourished. Growing boys needed a lot of nutrients, and he wondered if they hadnt grown much over the year because of not having enough food.

Well, now they had more than enough, which they couldn't be happier about. Some of the others laughed at their words. The two had also gotten real haircuts on a previous island, so they looked back to how they did when they first were captured. Nice and filled out and fitting into clothes properly. They also finally had shoes that fit.

The two had had old burns on their feet from when Joy was feeling extra malicious and one time made them burn their feet on a candle. They were small burns that would fade one day, though.

What would always stay, would be their brands, which the fishmen couldn't stand to see. They wished they could do something about that.

But, when Fisher Tiger one day, two months after their escape and way back to the twins' home island, he came out with his own brand. A sun. Each fishman former-slave had it burned over the Celestial Dragon's marks. It hurt, but Aladine treated them on the ship as the ship's doctor.

They had been unsure about doing the same for the boys, but when Luffy one day complained about always having the slave mark on his back, they got the option to be branded as well. Ruffy was hesitant, for he didn't want to feel the pain again, but Luffy bravely said yes, and was able to convince his brother that it would be worth it.

So, the sun mark was burned over the Hoof of the Flying Dragon. Neither screamed. They did bite their lips hard enough to bleed, but they didn't scream. The burns were quickly treated, and healed much quicker than the previous one.

-x-

The Sun Pirates ship docked at a small village's docks, bringing out the civilians, who were nervous about the pirate ship and the fishmen, though they were more afraid of them being pirates than what race they were.

There was no time to wait for the boys as they ran to the ship's helm and started crying out, "We're home!"

They jumped off the side of the ship, their legs feeling a painful jolt momentarily, and ran down the dock to their old neighbors and friends. "Makino!" both boys cried out, running towards the young woman, who was too shocked to move.

But, when both of them latched around her waist in a tight hug, she started to cry, and knelt down to hug them back. They finally started crying, crying out all of the stress and fear they'd bottled up for so long. They cried about missing home, and the mean people, and the pain they went through.

Makino sobbed along with them, while those who would help look after the children when Garp was away came over and cried as well. Only the mayor left to walk down the docks and thank the fishmen from the bottom of their hearts.

The pirates were clearly surprised with the small man's attitude towards them, as they'd mostly had bad interactions with humans. "Would you like to come celebrate with us? Their return deserves a celebration," he said. The pirates thanked him, but declined.

Aladine called to the boys, "We'd better hear you two become strong pirates when you're older!" The kids turned around and waved.

"We'll be super strong! Promise!" they shouted at the same time. No one had the heart to tell them not to. The boys deserved to have whatever life they wanted after being slaves. No one would tell them what they can or can't be. Never again.

"Thank you! Goodbye!" Luffy called.

"We'll never forget you!" Ruffy shouted. The two watched the ship sail away with big smiles. They joined hands tightly. They were free.

That day, not long after the boys had a big feast, did the two end up at the doorstep of a small, one story house. Makino smiled down at them, and knocked on the wooden door. There was no answer for a moment until a tired looking old man opened the door.

The twins immediately frowned. Grandpa. The man looked down at them and didn't react for a moment, before he knelt down and started crying out apologies, hugging them tightly.

"You let us get taken," Luffy said in a hard voice. Garp flinched. Makino turned away to give some privacy, while also not leaving the boys alone with their grandfather if they didn't want to be.

"They hurt us and were mean. And you didnt come!" Ruffy cried, pulling out of grandpa's arms. "We thought you would come and you never did!" Garp just scrunched his face up in misery, and continued to cry.

"I know. And I'm so sorry," he replied very quietly. "I… I understand if you never want to be around me anymore, but I'm just so glad you're both okay." He sighed and tried to compose himself. "I left the marines. I couldn't stand working under the World Nobles while I couldn't reach you. I had no way to get to you."

Ruffy looked to his brother with big eyes. Grandpa loved being in the marines. The boy said this, confused. "I used to like being a marine. I used to ignore who we worked under for the sake of 'justice'. But… slavery is not justice. Torture is not justice. I wish I had realized that much sooner." He sighed. "Then, I could have been with you two longer. Not pawned you off to Makino and the others. And I'm sorry for that. I didn't spend precious time with you two, and didn't realize how much I needed it until you were gone."

The boys both had tears in their eyes. Luffy firmly said, "Never let us get taken again. And we're gonna be pirates, because pirates are brave and saved us."

"I'll never let you be taken. I swear on my life. And I won't stop you from following whatever you dream of."

"Grandpa!" both of them cried, hugging Garp tightly, crying along with the man who never thought he'd hold his grandsons ever again.

"I- I miss- missed you!"

"Sh- she was m- mean!"

"I never wanna go back!"

"You never will."

~The End~

A happy ending! Poor Garp. Must have been so hard for him after they were taken. Review.