So yesterday I updated all of my other stories in celebration of the end of my hiatus. I was SUPPOSED to update this story, too, but my damn computer was like "Nope, not happening!" and deleted the chapter. So I retyped it today for you guys. That's why I'm sorry if the quality's bleh, I just hate retyping things... But I hope you enjoy! Next chapter we'll be saying goodbye to the Straw Hats (for like the rest of the fic, more or less) and something will... happen... that I can't say anything about... So, enjoy your peace! What did you do/are you doing for Thanksgiving? I.. basically just wrote this chapter. And now I'm going to have canned soup and read. Or something. This holiday doesn't really work when you're alone e_e
***So the bonus is getting pretty long now and I was wondering if you guys would like me to keep it as a bonus for this fic or if I should post it as a oneshot. It's up to you guys!
Disclaimer: I think I'm getting a cold *sniffle*
Things had settled down aboard the Going Merry. Zoro had long since fallen asleep. Chopper and Vivi retired as well. Even the younger of the Straw Hat captains was snoring away, belly filled with the copious amount of food he divulged in earlier that night. The rest sat on deck, watching the stars, filling the night with laughter. That, however, faded just like everything else. It was quiet, eerily so, and the pirate king knew what was on everyone's minds. He could see their glances to his chest—the rigid, malformed skin of his scar. But he pretended not to notice.
After a little bit of drinking, he felt his face redden. He wasn't drunk—never drunk—but he could feel the effect of the alcohol on his system. He recalled being in a similar state when he divulged a little too much to old man Whitebeard back on the Moby Dick. Things weren't looking good, but he could only blame himself for that. It was his stupid impulsivity that led to them staying the night there in the first place. Could he really be blamed, though? Was he just supposed to sit back and watch as his past repeated, as his brother said goodbye only to be captured and executed soon after—to die in his arms?
"Even though I'm worthless…"
No. He wouldn't do it.
"Thank you… for loving me!"
He couldn't.
Luffy chuckled, watching as Nami lectured Usopp, telling him not to make up such outlandish stories, as though that would work. Even in his time, ten—eleven?—years into the future, their sniper was still a pathological liar. He wouldn't be Usopp if he wasn't.
Immediately everyone turned at his laughter, silenced.
"I miss this," he said offhandedly, tearing another bite off the leg of meat he held.
The first to react was Usopp, of course. He swallowed, allowing a few minutes to pass in silence. "Are… are we…?" He allowed his voice to fall, implying his question.
"Of course not!" Luffy replied in a bit of a shout. He couldn't help it. If he didn't have his crew—if something happened to them—he'd really be all alone. That scared him more than anything. Looking to the speechless faces of his young—so, so young—crew, he figured they deserved some sort of explanation. "It's just... I've been in this time for months. I haven't seen you guys in a long time."
As they pondered his words, he glanced at each of their faces. They were only kids, treading the most dangerous waters on that earth. Maybe he was just getting old, but he was starting to realize how much of an idiot he was back then. It was pure chance they never died. They weren't ready to face the world. If they had been, if he'd waited…
No. That was in the past. But… so was he.
Briefly he saw Ace's knowing stare fall on him off to the side. The question was: what did he know? He was already aware that he died at some point—no thanks to Marco. Was that what that stare was about? Or…
"Luffy," Nami called. He snapped his head from his brother to his navigator, owlish eyes blinking curiously, waiting for her to continue. "That scar…" Her voice faded, raising her index finger to his chest.
He was afraid of that. With Ace there he couldn't say it—shouldn't say it—but he was such a horrible liar and they knew him so well, even back then when they first began travelling together. They would be able to tell if he didn't tell the truth. But he told the old man that he wouldn't say anything! Why is this so frustrating? Just say something!
"What scar?"
Immediately his crew deflated, a group sigh chorusing across the deck. "Really?" Nami asked. "That's the best you could come up with?"
"Shishishi sorry," he said, scratching the back of his head. "But you guys can't know about this yet, alright? It's a secret."
He expected retaliation, instead met with submissive acceptance. Looking at all of their faces, he noted their concern. It was nice, seeing them worry about him, and he felt kind of bad about not being able to tell them, but… he wasn't really sure what he could and couldn't share. The pirate king knew he couldn't interfere in any battles, but as far as information went, he hadn't a clue what was considered 'safe.' Not that he hadn't already divulged a lot without worrying of the consequences…
"So," Sanji began from his place leaning against the mast, taking a long drag of his cigarette, "how'd you end up here? You can tell us that, can't you?"
Luffy folded his arms and furrowed his brow, deep contemplation washing over his features. "Mmm… I think that's okay, since it's not a spoiler, but… I dunno how I got here."
"You don't know?" Usopp echoed quizzically.
He gave a curt nod. "See, there was this guy I was fighting. He was so annoying, going on about how I should give up 'or else'—said something like 'you'll never be able to withstand my power!' or something. Then there were all these explosions and fire and he thought it'd get to me but Nami used her clima—" Immediately he slapped his hand over his mouth before he could divulge too much, glancing at each of his crewmembers' faces. They were all curious, naturally, but didn't ask. He was thankful for that. "So he used this devil fruit ability and then it was all buzz and whoof! And then bam! Crash! 'The hell was that?' When I got up, I was on the giant-ossan's ship in the New World."
They all stared dumbly at him, as though he had three heads.
No one even blinked as Ace walked over and slammed a fist into his older-younger-brother's head, earning a short yelp. The pirate king looked at him with a pout, receiving an even glare. "Have a little more respect. He's still the strongest man in the world, you know."
"But Ace, he's huge!"
Fire Fist sighed, rubbing soothing circles on his temple. "That's not the problem, Lu…"
"Same old Luffy," Usopp stated, a small chuckle passing his lips.
The twilight hours grew late, finding only the pirate king and his sibling still on deck. The Straw Hat crew had retired some hours ago, leaving the duo to stare out at the dark ocean before them, the golden sands of Alabasta to their right. Last time Luffy was there, he'd already begun traversing the desert. By the time his first day there came to a close and the frigid Alabasta night began, his crew had situated themselves somewhere in the harsh desert sands, camping under the stars and huddling together for warmth. Knowing that, how could he not worry about what had changed? They were a day behind schedule—was that bad?
Despite that, he didn't regret his decision—asking his brother to stay the night. Maybe now he wouldn't meet Blackbeard. Maybe now he would live. It might have been selfish of him to jeopardise the past just so his younger self could be granted one more day with his big brother, but he didn't care. Regardless of the consequences, he was content with his decision.
"We have to leave in the morning, you know," Ace stated from next to him on Merry's figurehead, leaning back to look at the stars.
Luffy didn't look at him, focusing his gaze on the limitless darkness of the midnight waters—a sight he'd become well acquainted with over the years. "I know." When his brother made no move to continue, he added, "It was nice to see Merry again."
Ace raised an eyebrow and turned to him, watching as he ran his palm along the surface of the figurehead. "The ship?" he questioned.
"Mhmm," he affirmed with a nod. "It's been a long time since I saw her."
The fire user's face dropped and he lowered himself, lying back against the hard surface of his ship. "So something happens," he stated.
The pirate king didn't answer.
"Is that why you wanted to stay?"
Maybe that was part of it. Seeing the Going Merry after so many years was nostalgic. He loved that ship, just as he loved the Thousand Sunny, and he would always remember it—the sacrifices it made to keep them adrift. The image of it burning before him against a black sky, watching it slip into the murky depths below through tear-stained eyes, would remain with him for the rest of his life. He was indebted to that ship—always would be.
Merry wasn't the only sacrifice he witnessed throughout his journey, though. There had been so many others—so many who lost their lives over the years. It started with Sabo—the Celestial Dragons shooting down his ship, killing him without reason. But it didn't end there. Everywhere he went he saw the end of the life, it seemed. At least, as he got older he did. Back then, though, before Marineford… life seemed so simple. They were just sailing the waters on an innocent adventure, exploring the different lands they came across and helping those they met along the way.
Then the war came.
"Don't you want to go home?" The words slipped from his mouth faster than he could stop them.
"Hm?" Ace hadn't been paying much attention and turned curiously to stare at him, arms folded behind his head.
Well, he already said it. Couldn't go back, could he? Luffy figured that he might as well voice his opinions. "Don't you want to see the crew again?"
"Well, yeah, but—"
"Then why not go back? You just up and left—they're worried about you!"
Slowly the commander sat up, narrowed eyes on his brother. "I already told you, I'm not going back."
"But—"
"Luffy," he called dangerously, halting the pirate king's words in an instant. "Teach needs to pay for what he's done."
He furrowed his brow. After so many years, he'd almost forgotten how stubborn Ace could be! Not that he was really any better, but still! "Thatch—"
"Thatch would want to be avenged."
No he doesn't. He wants you to come back—alive.
Despite his internal protests, he was thankful Ace stopped him; he almost told him that the fourth division commander was alive. That would have been a big mistake and he was sure Marco and the other Whitebeard pirates wouldn't be too happy to hear he almost let it slip.
The brothers glared at each other for a short while before childishly turning away, crossing their arms as they sulked. Luffy couldn't stay mad for long, though. How could he be upset with his dead brother?
Off on the horizon he spotted flecks of light. Soon the twilight would give way to the morn and the world would wake once more. The crew would rise, along with his other self, and they would leave to begin their journey to find Blackbeard. He felt restless knowing that, should he fail, that night would be the last his counterpart saw of his brother before he died. When morning came and they went their separate ways, when his crew left to traverse the desert, something would end. Something would break. And he hated knowing that there was nothing he could do to stop it.
A bitter image of a day many years ago crossed his mind—the paper that he hated being placed in his grasp, unfolding it to see nothing but a name he knew so well.
"Ace," he called, voice barely above a whisper.
"What is it, Lu?" he asked, having returned to lying on his back, disinterested tone meeting his ears.
Luffy looked to see the freckled youth had closed his eyes. He looked so young—too young. Ace should have been older, wiser. He should have years beyond the pirate king, experience far greater than his own, but he was stuck at the beginning, unable to move forward.
Come Marineford, everything would end.
"I wish you never gave me your vivre card."
A/N: So happy Thanksgiving and I'll see you all next update!
I COMPLETELY forgot to put the teaser for the bonus chapter. SORRY! Here it is:
The pirate buried his head in his hands, hunching over in the dark of the room as he sat on the edge of his bed. Mirror shards lay shattered on the far side of the room, a testament to his anger in that moment. Frustrated shivers escaped his body as he clenched his teeth, not wanting to admit the truth—that the mark he wore so proudly on his skin was gone, leaving not a shred of proof that it was ever there. He hated it—hated that his symbol of belonging had been erased. It felt like it'd never happened—the crew, the old man, their time together.
He heard the door creak open but didn't react, remaining hidden behind his fingers as he tried to cope with what he just saw. There was a pause as the other assessed the situation. Then large, weighted steps resounded through the room, bouncing off the walls. He knew those steps—recognised that gait—but said not a word. At that point, he didn't care.
To my lovelies~
Guest: I can't just tell you that :P You'll have to wait and find out.
shadowmarialove: Those words were important, but I won't say why :P
PhantoMNIGHT321: Thanks!
Wolf and MR Lover: Meh, I have pairings for about half my fics. I started this one when I didn't have any couples I like so it won't have pairings, but a lot of my others do. Who dies/doesn't dies has already been decided. Heck, I wrote it out already. Not changing it regardless, sorry :P
TegzTsinelas: Luffy's next move... it'll be interesting, at least :P
xXxWolvesInTheNightxXx: Well, they mean something ;) Lol I never liked Magellan's design.
LoveDragonsForever: I'm glad you like!
doubledamn: That wasn't the teaser for the next chapter, that was the teaser for the bonus chapter. I don't really think Marco would be able to heal others, personally. Nope, I think Hawkins is a paramecia. There are other paramecia types who've transformed their bodies so I think it's just one of the extra abilities his fruit gave him.
Deadly In Pink: Same, Sanji cares about Luffy just as much as the others. You're welcome!
Bluebird42: Glad you liked the teaser! That was fun for me to write. In face, I'm REALLY enjoying writing the bonus XD
Gol D. Liandra: Yes! But things are never that simple :P
LostFairyMantic: Glad you like!
ssspooky: Hehe yep, you'll have another month or two to wait before we get there.
azab: Thanks!
Guest (2): Yeah, I really hate those two as well e_e;
Kitsune Foxfire: He has a hunch, at least, so he's not completely lost XD
Girl-luvs-manga: Yep, he really doesn't.
Kiki1770: Hope you enjoy it, then :)
READINGhearts17: Hope it met your expectations!
spoons-are-evil: Agreed, I hate that guy e_e We'll see about that ;)
Queen Lily Tiger Ellyessa: Here's an update!
linda12tear: Here's an update!
Shirani: Here's an update!
Lover's Red Rose: Lol yep, pretty much XD
kage kitsune: Here's an update!
Ayana: Glad you like! Here's an update!
(I... am done updating for a while. That's like 8 stories in 2 days. I think my fingers deserve a rest e_e Review, tell me what you think - you know the drill! I'll be... eating soup. Mhmm. Adieu~)