So, it's here, a whole 24 hours later -I'm so proud haha.

Thanks to Le055Li0n, Blue Thief, 12slytherin, Madeline Leicht, Lily Noir, SupImHere, and nyuh98 for your awesome reviews.

...And, because I have no self control whatsoever, I posted the first chapter to a new story. It's called 'Gut Instict' and follows Smoker as he meets Luffy years before this story, it's actually been an absolute joy to write, so go check that out if you're interested! Here's the blurb:

Smoker knows a pirate when he sees one –no matter what's written in the coat he's wearing.

Anyway, on to the story!


Akainu's eyes are wide, his punch frozen mere centimenters from Luffy's determined face. He hadn't quiet stopped in time, and some of the magma flickers onto the brat's collarbone, burning right through skin, muscle and bone. Luffy screams, but does not fall or step back, his eyes are just as deep and just as stubborn as the day Akainu met him and the memory is too bittersweet to forget. Eyes barely open, glaring through the pain.

Akainu's not sure where Monkey D. Luffy falls in the spectrum of Absolute Justice, if there even is such a thing, but Akainu also knows that there's no way he can put him down here (or anywhere). At some point, Luffy wormed his way into his esteem and Akainu carries a sliver of respect for the true value of freedom from a boy who had none. He likes to think, having wacthed over Luffy's exploits throught he years, that Luffy had learned to like being a marine from his apprencticeship with him.

It's not that bad. I'm just glad that nobody expects me to share my meat.

He looks upon Gol D. Ace and resentment twist inside him, but he sees Luffy's neck and it's blood splattered and burned, steaming were the magma is still corroding his shoulder, but distinctly unadorned. He's almost thankful to the Red Hair Emperor when he makes it easy to let Luffy go, not that Akainu plans on taking it easy on him.

Someone's head's gotta roll today, after all.


Sabo is sure it's destiny how the Revolutionary Forces are right on time to intercept Blackbeard, and Sabo's vision goes a little red at the edges when he sees the man responsible for Ace's imprisonment. Perhaps, any other time, the Blackbeard Pirates and their newly released members would've posed a challenge, but the Revolutionaries are marching to war, fresh for the battlefield meanwhile the pirates have already taken quiet the beating at Impel Down.

They're outnumbered and outclassed and it shows.

If Sabo thinks he's angry, it's nothing compared to the absolute smack down Garp is giving Marshall D. Teach. So one-sided it's a little pathetic. The man keeps trying to activitate his fruit, random burst of darkness escaping him but the older man is just too fast and too determined to beat the utter crap out of him. His haki is razor sharp. Sabo has never seen Garp battle, and there's nothing but thunder in the expression of the usually affable man.

He almost cannot believe it's the same geezer who used to fall asleep when he was scolding Sabo and his brothers as children.

All around him revolutionaries are overwhelming the pirates, even without the captains -who were too far away to make it in time, his people are trained for enemies much more dangerous that a band of misfits. It's barely even a battle, but the revolutionary forces are being delayed. It could be worst, Sabo is almost a little miffed no one else thought to take the back door to the fight but then again, those pirates really liked their drama, not big fans of sneaking around. Sabo knows, he's learned what that type of boldness can bring you.

He ducks under another punch, easily sending his attacker flying into a couple more fighters. Now, he's thinking about it again. Sabo remembers now, he remembers and now he cannot really believe he ever forgot. Ace... Luffy...

Did you know? If we drink sake together, it'll make us brothers!

And crap, his brothers still think he's dead. It hadn't been until seeing Garp and the man's unorthodox greeting that his life at Mount Colbo started to come back to Sabo. He's been saved by a Fist of Love, literally, and isn't that a depressing thought?

Sabo channels all of his frustration into another man's face, turning swiftly to knock the head straight into a sword swing. Blood splatters and all three attackers go down. From the corner of his eye, Sabo spies his boss who still hasn't moved from the bow of their anchored ship. Still no one dares cross him. Garp is also finishing up his smackdown, Sabo can already tell, and suddenly Koala is at his side.

"Boss wants you to start going ahead, this is wrapping up rather quickly and we wouldn't want to miss the main event." Sabo nods and thanks her, leaving the beach to start the climb around the marine stronghold, soon he feels his men follow. Garp -surprisingly- is one of the people leaving behind the confrontation with the Blackbeard's. Sabo thought he'd remained to arrest them and then remembers that Garp is no longer a marine. A part of Sabo cannot imagine how difficult this must be for him.

"What about Blackbeard?" He asks the former vice-admiral when the older man catches up to him, he's not even out of breath. Damn, Sabo hopes he too, ages that well.

"My stupid son can finish that bastard." Garp says without much thought, his eyes are hardened in the direction of the upcoming war. "He's not the only idiot I plan to beat up today."

Sabo shares the sentiment.

Wait for me, Ace, Luffy...!


If you happen to be a HP fan I've got something a little different up for that called 'Marked by Death'. It's slash on the category of horror romance, so it's signficantly less lighthearted than this one, but just in case that's also up your alley... It's been rewritten and the first new chapter is up so be sure to check it out if you like!