Chapter Seven

Ace jerked when he heard the scream. He had no time to look as he dodged out of the way of another attack from Kizaru. He had half a dozen grazes from those light-bullets and his body was feeling more sluggish by the moment.

But that was Luffy's scream. Adrenaline pumped through his system as he slammed a Haki-reinforced roundhouse kick into Kizaru's side. Then Ace gave him a haymaker with all the momentum of his kick behind it. The Admiral easily dodged the knee aimed at a kidney, but barely managed to block the downward punch to his face.

The Second Commander jabbed the Light Admiral with a palm knife, stomped on his fingers when the man tried to springboard away, and ended the exchange with a power packed punch to the sternum. Granted, the fire man also took another light-bullet graze on his arm and a foot to the face, but the slight break in fighting is all he needed.

Spitting out some blood from a newly split lip, Ace used the chance to glance at Luffy.

Luffy wasn't there.

Another scream sounded out, this time of rage instead or pain. Following it, Ace's breath caught in his throat as Luffy engaged with the Light Admiral. The one Fire Fist had just been fighting. The Admiral he had been slowly losing to. If Kizaru outmatched Ace, there was no way Luffy could take him on.

Ace jumped in to block a leg swipe that would have knocked Luffy down. The brothers tag teamed the Admiral, but the lower-ranked Marines were starting to reach this area too. Now they needed to provide crowd control on top of the high-risk fight.

In between switching off with Luffy, Ace sent a Firefly Burst to a larger group approaching, then shot some Fire Bullets at the random marines nearby. Luffy sent a few marines who got too close flying with high-speed punches.

Knocking the marines down helped Ace's confidence a bit. Fire Fist hadn't been able to use fire on Kizaru. The light-man phased through it without an issue. The only way to fight effectively was with Armament Haki. Ace didn't use that much because he usually used his Devil Fruit. Kind of sucked that he could only choose being made of fire or using Armament Haki.

Wait.

Since when did Luffy know Armament Haki?

Only a few months ago in Alabasta, the entire Straw Hat crew seemed completely ignorant about any kind of Haki. Just how long had Ace been in Impel Down?

The fire man only learned of Haki when he reached the new world. Turns out, Ace had been using Armament Haki since he was a kid, just hadn't realized that was where his monstrous strength came from. He still didn't know if that was genetics or if his adoptive grandfather's training actually worked. He also couldn't decide which option was worse.

Luffy hadn't shown any signs of that. His little brother's determination and rubber body were the idiot's strengths while they were growing up. The kid got stronger over the years, but it was never like Ace's. He did show some signs of it in Alabasta, but only the beginner stuff like someone just starting to use it instinctively.

The rubber Gatling Gun attack Luffy just used was done with black fisted hands. That wasn't beginner level. Luffy had to have been trained. At least he hadn't reached Ace's level of control. You only really mastered Armament Haki if you could use a basic level without changing your skin tone. The black color still appeared when you put a bunch of power into it. That was needed when blocking the light bullets, but just to hit an elemental fruit user, you only needed the base level. Maybe Luffy realized it when fighting Crocodile in Alabasta?

Fire Fist shook off his wonderings and tried to focus back on the fight. Seeing another opening, Ace switched off with Luffy seamlessly. The high kick didn't catch Kizaru completely off guard, but it was a solid hit.

Luffy slammed into the Admiral's side, knocking the Admiral's counter light bullet away from Ace's ribs. The brothers were still taking hits from the light-man, but not nearly as many as Ace had taken before.

"Shishishi." His brother was laughing again, a wide grin on his red tinted face. Without that smile, the red tinted skin and steam pouring off of him painted a picture of a vengeful demon. How could his cute little brother look so terrifying?

Still, his little brother was amazing. He didn't know where this second wind came from, but the 2nd Division Commander knew it couldn't last. Luffy was really not doing well before.

Shaking off that line of thought, Ace focused back on the fight. It was difficult to focus when tremors went through the ground. Pops was fighting again, but Ace couldn't afford to look away.

Ivankov wasn't able to keep his reckless sibling out of trouble and the Whitebeard medics couldn't babysit the Straw Hat captain right now. There were too many wounded that were being evacuated. Ace needed to stick around until Luffy was off the battlefield. Even if it killed him to ignore his Whitebeard brothers.

The Whitebeards were old enough to make their own decisions. They'd seen the New World and been through a lot of tough situations. Luffy barely started his journey. Ace was certain his little brother hadn't reached Fishman Island yet.

The worst Luffy should have encountered in Paradise was Crocodile or another lower level Warlord. Even if he realized the mysterious power, how did the rubber-man pick up Armament Haki? How could he use it to defend against an Admiral right now? It didn't make any sense. But since when had Luffy ever made sense?

At least Luffy made more sense than the disembodied arm that just smacked Kizaru across the face.

Wait. What just happened?

-Scene Break-

The Great Buggy, Master Pirate of the Seas, newly dubbed Captain of a hundred Impel Down escapees… tried not to cry.

Ever since running into Straw Hat while flashily escaping that prison, life made no sense. The icing on the cake - the craziness of the rubber pirate seemed to be catching!

The escapees that now called him Captain were far stronger than him, but Buggy thought they had been locked up for a little too long. They must be crazy to keep coming up with these crazy ideas about him.

Sure, he was awesome, and their worship should be expected in his presence… No, no, no. Buggy liked to dream, but he knew reality. He wasn't an idiot like that red-haired jerk, thinking life was going to be fine no matter what happen. There were just some things that couldn't be done!

Breaking out of Impel Down should have been one of them, but it happened. It happened by sheer dumb luck, but it happened. When the marines announced Buggy's past with Captain Roger, the slice-man thought he was a goner. Being a member of the Pirate King's crew had been a death sentence hanging over his head for two decades.

Instead, he was elevated even higher. It's about time someone notice his magnificence… No, no. He had to stay realistic. Realistic!

He kept making stupid mistakes, and then those morons excused each mistake for something far from what it was. How was he supposed to keep up with all this chaos?

Straw Hat challenged Whitebeard and somehow, Buggy got conscripted to help out or his honor would be mud. All these viciously loyal subordinates would be turned into deadly enemies. Buggy was a really flashy guy, but he couldn't hold up to all these marines and a mutiny!

So, after having a random encounter with Mihawk that he managed lived through (Curse you Crocodile!), Buggy came up with the brilliant idea that they needed to get a hold of a Transponder Snail and take over the broadcast. That worked out fine until Old Man Whitebeard lets one of his so-called sons stab him through the chest.

While they were distracted by that drama, Aokiji managed to freeze them all. Mr. 3 had disappeared after the ice melted. His only sane companion to combat the craziness surrounding them.

Luckily, his crew seemed to have been forgotten amongst all the rest of the fighting. Buggy took full advantage of that to lay low and come up with a new plan.

It took forever to get the Transponder Snail back up and running. By then Straw Hat actually managed to free Ace. Buggy was feeling pretty good. He re-started his very important broadcast by telling his men they were going to get themselves a flashy new ship, courtesy of the marines!

That didn't work out so well. Old Man Whitebeard also sounded a retreat (Buggy wasn't retreating! They just needed a new ship after Straw Hat destroyed his old one.) and the marines were paying attention to his crew again.

They had been pressed to the wall near where the Whitebeard idiot crashed his ship through it. Why did he do that to a perfectly good pirate ship? The escaping Whitebeards helped keep some of the marines off Buggy's group, but a crazy sword wielder managed to take off his arm. Nothing terrible for the Great Buggy to deal with, but it was sure annoying. His faithful followers took the man down easy, but one of the bumbling buffoons knocked his floating arm flying. Not wanting a repeat of Little Buggy's Big Adventure, the slice-man crossed the wall, running after the shooting limb… only to smack into an Admiral. Literally!

As his arm smacked the Admiral across the face, Buggy paled. The impact stopped his arm's momentum enough he could control its flight. The clown quickly pulled it back, not quite dodging a light attack that burned as it sliced into his arm's flesh. After reattaching his limb, Buggy tried to shake out the pain, but didn't have time to assess the damage.

He could hear his followers catching up behind him. Especially when one dim bulb shouted in joy about the Great Captain Buggy taking on Admiral Kizaru!

Whirling around, Buggy started to snap at the idiot, only to realize his stupid followers were still holding the broadcasting Transponder Snail. No! Everyone in the world must be watching this! Quickly, Buggy changed tactics.

"Of course! No admiral is a match for Captain Buggy!" Striking a heroic pose, Buggy hoped the waterfall of sweat didn't show up on camera. Another stab of pain in his recently returned arm reminded him that was probably an unwise move to turn his back on the Light Admiral. Spinning back to face his, gulp, enemy, Buggy was mystified to see no one there.

"Captain Buggy scared off the Admiral!" His followers cried, praising him as Buggy tried to figure out what really happened. Looking down at his arm, Buggy realized it was still missing a hand. The smooth cut-off stump showed his slice-slice devil fruit powers were still working, but it was slightly seared around the edges. The light from the admiral must have burned it even as he cut the hand off.

Glancing around for his missing hand, the pirate clown realized the admiral hadn't completely disappeared. Straw Hat and Fire Fist were fighting evenly with the Light Admiral not too far away. Lucky break for Captain Buggy!

Sighing in relief, Buggy focused back on his hand. Pulling the hand towards him, without knowing exactly where it was, could be a bit tricky. It didn't seem too far, but as Buggy mentally connected with it, he realized his missing hand was holding on to something tightly.

Frowning, Buggy commanded the hand to let go. It didn't respond. He tugged the hand back towards him, and again, it resisted. Grumbling at how his own body should at least listen to him, Buggy yanked his hand back, hard. This time it responded and pulled back, still holding on to whatever it had grabbed, but didn't return.

"Captain Buggy!" His followers cried out. "I can't believe it. You must have been so frustrated when you graciously delayed your duel with Whitebeard!"

"Huh?" Was his elegant response. What were they on about now? He yanked back on his missing hand again.

"Only Captain Buggy would refuse to let an admiral run away after challenging him!"

Buggy glanced at the Straw Hat's fight at the same time he did another yank on his hand, this time feeling it let go and start to return. He quickly lost his focus as he realized Kizaru wasn't fighting anymore.

His missing hand was flying back from the Light Admiral's position. As it reattached, Buggy opened up his palm and found a scrap of fabric. A familiar pinstriped yellow fabric. One that matched the Light Admirals iconic suit.

"Thanks Buggy!" Straw Hat's annoying voice yelled out, now much farther away than from where he had previously been fighting Kizaru. With Ace's curses, Buggy figured the rubber man must have done that annoying sling shot move.

"Captain Buggy let Straw Hat and Fire Fist escape! So generous!"

"Using only his hand, he distracted the Admiral!"

"He's so great!"

"What guts!"

"We'll follow you forever, Captain Buggy!"

Dread filled him. Blood drained out of his face. Buggy couldn't even squeak as the words of his new crew filtered in and processed. His hand had been attached to the Admiral! Straw Hat and Fire Fist were leaving and the Admiral -

That thought was cut off as a light filled kick slammed into him, pinning him to the ice-covered ground.

"My, my. I have bigger fish to fry. But if you really wanted to die that badly..." Kizaru's lazy voice rang like a death toll.

Author's Note:

Yeah, Buggy has guts. LOL. He was so interesting to write. I thought of splitting this into two chapters, one of Ace and one of Buggy, but it felt better as a bigger one than two smaller chapters. Plus, you all have waited so long!

This was originally going to come out in February, but I live in Texas and the freeze kind of knocked life out of whack for a while. I used to live in Utah and Oregon, so it wasn't the snow/ice, but without the right prep and city support… well, living several days with no way to get heat except getting in the car to drive around on very icy roads was surreal. And my little girl who always kicks off blankets, no matter how cold, was a huge worry that made for sleepless nights. Or maybe that was just because it's hard to sleep when it's so cold? I will forever want a house with a fireplace, even in the heat of Texas where it seemed silly to want one. Luckily, winter camping skills saved the day that week.

My family was fine once power was restored, but online school took up all my attention. The schools needed repairs from burst water pipes. Then getting back to normal life after that was kind of crazy as well. I still have blankets nailed over the main bedroom windows! And the rest of life still had to happen amongst getting through recovery in our house and helping friends who had water damage.

But after finally getting through our big April Girl Scout Day at Camp, I could finally dedicate time back to doing this. Hopefully, I will update more regularly now. We're halfway through but the second half of this story. The outline is less put together than the first half of the story, so weekly updates would be a fast pace, and bi-monthly is more likely to be the case.

This one took some time because writing Buggy is weird. Also, how I decided to deal with Armament was a big factor on the rest of the story. I kept going back and forth. It's really unclear how well Ace uses it, so it makes these fights tricky. My guess on Armament Haki showing up on the skin is totally my own opinion. Also, the fact that Ace was using it instinctively as a kid. But it neatly covers why Ace was a monster in strength as a baby and why Garp could hit Luffy with a fist of love and still hurt the rubber boy even without a color change of his fist.

Reader's Response (5/3/2021):

Note – I won't be responding to "Guest" in future Reader's Responses. It's hard to differentiate between which "Guest" wrote it. So anyone with a unique name – I'll still respond to.

Lena013 – I'll admit, I still have no idea how to bring Law into this. He's crazier than Luffy in a totally different way. It's hard to grasp his mindset.

Louve3 – Thanks!

Guest 16 – Glad you liked Akainu getting a surprise hit. I hope you enjoyed Kizaru's fight too. I don't think Luffy could go against any general one on one right now, so this was hard to write and still make it realistic. I think Kizaru's laziness and Aokiji's different sense of justice would help the brothers survive more than an unrelenting Akainu. So, sorry I couldn't do a full on fight with Akainu!

frightener-boy – Your thoughts are pretty close to mine again, but I don't think Luffy could do Gear 4 right now. It requires a lot of mastery of Armament, and I don't think Luffy would even attempt it when he has a hard time covering an Elephant Fist in Armament haki. He has it down mentally for sure, but I can't imagine Gear 4 needing anything less than vigorous physical training to be used. I can't see Luffy even trying to do it after his stupid body has been acting weird in this dream so far. Thanks for the PM!

Guest – Glad you're excited. Thanks for reading. I think you are right about Whitebeard's last words.

Chai Chandler – I'm sure anyone besides Luffy would get a clue "It's not a dream" when feeling pain while dreaming. Luffy, not so much. I believe he doesn't think about all the details after he's labeled it a dream. It's going to be hard to make him figure out it's reality rather than a "mystery dream".

Kae Membrana – See Chai Chandler's response about the feeling pain in a dream. Thanks for your positive remarks on this! It's been very interesting trying to get inside Luffy's mindset. I'll admit half my wish to kill off Ace a second time is to explore just how broken that would make Luffy and what exactly do I think he would do. But most of the ideas I have are dark and not that interesting so I'm leaning towards keeping Ace alive.

Guest – Glad you love time travel fics and found this one! I got your vote for Ace living through this.

AngelFallenDemon – Thanks!

Guest – Thanks!

Guest – Thanks for reviewing hoping for future updates. Sorry this one took so long!