I am soooo sorry for the long wait you guys! I have been getting lots of favorites and follows since the last chapter I've updated and I've been so grateful for all the support I've received and even the reviews I've gotten. The last few years have been crazy with the covid and trying to not lose my job, which happened three times and then had to find a job that would be less likely to be a cause for losing work because of Covid, studied for that and then had to get used to a whole new field - which i'm actually really liking.

The main reason for not updating sooner though is because, for some reason, I just couldn't think of the words to say for this chapter. I ended up using a bit of the prologue to get the story moving along, and a bit of the other side of the war with Whitebeard being the focus since Luffy and Ace were focused on for this part in previous chapters. I hope you guys don't mind that bit.

Now without further delay, here's the next installment of the story.

Chapter 9: Let's go!

Luffy was eager to get over the wall and finally reach Ace and save him from the stupid Marines who thought they could kill him right in front of her. They were trying to execute him right now and she had to get to him fast before it was too late. So, she let Jimbei go beneath the waves to prepare to help her over the wall. Marco went ahead to try and get to Ace too as a pre-distraction, distraction… that made no sense but at least it made sense to her right? They had to keep the marines on their toes after all.

Just because Luffy couldn't see Ace anymore because of the stupid wall didn't mean that she was going to give up anytime soon. He was her brother, though her feelings for him were far more intimate than that of siblings, and that was more than enough for her to risk her life to save him. Sure, maybe attacking the three admirals up close and personal was a stupid idea, but whoever said stupid ideas were bad?

So, that's what she did and she brought a piece of a ship along for the ride. She hated that her attacks weren't affecting the admirals but that wasn't her goal anyway. She was supposed to make them think she was attacking them when really she was just looking for a spot to run through. Which she found and activated Second Gear to speed on through.

Much to her dismay, light man matched her speed and knocked her into a building. "You are full of surprises. Far too presumptuous if you think you can move faster than light." Kizaru stated in his slow manner even as Sengoku announced the decision to execute Ace right then and there, now that the news feed had been cut.

"No matter what you say, I'm going to rescue Ace." Glaring at the dumb marines, Luffy started to get up when the ground shook all around them. Marco had also chosen that moment to move between Kizaru and Luffy with a smirk on his face as he surprised the Admiral with a successful kick to the gut. Had to get Ace free and if that meant letting Luffy do that job and the Whitebeard's doing the rest of the hard work, he didn't mind in the least.

Loud heavy panting and a giant green finger twitched, then Little Oars Jr. rose from the ground like he'd just been napping… Luffy had to grin at that thought. So she wasn't the only one who could nap in the middle of something dangerous. She even saw a ship heading for Oars Jr. Even as the giant waited patiently for Whitebeard and the others.

Getting up from the ground finally, Luffy started punching the marines that came at her, still trying to get to Ace. Even as the executioners were preparing to strike again. She didn't know if she could stop it but she wouldn't stop trying. Though as the blades started falling over Ace's neck, her brother clearly done fighting his sentence, Luffy watched with horror as time seemed to both speed up and slow down all at once.

"Gum-Gum… GATLING!"

Bandaged punches fly and Marines fall as quickly as the hits land. Labored breath puffed out of dainty lips, short black hair flying in the wind as dirty bare feet run on thin aching legs. Fatigue… pain… they were nothing. Nothing compared to seeing the most precious person in her life kneeling on a platform, watching with horror and disbelief with all who had shown up to fight for him. Watching as his face then turned to defeat and resignation as two blades crossed in front of him in preparation to execute him. In response, wide chocolate brown eyes went wider – angry that he was giving up without a fight.

"ACE! I'll be there soon! I promise! Just hang in there a little longer, please don't give up on me yet!" came Luffy's desperate, horse and yet still sweet sounding of a voice.

A leg stretched and whipped yet another group of Marines out of the way before retracting to start running again. Short blue jean shorts that cut off in the middle of slim, yet bandaged thighs. Arms pumping more punches, unconcerned for anything in the way. Tears falling down thin cheeks, one having a scar beneath an eye. Straw-hat flying in the wind against the owner's curved back held in place by a cord.

Stop.

The blades crossed again before being raised once more.

Don't do it!

His head bowed, eyes hidden yet his shoulders drooped, lips trembling as for the final time the blades touched behind him.

"LEAVE HIM ALONE! AAACCCCEEEEE!" Everything stopped for a moment, still as statues, save for the teen pirate rookie breathing heavily while a wave went across the entire battlefield. Then, one by one, Marines and pirates alike began to fall. Those still standing were stunned by what just happened and that such a thin and dainty girl could do what she just did. The executioners were also knocked out thankfully, but none of what was happening deterred the girl from running at full speed once more towards the shocked man bound on top of the blasted platform.

Her chest hurt, her heart was beating fast yet constricting so tightly that she felt like she couldn't breathe anymore. Yet breaths still came and she reached out her hand as she ran, unhindered now for at least a few moments. "Ace! I won't let you die! You promised me, remember?" she yelled for him again, desperate for him to understand as a few more drops of tears escaped in her exertion to reach him.

Ace watched her, the shock fading as despair took its place as she hopped over fallen and unconscious bodies. He couldn't believe that she had that sort of power, knowing exactly what it was, as did many if not all of those who remained awake after Luffy released such a powerful haki. It was clear that both sides were shocked for more than one reason but the marine's found their will faster and began aiming all their attacks at his beloved sister.

Ace then saw Akainu attacking his sister while the other two admirals went after Pops as though to end the war with his death. "LUFFY! Behind you!" he called and was going to warn Whitebeard too, except what he saw was more surprising than Luffy's haki.

Whitebeard had stumbled and fell to one knee while holding his head. He wasn't injured beyond the tiny sword wound from his son, so the cause was unknown to the watching marine however two decided that it was an ample opportunity to attack him. Even as they moved, the event happening before them was even more surprising than the news about Luffy and Ace's fathers. Whitebeard's short white hair grew longer and the color blonde was returning, the wrinkles began to thin and disappear, being reinvigorated as if time was going in reverse for him alone. Though he clearly was feeling it as he didn't even seem to be aware of the admirals taking advantage of his hunched form with his guard lowered.

Luffy avoided the attack thanks to Marco, even as Iva made his move to help.

"Death Wink!"

The marines yelled out their pain as the strange attack hit and they went flying, more yelled out as the crew of Whitebeard prevented the non-admirals from getting too close to their captain while he was otherwise figures jumped from the ship and blocked the admiral's attack on Whitebeard without any hesitation. Sparks flew from one while the other held a sword, both using haki to succeed on the defense.

Now Sengoku was truly amazed and dread filled him as he watched what was happening to Whitebeard. Not only had the old man avoided any major injuries, minus the attack by his own man, but now he was clearly - somehow - getting younger! However, the 'somehow' question was answered when he looked closer at one of the two defenders that came to the pirate captain's aid at the crucial moment. The halfbreed mink they'd had a large bounty out on was there, smirking at Kizaru as her electricity absorbed the light attack, a wolf tail at her lower back and ears on top of her head among a head of long dark blonde hair the proof that she was the half breed indeed.

"You! Wolf-fang Aria, you did this! Do you have any idea what you've done?!" Sengoku yelled at the young female angrily. With Whitebeard young and at top strength of his prime, the tables have gone against them even more and the old man would be even harder to defeat! Of course, Luffy was also still stubbornly closing in on the platform! What else could go wrong!?

Kicking Kizaru back, the blonde mink smirked at Sengoku and stuck her tongue out at him. "Of course I do. I gave him back his strength for a reason you know." She glanced at the other who came out with her. "I guess you're going to have to make a bigger scene. No one's acknowledged you yet."

A head of orange hair styled in a pompadour dipped as the man was still working on keeping ice-man back. "Yeah well, kinda hard to compete with you and Pops at the moment considering the miracle you did. They're probably going to start wetting themselves once Pops gets reacquainted with being in the age of his prime again." the man stated even as he managed to slice Aokiji a few times to get the admiral to back off. "Besides, my time to shine will happen soon enough. Gotta find Teach and pay him back for the stab in the back he gave me."

Luffy paid little attention to what was happening around her, but Ace was more than able to see Aria and even Thatch, who was somehow alive and perfectly well. He would have to ask what happened after he left for Thatch to somehow still be alive. He was sure he was dead when he went hunting after Teach.

Iva had crabman make a pathway from the ground straight to the platform and Ace was in a state of disbelief. Luffy was nearly within reach and it felt almost surreal.

"Guarara, well now Sengoku. Let's see how you can plan your way out of this. I'm not going to be an easy target from this point forward." Whitebeard stated, his voice strong - having lost that old age sound, a sneer crossing his face as he straightened to his full height with his weapon once more in a tight grip. He felt amazing and powerful like he had once felt all those years ago. The aches and pains that came with age were gone, and he doubted he'd need those needles and medicines again anytime soon. He had to thank Aria later, but right now they still needed to save Ace and then get out of there.

To thank the marines for being so patient while he had been preoccupied, he slammed a powerful - tremor tremor coated - fist into the air and the whole ocean felt like it was beginning to come apart as well as the base they stood on - the ground cracking and splitting beneath the feet of everyone in the way. "Now then, what do you say we get Ace off that platform?" Whitebeard stated with his trademark grin.

Aria smirked and let her hands tingle with electricity to show her eagerness to join in the fun. "Ready when you are, Edward."

And that's it for this chapter…. If anyone wants to help me get through the next few battles I would love to hear from you, fighting scenes - I'm realizing - isn't my forte.

Hope you all like the chapter and drop a review if you feel like it is deserved. I personally don't like how the chapter turned out - maybe I wrote it too fast… I don't know but those I've messaged to ask for help have not responded so I'm just winging it. Any help or tips you guys have will be appreciated.

Luffy: ABOUT TIME! We were waiting forever to know what happens next! How could you take so long!

Sorry….

Bye for now,

AceAyane