Chapter 2: Scars

A celebration was happening on Fishman Island. After the Straw Hats had helped save the inhabitants of Fishman Island, a feast was thrown. Everyone was having a great time. However, outside the festivities was a woman, thinking about all that she had learned here on this island. The fact the princess of the kingdom was the ancient weapon Poseidon was something she wasn't expecting. However, one mystery still evaded her. Who was Joyboy and what was he apologizing for to the people of Fishman Island. She was so engrossed in her thoughts she didn't hear someone approaching her.

"Nico Robin, I was not expecting to be here." Jinbei said. She was pulled out of her thoughts hearing the former Warlord. "I expected you to be by your beloved's side as your crew helped save my people from certain destruction" Jinbei had smile on his face, showing how grateful he was.

"Of course, Jinbei. We only followed our captain's orders. It so happened we all also wanted to help you and your people." Never had Robin thought that she would ever risk her life for others, even a kingdom and its inhabitants. It showed how much her new life had changed her. How much he had changed her. "I was always wondering how he was. I only read about it and could only imagine the pain he went through." Robin said. She would always blame herself for not being there for her fiancée. She promised she would be there for him when they reunited. Jinbei's expression changed hearing Robin's question.

"I don't believe that it is my right to tell you that story Nico Robin." The fishman said with a forlorn expression. Robin noticed this and had a worried look on her face. "All I will comment is Luffy is a stronger man now than he was two years ago. He may act the same, but I feel a different resolve in him. One that seems to be to make sure he never loses anyone he loves ever again." Robin had a smile on her face knowing this fact. Luffy seemed different, yet somehow remained the same.

"Very well Jinbei, I will ask him and see for myself. I thank you."

"It was my pleasure, Robin." The fishman said. "Why don't we return to the celebration, I'm sure your King is wondering where you are" the fishman added with a hearty laugh. Robin could only blush. No matter what, she will always be embarrassed at her crewmates and friend's teasing of her relationship with Luffy. She has never experienced such things, so she didn't know how to handle all these teasing.

"Yes of course. Let us return." She said hiding her flushed face. They returned to the party and joined in the celebration. Luffy spotted Robin and quickly wrapped his arm around her and brought her into a kiss and a loving embrace. Robin returned both with as much gusto as him and joined in the celebration as well, putting the info she learned in the back of her mind. _Later, after the celebration had concluded; the Straw Hats each retired to the rooms provided by the Royal family. Of course, Robin and Luffy had a room to themselves and were finishing getting ready for bed. As Luffy walked out of the bath, Robin couldn't help but stare at his exposed upper body. Toned abs and muscles now more prominent than ever. Robin couldn't help but stare at the man that was her future husband, a slight hint of desire in her eyes. However, her eyes wandered to the scar on his chest. She was suddenly reminded of what Jinbei had said

'I don't believe that it is my right to tell you Nico Robin'. She mentally prepared herself, hoping she was prepared for what she would hear.

"Luffy" He turned around and looked at Robin, finishing drying off his hair. "I was wondering, how did you handle Ace's death? It was one of the many things I thought about when I was away training for the past two years." she asked, concern in her voice. She noticed his face became sullen and depressed. She soon regretted asking the question seeing his expression. "Luffy, I'm sorry. If you don't want to talk about it I-"

"No Robin, it's fine. You have a right to know. You are my future wife and have every right to know." He said using a serious tone. The protest died in Robin's throat as she nodded. He sat down on the bed next to her. He looked down as he did, not wanting to show his face to his lover. "I still have nightmares you know. Nightmares about losing Ace. Ones about losing our crew. Ones about me losing you" he said the last one almost a whisper. Robin gasped, she didn't know her Luffy was even having nightmares. She pulled him into a comforting hug and stroked his hair as she felt her nightgown get wet from tears coming down the Captain's eyes.

"I felt awful after escaping from Marineford after the War of the Best ended. I didn't want to believe Ace was gone. I felt so hopeless." He said as he continued to tell Robin his ordeals after waking up from his injuries

Flashback

Luffy had woken up from his coma caused by his injuries and the excessive use of Ivankov's energy boost. He stood alone on an unknown island. He looked around not knowing where he was or how he got there.

"Was it all just a nightmare?" the young man asked himself. Suddenly he remembered what had happened. He remembered Ace hugging him and saying he was sorry he couldn't keep his promise of not dying, of him not being able to be saved. Luffy grabbed his head as a large amount of pain surged through his head. He yelled and screamed as he fell to the floor and writhed in pain, remembering his brother's last moments and last words.

"Thank you for loving me". He heard in is head as he looked at his hands he held up. He could only see blood. The blood of his brother. His brother murdered solely because of who his father was. Luffy snapped and began to punch, throw, and destroy anything in his way.

"DISAPPEAR! I DON'T WANNA REMEMBER! DISAPPEAR!" he shouted throwing boulders and punching trees that dared to stand in his way. The same image kept replaying in his head. Ace standing in front of him as Akianu had his fist right through his stomach. He saw Ace's pained expression and Akainu's smirk of satisfaction.

"STOP! DISAPPEAR! I DON'T WANT TO REMEMBER ANYMORE!" He shouted and continued to shout as he started to gain more memories of what had happened. He continued to rampage, only stopping to catch his breathe. He heard the sound of wooden sandals approaching, he knew it was Jinbei. He didn't bother to look up but knew he was in front of him. The older fish man stood as he remembered the promise he made to Ace to look after his little brother should his death happen.

"The battle is over. You can't change the past, Ace is-"

"DON'T SAY IT! DON'T SAY ANOTHER GODDAMN WORD!" he looked up at Jinbei, an expression of anger and sorrow on the young man's face. "I already pinched my cheeks so hard, blood started coming out" The former Warlord had a look of shock. He knew the boy was made of rubber and knew for him to draw blood; he must have used a lot of force. "If this was a nightmare, I would have woken up already" the young man said, his voice faltering. He suddenly felt the tears he held back start to fall. "but this isn't a nightmare, it's real isn't it?" The tears now freely flowed from his face. "Ace is dead. He died in my arms" Jinbei felt his heart break at the young man's realization. He steeled himself, knowing he had to be the stoic one for Luffy to break out of his depression.

"Yes, he's dead"

Those words broke something in Luffy. "AAAACCCCCEEEEE!" he yelled his dead brother's name. A wail so heartbreaking it scared the surrounding animals away. He crawled to a nearby rock and smashed his head on it. He began to pound his fists on the ground, as if to cause the pain he was feeling onto the Earth itself.

"DAMN IT! DAMN! GODDAMN IT" Luffy continued to punch the Earth, letting his rage, anguish, and frustration al out at once.

"Luffy" Jinbei tried his best to calm the young man down. He knew the pain he was going through, he too lost someone he considered a brother long ago and sympathized with his loss.

"Leave me alone Jinbei!"

"I won't leave you alone Luffy!"

"It's my own body! It's none of your business what I do to it!" He yelled, trying to make him leave.

"His death was not your business either!" Jinbei shouted in response.

"Shut up, you fucking bastard!" Jinbei was a little shocked. Luffy always seemed to be innocent and kind. Those words felt disturbing leaving the young man's mouth. "If you say another word, I'll kick your ass!"

The former Warlord of the Sea stared down at Luffy. "Do it if it will calm you down. I'm injured just as well, but don't think I'm going to lose to a child throwing a tantrum, especially in the condition you're in as well!"

That seemed to be enough to provoke Luffy. He ran towards the fishman with his arm pulled back "Gum Gum Pistol!" the rubber captain launched his fist at Jinbei. Knowing the move was coming, Jinbei dodged it and reached out to the exposed limb. He grabbed it and threw Luffy over his shoulder and slammed him hard on the earth. The force caused Luffy to cough up blood and lose the wind in his lungs. He laid on the ground trying to catch his breath as Jinbei sat down next to him. He remembered the promise he made to Ace about looking after the boy when he was taken out of his memories when he felt pain coming from his arm. Luffy had bitten into it and wasn't letting go.

"That hurts, you brat!" Jinbei threw him from his arm. Luffy was thrown and rolled until he hit a boulder. Before he could even react, Jinbei has his hand around his throat and pinned him to the boulder.

"Can't you see things clearly you foolish boy!" Luffy tried to break free from his grasp but couldn't. "You believed you could overcome everything. You never doubted that immense strength you had! But those enemies you faced took away that confidence! Your brother was someone who you held very dear! I know that you have lost a lot! Those enemies blocked your way time and time again!" Luffy kept trying to escape from his grasp but couldn't, Jinbei was just too strong even with his injuries. "I know that it's painful now Luffy. It won't ever go away, but you need to bottle up those feelings and move forward!" the fishman hoped his next words would break the Straw Hat captain from his rampage.

"Don't just think about the ones you've lost. You can't get back what you've lost, no matter how hard you try! Think about what you still have, you foolish boy!" Jinbei expression had turned into one of a parent angry their child was missing the important lesson. Luffy struggled until he stopped. His eyes widened at what Jinbei had said. He stopped fighting back and let his arms fall to the side. Jinbei, seeing the young man had seemed to calm down let go of him. He fell and sat down, back against the boulder. The captain investigated his hands, but this time didn't see the blood of his brothers on his hands. No, he saw something else in his hands.

He bent his thumb. 'Zoro' he thought to himself. Remembering the swordsman always training to achieve his dream of the World's Best Swordsman.

He bent his index finger next. 'Nami' remembering her bravery when guiding the crew through storms and weather anomalies during their journey in the Grand Line.

He felt tears leaving his eyes as he bent his middle finger. 'Usopp'. He remembered all the tales Usopp would say and him fishing on the ship. Always saying that he was going to bag the biggest fish ever.

He bent his ring finger and his pinky. 'Sanji and Chopper' He remembered the cook always yelling at him to wait for the food to be ready and Chopper always reassuring him that he would always take care of his injuries, no matter how bad they got.

He bent his thumb and index finger on his right hand. 'Franky and Brook' He remembered the eccentric shipwright telling him how the ship was in good hands and he could count on him to make sure the Sunny was running smoothly. He would always like it when Brook would wake him up in the morning with a tune and tell him breakfast was ready.

He bent the ring finger on his right hand as the last and most important person came to his mind. "Robin" he whispered. He remembered the night after they left Skypeia when she told him she loved him and him realizing he did as well. Their first kiss they shared afterwards. Him proposing to her and her accepting with a smile on her face. Luffy was in his mind, the darkness leaving as he saw his crew one by one call his name. He saw them all standing there, smiles on their faces, happy to see their captain once again. Luffy finally realized what Jinbei meant and let the tears flow. He uncurled all his fingers as he sobbed. Jinbei with a look of concern on his face. Luffy sobbed as he continued to look at his hands.

"My crew…" he whimpered out "I still have my crew! Zoro! Nami! Usopp! Sanji! Chopper! Franky! Brooke!" he felt his voice crack as he said the name of the woman he loved. "Robin! My friends are still here! My Robin is still here!" Jinbei smiled, realizing his tough method finally got through to him.

"I see" Jinbei said with a smile. Luffy began to tell the details of their plan to meet with the other in three days' time.

"I want to see them! I want to see them again! He cried out.

After Luffy had finished his story, Robin couldn't help but also have tears running down her face. She never knew the pain Luffy had endured. The dark thoughts he had, the hopelessness he felt.

"Luffy I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. I'm sorry I couldn't be there to help you in your time of need." She said as she hugged Luffy closer. "I don't deserve to be your wife for having you suffer by yourself." At those words, Luffy broke out of her embrace and grabbed her shoulders. He had a look of anger and of seriousness.

"Don't ever say that again Robin!" Her lover said. "I love you and you're the one I want to spend my life with. You're the one I want to make the Queen of the Pirates! You're the one I want to start a family with!" he said to the woman. She couldn't help but cry harder as she pulled Luffy into a kiss. Both lovers expressing the love they had for each other. As they pulled apart, she leaned her head onto his chest, as she still sobbed.

"When you lost all that blood and on the verge of dying, I didn't know what to do. I felt so helpless. I didn't want to lose you. I never wanted to lose anyone I loved again. I lost Saul and I lost my mother. I lost my home island. If I had lost you…" Robin hugged her lover closer, as if fearing he would disappear if she let go. "I wouldn't know what to do." She sobbed as she felt Luffy wrap his arms around her. She took in the warmth he gave off and was calmed by his presence. She then looked up and saw Luffy give her the smile she's come to love and adore.

"It seems we both have scars." Luffy said to his fiancée." Mines are on the outside, while yours are from the inside, from your past." She wondered where he was going with this. "But like all scars they heal, but the are there to remind us of what we went through to become stronger. That's why I'll never hide this scar" he said as he pointed to the X shaped scar on his chest. "I'll use this to motivate me to become stronger. So that I never lose anyone else like I did with Ace" he said as he gave his signature grin. She laughed seeing her love with that smile again.

"Then I'll use mine to keep the memory of Ohara alive. To make my mother proud and to remember Saul" the dark-haired woman said." I will make sure I won't also lose another person I love." Robin smiled with new resolve. They shared a laugh that seemed to lighten the mood.

"You know, I think Ace would have loved you Robin" he said. "You should have seen his face when I told you I was engaged to you" he laughed.

"What did he say?"

"He said 'Robin? As in Nico Robin! How'd a dense idiot like you land a total babe like her?' Shishishi he couldn't believe it." He said remembering one of the last good memories he had of Ace. "Even when we were running, he still had a smile on his face. He was like 'I'm proud of you little bro. You got a great crew and a beautiful woman to love. It makes a big brother like me happy to see his little brother happy.'" Luffy had gotten misty eyed. "I'm sure of it Robin, he would have loved you" he said with a smile. She too felt happy at those words. Being accepted by Luffy's family was the greatest thing ever. She knew her mother and Saul would approve of Luffy.

"So, you agree with your brother that I'm a total babe?" Robin asked teasing her lover. Luffy smiled at her.

"Of course! You're a goddess! The most beautiful woman in the world!" Those words made her feel happy. She knew Luffy meant it and that's why she loved them. She gave her fiancée a kiss on his cheek as he grinned. Both deciding to go to bed, both got under the covers, as she snuggled onto his chest, and he put his chin on her head.

"Robin, thank you for this talk. I feel a lot better now and I'm glad I'm back with you." She snuggled more onto his chest, relaxing as she used her favorite pillow as she liked to say.

"I'm glad I'm back with you, my love." She smiled as she felt Luffy plant a kiss on the top of her head. They both soon fell asleep as they enjoyed each other's company. Luffy no longer having nightmares but dreams of his future with his crew and with Robin. Robin, having dreams of her with her new family and the one she would eventually have with her King.