Author notes:

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I don't own one piece!

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This chapter was beta'd by the Wonderful Black' Victor Cachat and Amazing Gerbilfriend. Thanks for all their patience, ideas, love and encouragement.

Please check out Gerbilfriend Marine!Lina below, and her own stories! Send lots of love!

A real heartful and special thanks goes to Black' Victor Cachat for his help with planning those chapters. All hail the One True King (night or Day? hmmmm).

Check his stories if you're looking for a good read, especially save Ace stories.

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Warnings:

English is my fourth language. The story will include cursing and spoilers to the latest chapters in the manga.

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Reviews answers.

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Shine375

Thank you for your review (and for loving it)!

Hope you enjoy the new chapter. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts...: D

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Scl04

Thank you for your review! Always look forward to them!

I am glad I got the emotional roller coaster going! ;)

I wanted to try to write a 'normal' person's reaction to Dragon being an absent father.

"Leaving it ambiguous whether Sabo got his memories back or not makes me nervous." Shishishishsi

What do you think about this, I wonder?

I am glad to hear! I wanted to be sweet and sad, but i usually either go full angst, or humour all the way. Working on my middle ground.

THANK YOU! I am very proud of my idea, and how I was able to pull it off here. ;D

I began thinking and planning about how Lina would present the crew to WB, way before they spoke, so glad it worked well!

Hope you enjoy the new chapter just as much. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts...: D

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DannyPhantom619

Thank you for your review!

LOL, but Lina can handle herself, and she is messing with WB right back.

Okay, I am curious, what do you think about Marine!Lina?

Hope you enjoy the new chapter. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts...: D

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Black' Victor Cachat

Thank you for your review and all your awesome help!

Of course it's Big Mom. Who else it could be! XD

"LOL and you made ME wait years for an explanation to how Lina pulled all that off as well!"

SOSOOSOS SO not true! I didn't. I told you way back. Where is the PM that shows what we discussed? Wait, I will bring the proof! LOL …. Fine, I made you wait a bit, but it was worth it, right?

Always, as long as you stay awesome too!

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yochan123

Thank you for your review! YAYYYYYYYYYY

Hope you enjoy the new chapter. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts...: D

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Smiley-Nami

Thank you for your review! Trying my best!

Hope you enjoy the new chapter. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts...: D

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NightsBlackRose13

Thank you for your review! Miss you! Glad to see you are still reading. How your story going?

You are so right! Shanks sooooo not happy, right now.

LOL. you get Marco's thought process down right! He can't wait to be away of all the Monkey D. He likes them, but far away, where he isn't the one responsible for the cleanup.

I wonder what you think of Law here? Come on… tell me!

" Rayleigh is stocking up on more popcorn at Shaky's for when shit hits the fan again." LOL , you get this right XD I am right there with them!

Hope you enjoy the new chapter. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts...: D

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quiesteroo

Thank you for your review! Glad to hear! :D

Hope you enjoy the new chapter. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts...: D

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Read notes at the end (and Marine!Lina).

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Far far away, on a magical island... Okay, NO.

On a horrible, pink-hearted island.

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A purple haired man...mmmm... A wom...an… no, the MAN. It was definitely-a-man. He said, "This is… you?" as he pointed at the wanted poster.

"NO!"

"Take a look here! Now tell me Vhich one is you!?" The very manly and macho man, no matter how he looked, with a voice louder than any man's voice, and yet unmistakably from a man's lips demanded as he pointed on the scattered wanted posters on the wall. "You say you are part of Straw-Hat boy's crew. But Vhere is the proof?"

"But I am telling you, I am part of his crew!" Sanji, the very cool rooster, answered with clenched teeth.

The purple afro nasty looking man (not woman ...or girl) hummed unconvinced.

"Tell me what Luffy and Lina-chwan are doing right now! You 'Kama King!" 'Sanji, a.k.a. 'The Women's Conqueror,'or a.k.a. 'See, I've Still Got My Balls!,' demanded in a very manly manner.

Unimpressed by his manly manners, the ugly, purple abomination demanded, "Vell then, is that you?" as he pointed at the wanted poster that had his name.

"No, it's not."

Sanji, a woman's man through and through. The one loved by pretty women from all over the world, just as much as he loved them, gave up.

The supermacho Sanji's voice croaked as he fell to his knees in defeat. "That's not me… but… it is," he spat blood with the painful admission. "Alright… it's me. The disfigured wanted poster is definitely me. So please…."

The hideous man with a tiara on his head stared at the wanted poster in his hand, and dismissively announced, "No, it looks nothing like you."

Defeated, yet enraged. Feeling as if he had let his reputation as lover, womanizer, cook and Straw Hat fall as he himself had fallen onto his knees, he shouted in anguish, "Then don't make me say it! You made me puke blood! Idiot!"

Determinedly, Sanji the Man jumped to his feet, and ignoring the voices shouting warnings in his own mind, he manly demanded, "Duel me!"

The big-headed Que—King gave an ugly smile that didn't send shivers down his spine. Not at all... "Alrighty then."

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Mere minutes later, the gorgeous Queen of the Okama was looking over the twitching, disfigured figure of the Straw Hat imposter. A rather pathetic attempt on all counts.

Said immobile figure was in no state to appreciate said beauty, his eyes were hazy and fuzzy, not misty. He was not crying. Dammit.

The once cool Rooster could barely distinguish a few voices speaking over him. Until a new familiar voice joined them. A very loud and high pitched voice.

"Iva-san, I heard there is someone from Straw-chan's crew here! Don't joke around."

"Enjoy your nap Bon-Bon?" asked one of the okama.

"You've met all of Luffy's crew, right?"

"Indeed, it was a great journey! From friends to enemies, to the truest of friends! We share an unbreakable bond!"

"You fought them?"

"Yes, a fight that I could never describe in just mere words. I fought with blondie! We fought with all of our heart! A very formidable and devious foe! Where is this Straw-chan nakama?"

"Bon-boy! Don't Vorry about it, it was an imposter!"

"... " managed supermacho Sanji.

"The imposter is also blonde!"

"Who dares impersonate Straw-chan and Lin-chan's nakama?! Such a thing needs to be punished! It's no joke!"

"..." went the women conqueror Sanji.

"Our queen already took care of him."

"You love Luffy and Lina, huh?"

"Of course! How long you know someone, means nothing in the face of true friendship! Hmmmm….."

"Bon-boy?"

"He looks familiar."

"..." only-balls Sanji.

"Now he looks more like the Wanted Poster he claimed was his."

"The eyebrow … hmmm… the eyebrow reminds me of something...Spin~ spin~ spin~"

"..." Sanji managed to whimper.

"Ohhh… I have a guaranteed way to check if he is an imposter or not."

And with that Bon-boy slapped his cheek and transformed. Before he said a word in his new form, a voice shouted:

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"Mellorine~ Nami-swan!" crowed the Rooster!

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"Huh? Wasn't he dying on the floor?"

"Is he dancing?"

"Ah, young love. It reminds me of myself."

"Does it, Caroline-san?"

"Where did all the bruises go?"

"How many hearts can someone have in his eyes?"

"Two?"

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"Oh, he is a Straw Hat!" Bon-chan announced, turning back to his original form while said Straw Hat pirate deflated back into the floor, calling in agony for his lost love.

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It wasn't that obvious, and it took him a while to note but she was clearly avoiding him.

Law Trafalgar had found it vaguely amusing at first, but by the time a few days had passed he was getting frustrated. Especially after he had gotten control of the involuntary shiver that came over him (Red Hair's fault) whenever he was in her vicinity. See! Exposure therapy works.

Meanwhile, his crew was ill at ease here. They were surrounded by… Well, he refused to say enemies like the overdramatic Bepo. But they were not exactly friends.

Clearly, they were all her friends. Lina was never alone, so ambushing her was not easy. Especially with her two brothers around. The older one especially. Fire Fist Ace could almost trick you with his handsome boyish looks, and charming smile. He had bowed in thanks to Law, surprising him and the crew, and they had easily had a pleasant conversation. Ace had thanked him not only for saving his brother's life, but also for helping Oars so that he wouldn't walk with a limp after getting his leg cut off. As well as fixing up a few small remaining internal injuries. Like a sliver of the ribs which had broken free, and digging into other organs.

It had been an interesting operation, as he had never operated on a giant before. And Oars was so huge he barely counted as one. Indeed, Law was left wondering if he was an entirely different species.

They obviously couldn't bring the absolutely massive figure into their submarine's operating room, so they had to prepare a few huge tents to operate, but the procedure itself was pretty standard, merely scaled up. Anyway, it was a good idea to have the Yonko owe him. And apparently, not only him, as Ace (as he had insisted on being called) had told him that he can always call on him for help. No need for them to know that the Captain of the Heart Pirates took it as his solemn duty to undo anything that man had done.

His crew was charmed by the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. Some had still looked at him warily. As it was no secret (not anymore) who his biological father was, but Ace was able to charm them too in short order. Except, when Law had mentioned Lina, Ace's whole mannerism changed. Ace could almost give Red Hair a run for his money in intimidation. Bepo saved the day by changing the subject, asking Ace about his Devil Fruit.

That experience made Law almost change his plans. Almost.

It took some planning, bribing and lots of patience.

His planning finally bore fruit. Here they were, all alone, with nowhere to run; which was utter bullshit. She could raise her voice a bit, and every person in a 50-foot radius would be here, and Law and his crew will be history. He knew it, and she knew it, and moreover she knew that he knew it. And if God forbid the Red Hair and his crew heard about it, then… His chances were not looking too good. That was if her older brother didn't finish with him first. Favour or no favour.

But Law wanted answers, and he had waited long enough. His frustrations had reached a level he could no longer bear.

"I want to continue our conversation," he finally said, cutting through the silence like a knife.

"What conversation?" she asked, feigning confusion and innocence.

Law glowered, he had enough of her games.

"As I recall I was speaking to myself, you just happen to be in the vicinity," she pointed out.

Law sighed, she wasn't technically wrong. He hadn't said a word through their one and only interaction at Sabaody. Could he even call it an interaction if it was one-sided?

"I..." he took a breath, trying to get hold of his fried nerves. "What do you know about the…D," he whispered the last letter.

"You mean except that you are one…" She shrugged and glared, daring him to shout at her, or glower at her again.

He understood then that it was a game of take and give, and he needed to give.

"My family was a family of doctors..." he hated remembering the past, or talking about it, but he forced himself.

"My father was the best doctor of Flevance, in the North Blue… he found out the Amber Lead Disease's true source, and that it was not contagious as the Government had made it to be, and was looking for a cure if not…" he trailed off, refusing to divulge more information about the tragedy. Living it once was enough. If she knew his name, she had to understand all the implications of what he had just divulged.

Lina was leaning on the wall behind her, where he had cornered her. She was watching him passively. He couldn't get a read on her thoughts or feelings, but the absence of pity was comforting. He could barely handle sympathy on a good day, and that was also missing.

"My father told me that our real name was Law Water D. Trafalgar, and that we are to keep the middle two secrets. I was not told why, although I may have been too young." And he would never get the chance to ask.

He took a breath, eyeing her reaction, she was still passively watching him.

"Someone else told me that the name D was secretly inherited through history all over the world," he paused. Thinking about the person that saved him and not only physically. His heart. His spirit. Corazon. Cora-san. Law had sworn to continue his work. To take revenge on his monster of a brother.

"That family...tribe of D…. they were...are the sworn enemy of the Gods. And the Gods may mean-"

"The Celestial Dragons," Lina said knowingly, cutting in.

"Maybe our goal is the destruction of this world?" Law half asked, half stated. Remembering Cora-san's words, and his own younger self trying to do just that, destroy anything and everything. He had joined Doflamingo's crew hoping to achieve just that.

"Hmmm… that would make sense," murmured the young pirate. Her eyes were lit brightly. Finally, a reaction. She had begun to pace, murmuring quietly to herself.

"Does it?" Law couldn't help but ask. Lina stopped her pacing and turned to face him and stared.

Law was about to demand an answer, anything, he had given his part of the deal, now was her turn.

She nodded to herself, cleared her throat.

"I know of a few D's." Lina said calmly, not waiting for a reaction, she asked "do you know the name of Pirate King? His real name?"

Law frowned at the sudden change of conversation, but decided to humour her. "Gold. Roger Gold."

"Psssssttt, wrong answer." she said as she crossed her hands in x shape.

"Don't take it badly. Most of the public would answer just like you. His full name is Roger D. Gol," she let it sink in, before she explained. "The World Government went to a lot of effort to hide his real name. Or better to say, the D in his name. And they chose a smart way. It sounds nice. Roger Gold sounds cool, flows well off your tongue, and fits the narrative of his story well. The person that became the first Pirate King. The one that found lots of riches and treasures. Lots of GOLD! No one even cares about his real name. They all remember him as Gold Roger, and little more. Those up there in the World Government are smart, but it shows you how much they see the D as important. Something to Fear even."

Law was still trying to warp his head about this new tidbit of information, but she lifted her finger as if counting.

"I don't need to explain to you that Roger D. Gol rocked the World in his life as much as his death. With his final words he shaped the era to follow. That he was given a title that had never existed before, which countless people seek to claim. Except even the title of 'Pirate King' may have been born as yet another distraction to hide the D. "

Law barely nodded before she was raising another finger.

"My Grandfather, Garp D. Monkey, is the one said to catch the Pirate King, and he was called the hero of the Marines even before that. While I am not sure what exactly he did to be called that, it's unquestionable he is strong, he could have been a Fleet Admiral if he wished to. I don't know what he really did, but we can agree it did change the path of the world, and he's still powerful enough in his old age to maybe do it again."

The way she had said 'the one said to catch the pirate king' flickered something in his mind. Was her Grandfather not who had really caught the Pirate King? Another coverup by the World Government? Why? And who did catch him if not the Hero of the Marines? He pushed those thoughts away for a later time to examine and nodded again. This time she waited for his nod before she raised another finger and said.

"My father is Dragon D. Monkey. The Revolutionary Leader." Her arched eyebrow boldly proclaimed "need I say more."

Law found himself nodding in ready agreement as his thoughts raced so fast that his eyelids twitched.

Dragon was the leader of an organization which was quickly growing to, in a few years he estimated, be able to stand up to the World Government. And unlike the Yonko, whose own rise in power had been made possible by Roger's Pirate Era, they were a global, political movement. Something unheard of in recorded history, as inaccurate as it may be. A notion that should be impossible. Except maybe it had been for ages, and it just had never been so public, too widespread and spoken too softly and fearfully whispered (but whispered nonetheless) to amount to anything.

At least not until Dragon D. Monkey. The crystallization who made it all possible.

His train of thought was cut off by her next question.

"Did you hear about the Ohara incident…?" of course he did. It bore several similarities to his own past

"Robin Nico is part of your crew, the lone survivor of Ohara. Is she…?"

"No," she cut in. "Robin was saved by a D. He helped her escape by sacrificing his life. In fact, he was a vice-admiral before he defected to do so."

Law arched an eyebrow, but she gave no further explanation. He noted that she hadn't given him the name of this D person. Saved by a D. and ended in another D.'s crew. Interesting.

"Ace's mother was also a D...she died after carrying him for twelve months...to save him..."

When Law had heard that part of Sengoku's broadcast, he had been tempted to lecture his crew on how that was medically impossible, yet had hesitated then, and was glad he had done so now. Ace's mother was a D. Compared to what the other D's had accomplished, it wasn't that far-fetched. A D always went beyond the limits, stirred the world. It seemed that what she was implying, and he could see it.

"The traitor from Whitebeard's crew. Teach D. Marshall… he was the one who set off the whole war that we just had… he is the one that got the ball rolling. He was part of Whitbread's crew for 20 years before he betrayed him by killing a commander. Then Ace, another D, a son of two D.'s… was caught by him, a D."

Law hummed. Seven D's all did things that changed or moved the course of the world.

No, not exactly true. Not seven...

"And you and your brother are D's." He had read and seen the kind of chaos they were able to pull. Not only in the war. Luffy's punching the Celestial Dragon had left an impression not only on him.

Nine D's.

"And you are the sole survivor of the disaster at Flevance, and were able to survive the incurable Amber Lead Disease."

He reluctantly agreed. Ten. Ten D's, and if he counted his family, his little sister then… No, he will not count his family. They… he let out a breath and forced himself to exit his troubled head and focus on her words.

"…that's why when I heard your story I was sure that you, a member of the Worst Generation, were either a D, or saved by one… so when I approached you I was looking for a reaction." And she had got one.

She had gotten one over him, Law admitted, if only to himself.

It seemed that those that carried the D name were…. Law paused mentally, searched for the right word to use, and very grudgingly ended thinking, "D's were 'attracted' to other D's." For good or for bad.

Here, he was a living example. Wasn't he? How far did he go only to exchange a few words with another D.

They both pondered in silence for a while until he noted that she was watching him with a calculating look in her eyes. He had a really bad feeling.

"What do you intend to do now?" she casually asked. Too casually.

"I… don't know..." he said honestly, surprising himself.

His purpose. His promise to Cora-san.. Doflamingo was dead.

"I heard you were after Doflamingo..." she trailed off startling him. Who could have told her…one of the Red Hair crew probably. The first mate maybe.

When he said nothing she added. "A very charming fellow," she drawled out drily.

"You met him?" he demanded.

"Unfortunately," she said darkly. After a breath she added, "He tried to recruit me."

"Of course he did." Law muttered. Lina D. Monkey was a brilliant strategist. She wasn't someone to trifle with. Doflamingo always loved talented people, especially when he could use them. He didn't need to ask what her answer was, her being here meant she had refused.

"You know… it isn't certain that he is dead. He probably is. Should be, but you never know." And Law needed to know, she didn't say but it was implied. And both of them knew it to be the truth.

It should have been more disconcerting that she knew him this well.

Law merely waited.

"But… if you were holding the same title as him… You will know… he will have to show up when the Marine calls a meeting… if he is alive… and you get the resources and information from the Marines… you could ask about your fellow Warlords…"

Law stared at her as she trailed off with a shrug as if to say just a thought. She was clearly a devious D. The Goddess of Chaos epithet did fit her. His mind was nothing but chaos, swirling with all kinds of clashing thoughts, thanks to her.

He said nothing as she passed him quietly and left the room.

He needed time to think.

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She was surrounded by fools. Of all kinds and colours. Fools and more fools. Utterly and completely.

They all looked at her with beaming smiles, and they were Fools!

Lina grudgingly admitted that she was impressed. Very impressed.

Impressive Fools, but Fools nonetheless.

She had told him that they could bring back one in pieces. Tiny little pieces.

And they did obey her order to the latter.

In a huge box in front of her, there were lots and lots of tiny little pieces of what was once a Pacifista. She wasn't sure they could do anything with it. But they seemed extremely excited to try, waiting for her approval.

She gave them a nod of acknowledgment. Unable to trust her mouth to function as it should. Fools!

The shipwrights and engineers beamed at her again, and in daze she left them to play with their Pacifista puzzle box.

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He was in a pretty good mood right now. He can't remember being in this kind of mood in a long time. Even at the height of his plans in Alabasta.

Crocodile exhaled silent puffs of smoke from the lit high-quality cigar in his mouth as he read the newspaper. In his head he was comparing what was written to what had actually happened.

Now that everything had been over for a few days, and he was well away from Marineford, he could admit that he was glad that he broke his rule about not teaming up with anyone. The temporary alliance had brought an entertaining outcome beyond his wildest imagination. It was, to put it in a few words, inspiring. Even if it had stopped him from attacking Whitebeard.

He preferred to work alone, for less of a chance of finding a knife in your back. His last partnership with Miss All-Sunday had ended with him in prison with the help of Straw Hat and his crew, and Nico Robin had then gone and joined the rookie pirate crew, which he doubted was a coincidence. And yet here he was free, thanks to the very person that had put him there.

It wasn't exactly a free exchange. They had let him out of his cell, and he had helped Straw Hat and his sister break out of prison, and then had contributed to the success of her crazy ass plan.

With a hum, he noticed her bounty increase. His own estimate had been off by a few hundred millions. Her brother also had an increase. The ex-Warlord raised an eyebrow in appreciation. It meant that the World Government took them as very serious threats, which they should after what had occurred.

He couldn't remember if a rookie pirate on his first year sailing ever had this kind of bounty, not even the Pirate King himself. The other crew members of the Strawhat also had an increase on their bounties, some more than the others.

Hmmm… The raccoon dog had increased by 50 beli, to the sum of 100 beli. Curious. He had wondered why the World Government was keeping his bounty purposely low.

It was deliberate. Of course, it was. Those on top did everything for a reason.

It was as if they didn't want him to get caught. He wondered why.

Really he almost pitied Strawhat Luffy. Now he would have crews big and small trying to either recruit his sister nicely or otherwise (mostly it will be otherwise), or try to assassinate her, or go after her merely out of greed. The siblings' latest bounties were quite the hefty sum after all. His vast experience told him that beli was as good motivation as anything.

Moreover, he doubted even Lina truly appreciated what was coming for her. They had pulled off something too big for others to not consider them an asset or threat. She and the crew were still considered rookies, new fish in a vast ocean full of starving blood-thirsty sharks. New blood always smelt the sweetest, and the circling predators would not permit them to grow to become something worse.

What they had experienced with his former partner Nico Robin in Enies Lobby, was a mere prelude to what was to come.

Crocodile let out a laugh at the thought of the threats coming their way, his cigar almost falling out of his mouth.

He huffed more puffs of his cigar as he read. It was surprising how accurate some of the descriptions of the war was. He had thought the marine would cut all communication with the outer world, especially visual. Although he vaguely remembered pirates moving around with Visual Den-Den. He had a feeling that it was her doing.

Oh, so the big explosion he had heard was a 'minor attack' on Red Port. Not likely. They should change it to major. He mouthed the words as he read, 'It was closed temporarily because of concerns of ongoing pirate raids.'

Crocodile snorted out a laugh. The World Government was really reaching here.

With a faint smile, he recalled the end of war just a few days ago.

He was enjoying the smell of despair, the anguish on the Marines' faces as the flares and explosions kept appearing up in the sky from the direction of Mary Geoise.

Checkmate, Crocodile had thought then, Well played.

The victor had been just announced with fireworks by the grace of the losers, and there was nothing more to see. Especially since the two stars of the show had already left the stage.

Then she had to pull another move. The fireworks stopped, and the giant stood up, stepping on any remaining bits of hope and resolve the Marines had. It was timed perfectly. The fact that no pirates had been in the path of the super-giant had been the proof. Most of the Marines standing in Oar's path as he stomped away hadn't even bothered to make way. Too paralyzed to Run.

When Sengoku had been forced to call a ceasefire, he and Mr.1 had already taken over a Marine ship, and they sailed away quite easily, escaping almost unnoticed from the island and the heavy fighting. When the biggest explosion yet rocked the ship, no, the whole sea really. He had almost lost his footing and fell into his death, and wouldn't that have been the utmost irony?

Still enjoying himself, he continued to scan the newspaper, but did not find what he was looking for. No one had mentioned the fate of the captured Admiral.

Before he left, Crocodile had taken a leaf from Buggy's book, and stealthily killed the remaining two maybe-Admirals.

The one in Buggy's group was revealed to be fake, a Marine at his guess.

The one in Mr.1 group had ended up being thrown to the sea with weights attached to him at Buggy's command. The other two were also dead. He had made sure of that.

But, the news didn't mention anything about Kizaru, or his fate. Only his capture. Was he not dead? Of course, if he was, the marines would want to keep it quiet. It will be a big blow if after all of this if they were indeed down an Admiral. It would make them look weak, well weaker than they already were, to all the other sharks sniffing at the blood in the water.

Especially with a few papers announcing Akainu's death, while others did not mention him at all. For Crocodile, that's confirmation of his demise. He wondered if it was really Buggy's doing? Maybe one of Lina's plans? She had been pissed at the dog. Although he can't wrap his head around the self-sacrificing and heroic bullshit the clown apparently did. He had met the man, as briefly as it was, and Buggy had no selfless bone in his body. To Crocodile, it seemed like the wrong time and wrong place scenario that worked well for some people, or maybe someone had deliberately put him in that scenario? It was an interesting question, and one he shelved to ponder over later.

"Everything is ready," a voice cut in.

Crocodile nodded and folded the newspaper neatly.

"What about our guest?"

"Still alive for now. Barely."

"Hmmmmm..."

"If you want him to stay alive, he will need a real medical expert to check him, and soon."

"I see," acknowledged Crocodile. His scorpion poison and Hydras were very effective working together.

Doflamingo was barely alive, and that was after he had increased the antidote dosage (it was for his own poison, but still).

After the explosion, Crocodile had a change of heart, and decided it was better to take the trash with him. With all the confusion, and Marines running the other way. It was easy to sneak back and take the body.

Doflamingo owned a kingdom, and Crocodile had just lost his bid for one. It all worked out. He had intended to use the Heavenly Demon's corpse as a way to open negotiation, but to his surprise after everything, the man was still holding on to life by a string.

The Warlord was holding onto his life with a tenacious grip, even after all the lack of care Crocodile had given him.

Really, he needed him as a bargaining chip, he could do it with his dead body, except a live one had a higher value. Cutting off a hand to deliver might be a good way to open negotiation while lessening the man's future threat-level.

"Let's move Mr.1, we have a kingdom to take over." There was no time to waste.

Let's hope it will be a long time before we meet again, Strawhat and Goddess of Chaos.

Either way, he will be the one most prepared when they faced each other again.

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"1, 2, 3, 4,...awk, 1, 2, gasp..."

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" …PPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEER…"

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"...Do you think you can beat me when you can't even beat the baboons?"

"Why the hell are you here?" the young man asked as he clutched his sword, trying to use it to stand up without much success.

"That explains why Straw Hat and…Lina came to Marineford with other people."

"You saw Luffy and Lina? How were they? Are they alright?"

"They are…" the man paused. "A very interesting pair!"

The man nodded to himself and passed by the injured swordsman.

"HUH?"

The young man used his sword as a crutch and followed the man shouting. "What do you mean? Are they okay? Hey… Hawkeye answer the damn quest—"

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"I'm not a raccoon dog!"

Chopper had just resolved the conflict between the humans and the giant birds. The birds kept their shiny treasure, and the humans were free to take any herbs they wanted to prepare their medicines.

But somehow they would never stop calling him a Racoon Dog! Even those ungrateful birds!

Maybe he should wear a shirt that says, 'Hey I am Chopper! I am a human-reindeer! No, I am not a raccoon dog!'

He had a feeling it would not be effective. The opposite even.

"Mr. Raccoon Dog! We got your newspaper!"

"I'm not… give it here!"

"Luffy and Lina," exclaimed Chopper! Their pictures staring at him from the front page.

"Mr. Raccoon Dog, you know the Goddess!?"

"Who?"

.

.

"1 zero, 2 zeros, 3 zeros, 4, 5, 6….sputter… 1 zero...burp… 1...hiccup...1… gag... "

"Ussop'n... maybe you shouldn't eat while you are counting."

.

.

"They get it right, my Lina-chwwwwaaaan is a Goddess! Yes indeed! Lina-swaaaannnnn. So beautiful and graceful! All must fall to their knees and pray for her beauty! Unlike you—"

"Oh!"

"OH!"

"Hooh!"

"Do you really wanna continue that sentence?"

.

.

"...RRRRRRRRRRRRR …..SUPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR NEWS!"

"Are you okay ? I mean Hentai?" a worried old man asked.

"Ojisan, are you going to dance again? Left, right. Left right..." a young boy and his dog had begun moving their hips to a rhythm in their head.

"You are right! This news needs a special dance! A SUPER dance!"

"Fillip, Fillip, Fillip…" Franky snapped his fingers.

"Move along, move your butt to the right…."

"Right hand on the hip," the boy enthusiastically shouted, already moving his hand to the right place.

"And thrust your left hand!" Franky continued.

"Slide to the left," all of them shouted.

A SUPER dance was being executed.

.

.

"I heard you tried to steal a balloon to go down to the surface. Amateurs can't use this. You could have died. You were so eager to learn our weather science… What happened?" Mr. Haredas asked in worry.

The young girl pouted and pointed at her fat bag.

"Look at the newspaper!"

"The newspaper?"

All the Gandalf-wannabes gathered to read the newspaper that Mr. Haredas had unfolded.

"The Luffy the newspaper is talking about is my captain. Lina is my dear sister!"

"What?"

"Oh? This Kid?"

"The infamous pirate?"

"The Goddess of Chaos!"

"Those two wrecked havoc in the—"

"It was a disaster!"

"Even the weather had—"

"So these two are your crewmates! Wait, why are you crying?"

"Don't cry!"

"We made a girl cry!"

"Why are you—?"

"While their nakama were scattered all over the world. Luffy and Lina were fighting a terrible battle without us!"

"Open the door!"

"What have we done!"

"We locked up an innocent girl!"

"Hey, she is not innocent. She stole—"

"The key!"

"Shut up! And open the cell!"

"We locked up a young girl and made her cry!"

As the key unlocked the door, the young girl disappeared taking Mr. Haredas with her.

Her tears disappeared, and her smile could make a cat give up a few lives in envy.

"Hey! Were those fake tears?" asked Mr. Haredas from his place beneath her armpit as she ran.

They had felt true to him.

"No, they were true!" Nami assured him as she ran. "Did you see their Wanted Posters? They were very happy tears!"

The man shook his head, and tried to open the newspaper from his uncomfortable place.

"Beli here I come!"

.

.

"How many zeros? Glug! Dammit! hiccup! 1,2,3,5,6,… wait did I count this or not….. Again… hiccup….1,3,4,5,6,7,…."

"Usoppn'n you missed a zero!"

"Dam-hiccup-mit! "

.

.

"No chest! No Flesh!"

"No eyeballs!"

"The rarest creature you will ever see! A creature with only one joint!"

The three men of the Longarms tribe pointed dramatically at the cage behind them where the skeleton they had kidnapped was put on display.

"HEY!"

"It's not moving!"

"It's a doll!"

"Liars!"

"You put it in there with a newspaper to make it seem like the skeleton is reading, what a farce!"

"I want my money back!"

A booing sound filled the arena.

The three men gathered by the cage and whispered urgently.

"Hey skeleton, stop messing with us!"

"Hey, do something already!"

"Anything!"

"Move! We need to show them something!"

The skeleton was ignoring them as he was intensely reading.

"Please, I am begging you. Stand up, just stand up, that will be enough!"

The booing intensified! More people were shouting demanding their money back.

"I am in no slump!" shouted a loud voice and laughed, "Yohohohoho!"

Silence fell on the arena.

"Yohohohoho! Yohohohoho!"

The skeleton jumped to its feet and walked with a spring in his steps.

"It's talking..."

"Moving..."

"What a laugh!"

"Creepy!"

"What? Is that a guitar?"

"Where did he bring it from?"

"Is this a magic show?"

"Yohohohoho! I am so happy I feel like my heart is going to burst! …Oh, but I don't have a heart cause I'm a skeleton!" he sang while playing a short melody as he announced the reason.

"Bahahahhah!"

"Hahahhha!"

"Good one!"

"Mahahahhahha!"

"Are we in a comedy show, or freak show?"

"Who cares!"

"Yohohohoho! I am so happy I got tongue tied! Oh wait! I don't have a tongue cause I am a skeleton! Yohohohohohohoho! Yohohohoho! Skull joke!"

The laughter had started with a few snickers here and there, and then gathered momentum like someone falling down a very long flight of stairs with nothing to grab, until the rasping sounds of hysterical laughter filled the air.

"I am so happy but your voices are soooooo loud you are going to make me deaf! … oh wait I don't have ears…!"

"Cause you're a skeleton!" Everyone cut in, shouting as loud as they could.

"This shit is cool!"

"Hahahhha!"

"Worth every beli."

"It isn't even funny, but I hahaha..can't stop laughing hahhahhahhaha!"

"Stop, you're killing me!"

"Nah, he can't..."

"Yeah, cause he's SKELETON!"

"Nooooooooo… Noooo… you stole my lines. I am so sad, so sad, you can hear my heart break. Oh wait, I don't have a heart…"

"Cause you're a skeleton!"

.

.

"...Right! Left! Right! Left! Right! Left! … Again…. Right! Left!... Yeah!...one! Two! One! Two! Right! Left! Right! left!..."

.

.

Robin was reading newspapers which were a few days old, trying to catch up on what had happened since she had separated from her crew.

"Oh my…" she kept murmuring to herself. Her words of worry didn't reflect the amusement and laughter etched onto her face.

"Robin," a few people were shouting her name, bursting from the entrance to the outside deck. Despite how welcoming they had all been, she still refused to stay in any room without at least a few potential avenues of escape. A few of the Revolutionaries fell over each other as they entered, while Robin merely gave a glance, and continued her very important reading.

"Robin-san, tell me everything you know about Lina and Luffy," a voice demanded. She could hear the urgency and frustration colouring the tone.

Her hand froze mid-flip. She turned an intense look upon the intruders, and some wisely took a few steps back. She noted that almost all of them held newspaper clippings, and wanted posters. One she recognized was about Luffy's brother from a few months back.

Recognizing who was in the lead and the most insistent, Robin blinked, softly closed her own paper, and folded it neatly in front of her. Her voice was very pleasant and faint when she said, "Sabo-kun… explain!"

.

.

"...Right! Left!... look at doggy, he is doing it right! Right! Left! One! two!...Right! Left!...move your butt..."

.

.

"Th-wheeze-ree!"

"You can do it ussop'n!"

"Fou-hiccup-r zeros!"

"Don't give up!"

"Fi-glug hiccup-ve! "

"Usopp'n!"

"Si...six!"

"Usopp'n! Usopp'n!"

"S..S-hiccup- S...Seven!"

"Almost there! Almost!"

"E..wheeze...E...ugh...E..ight!"

"Yes, usopp'n! Come one!"

"N…."

"USOPP'N, Hang on Tree! Hurry!"

"N…"

"It's going to happen again! The island is gonna eat something! Hurry up!"

"N..."

"Usopp'n! Hang on!"

"Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"

The thing that was eaten by the carnivorous island was the sole newspaper and the wanted posters!

.

.

"A SUPER! The BEST SUPER dance to the SUPER NEWS!"

"Mr Teunsai...Hentai… Are you sure you don't want a loincloth?"

"Wait, what news?"

"SU-SUPER news!"

"Okay, but what Super news?"

"You are saying it wrong. It's SU-SU-SUPER NEWS!"

"WHAT is the SU-SU-SUPER NEWS?"

...

..

.

XXXXX

.

..

Ace sighed in frustration.

They were about to be separated for the next two years tomorrow. Each one of them was going into special training. Luffy was going to be trained by Rayleigh. The first mate of… the previous Pirate King.

Pops had said he was a formidable opponent, one you should never underestimate, and the Yonko was sure he would be a good teacher to Luffy.

Ace had hardly exchanged more than a few words with the Dark King during their stay on this island. Ace did catch the older man eyeing him from time to time, yet he never approached Ace.

Lina, as ever blunt, had told him to get his act together and go speak with the man, to ask him whatever he really wanted to know, and to actually listen. She wasn't the only one. Pops was very vocal about the issue. He even chided Ace, asking him where his wild and free spirit had gone to hide.

So, yeah, he was going to do it tonight. Speak with Rayleigh.

Not because of their insistence, but because of his duty as big brother. He had to find what kind of person the Dark King was. Plus, he needed to thank the person that was going to take care of his younger brother for a while.

Lina was going to stay at Amazon Lily island with the female warriors. He had met a few of them, and aside from their weird taste in clothing, they seemed to be the strong and capable type. The only other people with a weirder taste were the Okama. Ace wasn't happy with how they influenced Lina's attire, and clothing choices. Marco, Izo and even Pops had teased him mercilessly when he had whined about it. Izo had advised him to never speak about the matter of fashion and clothing with his little sister.

Except he did. He tried to delicately raise the issue, but Lina had sweetly told him that he could have an opinion about her clothes when he was able to wear a long-sleeved shirt full time without burning or tearing it. HE should have known better than to ever even think about raising it as an issue.

For the next few days, Lina had worn different outfits, each one very unique (he knew better than to say outrageous), sometimes with full makeup and hairdo. A few times, she had even changed into a few different outfits per day.

Everyone had noticed when Lina suddenly started paying attention to her outfits and looks, especially how different they were. Apparently, she had the Okama dress her one day, and the Kuja tribe in another, which led to full-blown war between the two fictions. And Lina seemed to have no problem inflaming it even more.

It was inevitable that everyone would find the cause of this sudden change in Lina's behaviour. Ace was made to be the butt of the joke. Izo and Marco were delighted to point out that it was utterly his fault.

Yeah, yeah, Ace had received the memo —loud and clear— and he knew better than to ever mention clothes or anything concerning fashion in front of his little sister.

Of course that didn't stop him from putting his foot in his mouth repeatedly when it came to his little sister. Little sisters were more work than little brothers, even when said little brother was walking talking blackhole with a magnetic pole for trouble.

Really, he didn't mean for it to go that way. Ace had finally caught Speed Jiru alone, or at least he thought they were alone, and was in the process of admonishing the man for carrying his sister on his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. It was understandable! Really, they were at war, and his crewmate was saving her. But still, if he had to carry her, only the princess-style was acceptable. Oh, and Jiru better not get any ideas about...

He was beginning to enter the groove of his long and winded rant, not letting Jiru utter a sound, when a loud voice cut in, "Lina is a potato sack! Shishishishi..."

Yup, his adorable brother and more so sister were standing right there. A few others from the crew too.

Lina was looking blankly at him, while Luffy was poking her with his finger, repeating "potato," and laughing.

In these moments Ace regretted how well he knew his siblings; both families of them. While outwardly there was no reaction from Lina, her eyes told him she was not amused and there would be hell to pay. The bastard Marco didn't help matters either, by waltzing in and telling her that Ace had given him the same lecture about how her precious body should be handled and carried, and as to not to get it wrong, maybe he should practice flying with her? Lina stared at the First Commander long enough to have him take a step back, and then she left without a word.

Of course, it only got worse from there.

Ace wasn't able to find Lina to apologise until dinnertime, which he never got the chance to do, because of emmm…dinner. Don't get him wrong, he wasn't apologising about the lecture itself. His little sister wasn't to be carried like a sack of potatoes no matter the circumstance. It was just nobody was supposed to know about … The Lecture, except those involved.

As befitting of a pirate ship, gossip about the potato-incident spread like wildfire. (Damn them, Ace should have burned them all.) As such the meal served was: potato soup, melted cheese blended into mashed potatoes, stir-fried potato, pie filled with boiled spiced and mashed potatoes, potato croquette, cubes of potato fried with spices, potato pancakes, and potato chips.

Luffy had almost laughed himself into a coma, while Lina sat there quietly, and politely had a bite from each dish.

Of course it stopped being funny when Luffy realised there was no meat at all. His crew had quickly corrected their gruesome mistake and bought a lot of offerings...meat, Ace meant meat. But it wasn't until after the whole ship shook with Luffy's demand for meat.

In the end, Ace was only able to apologise a few days later, and Lina had pleasantly smiled, and told him she had no idea what he was talking about.

Ace knew he was in some deep trouble shit all right.

He tried to ask for advice, except his crew was no help, and Pops even laughed at him. He ended up asking Boa-san for advice, and she was no help either, but at least she was nice about it.

The queen of the Kuja tribe seemed to be a really pleasant person, and not only beautiful on the outside. Really, he doesn't know why Izo kept complaining about her. Ace was a bit cautious about her status as Warlord, but Luffy and Lina had told him about all she had done to help them, and by extension him. Although he and Jinbe were continuing to keep it a secret that she was also the one responsible for sneaking Luffy and Lina into Impel Down.

The Pirate Empress, Boa-san, had kept calling him brother-in-law, and had told him a few times to call her by her name instead of status.

Although the brother-in-law thing had surprised him, and left him ill at ease. He had been all ready to march up to Luffy and confront him about it. He never thought he would ever have to give Luffy The Talk, as he never showed any interest in the opposite sex. Maybe he still should, just in case?

For as nice as she was, Ace most definitely did not approve of the Empress. And no, not because she was a Warlord, a dog of the Marines (Nobody dared say it to her face). It was simply that she was too old for Luffy. Not that he had told her that either.

Back in Alabasta, when Ace had first met the crew that Lina and Luffy sailed with, he thought maybe something would bloom with the orange haired girl in time. She was closer to Luffy in age. The Empress was an old baba in comparison.

But thankfully there was nothing to worry about. Before he did anything which might have made everything awkward, Lina had explained it was a cultural thing.

Luffy's being called fiancé or husband was a status thing. It was as they were calling Luffy 'my lord' or 'sir,' because he was being held in high regard in the tribe, and traditionally there were no words of respect for men. Because Lina and Ace were his family, this regard was also extended to them, as such they were called 'brother-in-law' and 'sister-in-law'.

When he tried to explain this to Izo. Izo had snorted and rolled his eyes, muttering about idiots. Was he speaking about himself?

It also meant he did not have to give The Talk, which he was grateful for.

Ace held in another sigh.

His frustration steamed from his inability to have a conversation with his siblings.

Oh, they had chatted a bunch already. Which was great since there had been no time in Alabasta really. Lots of gossips to catch up on. Ace had introduced them to some of his original crew, the Spades. That now belonged to the second division of the Whitebeard's Pirate, and some others of his new ship-brothers. Almost All the commanders and allies that were still around had demanded Ace introduce them formally to the two.

If Ace didn't adore his siblings so much, he would be offended by how much more popular they were than him (truthfully, he was relieved that everybody was still treating him the same. When he told this to Lina, she snorted and told him that: 'Of course they would treat you the same, you are the same').

Luffy getting their names wrong, or giving out, outrageous in some cases, nicknames, and Lina's overpolite approach, didn't seem to deter them from trying to strike up friendship with the two Straw Hats. Even though they were technically supposed to be rival crews. Especially those that sailed with Ace the most.

They had won them over with tales of Ace's adventures before he joined the Whitebeard's crew and after. Some of them Ace had told himself but glossed over the details, or didn't tell at all. Luffy was mostly impressed and amused while Lina was giving him the stinky eye.

Ace had seen her speak at length with Decue, which had slightly worried him. He hadn't seen it but he had a feeling that Decue had given her the book he had written about their journey to read. It did not bode well for him, at all. He was in enough trouble with his little sister without her learning new material to tease or blackmail him with.

The one they got along with the most was Oars. Indeed, Ace had been looking forward to introducing him to his brother and sister.

Luffy had not disappointed with his reaction. Stars in his eyes, shouting about how amazing and awesome it was. And of course he had asked him his famous question. "Oars can you poop? How big is your toilet? Can I use it?"

Oars was about to stand up and show him, before everyone had yelled at him to stop. Reminding him how he needed absolute rest if he wanted a chance of being able to walk normally again. Luffy had also gone on and on about a giant zombie he had fought or became?! It was really confusing. It was all much clearer when they later told him the story about Thriller Bark.

Lina had merely greeted the giant, and told Ace that they met before. Oars had greeted her back with respect and adoration which threw Ace off. Oars had told him later that he really liked his siblings.

In turn, Luffy and Lina had caught him up on what had happened with them since they parted ways. All of their crazy adventures and the new nakama that had joined them. He had seen a few articles mentioning Luffy's crew before he was caught, but it was nice and fun to hear it all first-hand.

As befitting Luffy, his new nakama were very unique. A former enemy/spy, a cyborg, and an actual walking-talking skeleton. Ace had laughed so much while Luffy had described and gushed how cool each one of them was. Yes, there was no doubt he was looking forward to meeting each one of them, maybe in two years, before the Strawhat departed to the New World.

Luffy had told most of the story, while Lina interjected here and there explaining things, or correcting bits. Ace was horrified when he heard about their meeting with Blackbeard and how he had tried to catch them, before they left for Skypiea, an island in the sky. He should be more surprised about the existence of one, but he really wasn't.

The rat had not lied that he was after Luffy, and it could have been Luffy execution instead of Ace. Instead of the marines aiming to take out Whitebeard, they would try to entrap Dragon; assuming the man even reacted.

Ace had a lot of conflicting feelings about all the Revolutionary people his siblings were associated with. Despite how helpful they had been.

He, especially, didn't know how to react when the Okama Queen had asked them if they wanted to connect Dragon. Thankfully, before he could formulate a response, or even a reaction, Luffy had refused, winning even more the approval and heart of the loud and proud Whitebeard Pirates. Lina had taken more time for her answer, asking for time to consider. But ultimately she had also refused. He knew that he doesn't have the right to decide for them if they want to have a relationship with their fa-Dragon, but in a way he does. They are his family. As Luffy said, it was a family they had made, and he didn't want his younger siblings to get hurt; and in Ace's eyes, Dragon would bring nothing except hurt and heartache.

However, he would give kudos where kudos were deserved, the blunt Okama Queen hadn't pushed the issue, and took their decision to face value. The Revolutionary was merely giving a choice, and not forcing the issue, as Ace first feared.

Both Luffy and Lina had gone quiet when they began describing what had happened at Sabaody Archipelago.

Ace felt extra proud when he heard that Luffy had punched a Celestial Dragon, and wondered why he hadn't done it himself before? It would be great if he can find the bastard Celestial Dragon that had killed his brother.

Unfortunately, the story took a dark turn when Luffy had begun to describe their confrontation with one of the Warlords, Kuma, and how each one of his nakama had disappeared. Lina had tears in her eyes as Luffy spoke with clenched hands, and eyes full of pain.

Ace could clearly see that Luffy felt that he had failed his crew, and that was the drive behind those two years of intensive training.

Luck has taken them this far, while strength would take them all the way. Those words were not spoken out loud, but nonetheless they were understood.

Despite his generally cocky attitude, Ace did understand, because he felt the same helplessness when he looked from the execution platform at his family fighting because of him, and for him, unable to do anything. He needed to be stronger, much stronger. They all did.

He wasn't going to waste time either. When he met his siblings anew, he would also not be the same. Ace vowed to himself. He had already spoken with Pops and the other commanders, and they had grueling training planned for him.

But right now, the one that worried him the most of his two siblings was Lina. Sure, Luffy was the one with the crazy ideas, and even crazier drive to achieve them, and Lina usually was dragged along, even when she had reservations. The problem with Lina, according to Lina, was that while she was busy analysing every possibility and ramifications of every little decision, life happened and was happening, and being dragged along by Luffy was a blessing. It stopped all the second guessing. But that meant she was mostly passive, reserved and quiet.

Of course, being 'reserved and quiet' didn't mean that little miss sunshine didn't have a temper. Last week after coming back from meeting with some hotshot journalist to put the plan to connect the Straw Hat crew underway, she had almost bit his head off. Apparently, it was because of his ban on certain newspapers (specifically those he deemed too depressing, like eulogies and such!) articles that she was caught unprepared to answer the reporter's questions. She of course had masterfully taken care of it (if she had taken care of it, then where was the problem?), but still she had lifted the 'unreasonable' ban of his, collected all the old newspapers, and locked herself in her room.

These last few days she was more laid back and quieter than usual. Of course, that could just be because there were less people around, as everyone went their separate ways. Like how the Okama and Revolutionaries had left a few days ago.

Which of course meant there was less available to distract Lina. Something her idiotic yet ever-sensitive brother had caught on to. Ergo, Luffy was pointedly dragging her along with him for some company wherever he was going. He was also using a bunch of different excuses (he usually wasn't good with these) to put his hat on her head. Lina, of course, had noticed, but she seemed to appreciate the gesture, and for a while she seemed more… content.

Unfortunately, now she was all wrapped up in her thoughts again.

Luffy with all his wisdom had dragged the both of them up to the top of Moby Dick's main mast. To have some quality time here away from everybody else before they separate tomorrow. It broke his heart to see his sister so guarded around him. He needed to fix this.

Ace forced himself to focus on the chatter, as Luffy was showing off a move that Jinbe had shown him this morning. Fishman Karate was formidable material art. Ace would know, as he had fought Jinbe for five days straight. Ace ended up telling them the story of his fight while keeping an eye on his sister.

Luffy ended up leaving in search of food, promising to bring them a feast. They will more likely end up in search for him, and find him in one of the kitchens, having a feast on his own.

"Lina, what's on your mind?"

Lina startled from her thoughts. She averted her gaze, and murmured softly, "Nothing."

Even Luffy wouldn't have bought that. Ace sighed inwardly. "Lina," he chided just as softly.

She looked at him, and maybe something on his face transmitted his genuine desperation and worry, because she added, " I … there are few things on my mind."

He waited. He would not push that would never work.

"Ace," she began and stopped, she seemed to be struggling to find the right words, so he waited some more. Trying to look open, nonjudgmental, and like he has all the time in the world. He was never a good listener, he preferred to face things and run into fires (the irony isn't lost on him!). But for his sister, he will damn be (not try, but be).

"What would you do… if you found out that Sabo is alive?"

The last few words came out rushed. Sabo's name almost choked out.

Oh, that's what this was about. His near-death had brought up memories of the brother they did lose. He had already spoken with his Luffy about this.

Luffy had told him that he would fight for the thing he wanted, if he died it was okay. He had tried.

But that was not the case for Ace. According to Luffy, Ace has yet to find his real dream. A shocked Ace had stammered out denials at the accusation, but he admitted to himself that his purpose may have changed as he was facing all of them from the execution platform.

For as long as he remembered, he had wondered if his existence was even allowed, if it wasn't better for the world that he was never born.

Now, he knows that the question itself was irrelevant (needed a war to see that. No biggie), he was here, and he would chart his own destiny, whatever it was.

The question should be what he would do with his life. Should he aim to do something that would overshadow what his father had done, to be acknowledged as better than him? Or should he live maybe in his shadow, but for himself, enjoying the love and family he has without risking his life? He had found where he belonged, so he should savour it. Being marched to your execution when you were only twenty made you appreciate how short life could be.

Instead of acknowledging Luffy's points, Ace had laughed and accused him of trying to have Ace give up the competition for the One Piece. Luffy had pouted, scowled, and then shrugged, as if to say, I tried.

It was embarrassing when your little brother tried to take care of you.

Ace looked at the anxious Lina waiting for his answer, she was fiddling with the corners of her cloak.

"I will punch him," Ace declared.

Lina blinked and scowled. She seemed to think that Ace wasn't taking her seriously.

"It would be my first reaction, an impulse," Ace explained.

"Anyway, if it was Sabo, he would be able to dodge. If not he would be able to take a punch." Lina actually gave a small smile but said nothing. "Then I will hug him, probably crack a few rips in the process, and cry my eyes out." From frustration, anger, sadness and utter happiness.

"I will demand he tell me everything about what was going on in his life, and what had happened to him after he sailed away …" he trailed off. Lina was listening with rapt attention. She had stopped fiddling with the cloak, instead her hands were clenching it.

" … I will ask why he hadn't connected us, and depending on his answer, I may throw a few more punches… Nahhh, who I am kidding? I will throw a few regardless."

It's funny really, he could see this very scenario happening in front of his eyes.

At last he got a genuine smile out from Lina.

"I will challenge him to a fight! We still have issues to settle. We hadn't decided who is the eldest brother yet. I will beat him up and have him call me big brother." Ace maintained the hard, determined look on his face for a few seconds, before he and Lina cracked up and laughed all out.

It was a glorious feeling to be able to talk about his brother so freely.

He had heard once that you truly move on when you could remember your lost ones with laughter instead of sadness. So, he was moving on, while a bang of sadness rang in his heart.

"You are a good brother Ace." She said it in a matter of fact voice, her eyes showing a conviction that's hard to argue with.

Ace never knew how to react to compliments. Especially ones from his family. He usually laughed them off, or downplayed them (someone should write a detailed book about how one should react. Very detailed!). But neither seem appropriate here.

"I try," he settled on.

"You are," she adamantly corrected. Her eyes shining with fierce protectiveness.

Embarrassed, he just shrugged, unable to look her in the eyes.

"Ace," she called softly.

With an effort, he forced himself to raise his head and face his sister.

"I love you," she said, and before he could say it back, "Although I wish you would take better care of yourself."

"I'm sorry," he said after a few seconds.

"Why?"

Lina had looked confused the same as Luffy was when Ace had tried to apologize for (almost) not keeping his promise.

"I almost got myself killed, and I promised you that I w…" Ace trailed off. Lina was shaking her head since he had begun to answer.

"Don't apologise, not for that. Yes, you made some really stupid decisions."

He had this conversation with lots of people. Pops, Marco, Izo, Squard, other commanders and allies. His own division. Deuce. He had promised them all to not let his emotions and impulses rule him. He will work on it.

Truthfully, he had been dreading that conversation with Squard. He hadn't been sure how to go about having that conversation, what he should or shouldn't mention, but he knew he should ask for forgiveness. Except Squard had surprised him by finding him first, and bowing his head in apology. They had sat and had a long talk, and shed a few tears together. His friend ended telling him about the fight he had with Lina, and begged his pardon for it too. When Ace told him that he was telling that to the wrong person, Squard had laughed, and said that was what Lina had said when he had tried to do so with her.

Ace had left Squard to search for his sister, not paying attention to the late hour. Lina was still up, looking at some papers. She had greeted Ace with a smile that turned to frown when she noted his red-rimmed eyes in the candle light. Ace had hugged her, and dragged her to bed to get some rest. Lina had insisted he also sleep, and he ended up sleeping on the floor beside her bed.

Back closer to the present, Pops had told him that he loved his wild spirit. It was one of the reasons he had asked Ace to join him. But he wished that at least he would listen to things he deemed important. Pops would never restrict or shackle his freedom, but he didn't want to see his son get hurt unnecessarily.

"I should apologise, and I did. Lots of people get hurt…" and died. And Ace will live carrying this with him.

Pops had said to him "Everyone in the battlefield chose to be there, and they had willingly given their life for something they believed in. And that something was you Ace.

"It is a lot to carry. But as long as you live, you will carry their love, their choice, and their will! Carry it all and live!"

In that moment, and every day after, Ace had vowed that he would carry it all! He will stay alive, and with each step he takes, he will carry it all.

"Because of my stupid decisions…" Actions have consequences! He learned this young, except the lesson had not truly sunk in before. This time it did. He will make sure of it

"I seem to have always made them. It was stupid of me to promise that I wouldn't die." They we're not invincible, and life was unpredictable, especially for pirates.

"I never took it as a literal promise. Unlike Luffy." They both snorted. Luffy believed every word Ace had said. This promise was no different. He expected Ace to never die, because Ace said so.

"But it wasn't stupid. It was what I and Luffy needed to hear then. And as our big brother you give it to us. You made us feel safe."

Ace swallowed the bile of emotions in his throat that he refused to identify.

"I am thankful for that promise, and hey, you still have not broken it. You are alive, and hopefully for a very, very, long time. Okay?"

Ace nodded.

"I am not going to make you promise again not to die. But I want you to promise to appreciate yourself more, and to take better care of yourself."

Ace blinked unshed tears out of his eyes when he choked out hoarsely, "I promise."

Lina nodded, yet she wasn't satisfied. Far from it. Her stretched smile reminded him of the smile she gave him when he tried to beg her forgiveness for the potato incident.

Still smiling, she began to explain in detail what precisely she meant by 'appreciate yourself more, and to take better care of yourself.' It was a long and tedious 'to do and don't' list. It also confirmed that she had read Decue's notes for his planned book thoroughly. He knew it would come back to bite him in the ass.

Ace's expression had gone from sadness to bewilderment to amusement pretty quickly.

Lina had given up explaining after twenty minutes, and instead promised to give him a detailed file with all her points, and lots of examples. She reminded him that his promise to her included reading the list at least once a week. And not to worry, in case he lost it. She would give copies for both Pops and Marco for safe keeping.

His sister then had taken out a notebook, and began taking notes in speed, murmuring to herself about not letting there be any loopholes, and to explain clearly so no literal use of her words could be exploited.

Ace glimpsed the title of the list that he was resignedly going to become intimately acquainted with: 'The Dos and Don'ts of Appreciate yourself more and to take better care of yourself: Ace's edition.' Had she done a previous edition?

This kind of love and devotion had always made him feel wrong footed before, wondering if it was true, if he deserved it. Now he could let it gently engulf him.

"I love you too," Ace said in a by-the-way tone.

Lina stopped in her scribbling, and looked up at him with a confused expression.

"I know," she stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. She deserved to be loved, she would be loved. She is loved.

She had never doubted the truthfulness of his feelings to her, even if he had never said it before. Ace frowned, had he ever told her and Luffy that he loved them? In actual words.

He always believed that actions spoke louder than words. But it was a deeper issue. He never believed that he deserved to be loved, so he never used the word to describe how he felt. He craved to hear them, and to believe they were meant. That they were true. But for the life of him he can't remember saying them.

He should rectify that. And work on his poker face for when Luffy looks at him in confusion, and tells him that "he knows," just like Lina. Laughing would not be appropriate to what he intended.

Lina had put her pen down and was looking at him in worry and confusion.

"Hey Lina, let's go find Luffy."

Lina nodded and hurriedly put her things back in her bag.

Ace stood up and held his hand for her, helping her stand up.

She squeezed his hand and didn't let go, neither did he.

"So, which kitchen should we look for him in first?" She asked in resignation, yet her tone held fondness.

Ace laughed. "The closest?"

"Of course," Lina murmured, joining him with her own joyous laughter.

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I can't believe it's one more chapter to go. The end is near! I am not crying. It's the onions. I tell ya. My first FF story is ending. Yes, I am not lying. WAHHHHHHHHHHHHWAHHHHH

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Ahem, anyway, I am really looking forward to hearing your thoughts about this chapter? What surprised you? You liked/loved? What do you think would have been cannon if Ace was saved (damn you Oda).

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I wasn't deliberately planning to post this chapter today, but it happened to be Ace's birthday today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! You always live in my heart!

I am working on the last chapter (those are not tears), so if you have any last-minute ideas, now is the time!

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Stay safe, and leave me a long review, or else you will become a potato sack (Marine!Lina below ;) ).

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XXX

Marine!Lina

She makes it back to her cabin somehow.

It's funny. How things are fine until they aren't and suddenly Lina Can't Think.

She's Trying Too!

She IS.

It just won't work because Ace is in Impel Down, and she is a Marine (good way to infiltrate but she isn't high enough and there isn't much movement she couldn't just go down and she had tried to check and she knew about the levels and-)

(And none of the levels were kind and she didn't know which one Ace was on)

(and they were closer than they had been in years and it didn't matter because they were impossibly far anyways)

(and Ace was Going To Die, and she knew how executions worked because she had studied them, but that didn't mean that they were supposed to happen to—)

Now she has a picture in her mind. Ace on the execution platform with an executioner on each side, just like for the Pirate King, Ace's fath—Wait.

Did the marines know? Was it why he was captured? Was it deliberate? How was Ace even caught? He was a Commander of Whitebeard. She knew that much.

The facts were there. The Facts. Were. There.

The problem was that her mind was blank.

Oh, it wasn't. Ace in cuffs, Ace taken to the platform, the executioners, swords.

Death.

It kept going in her mind and she could get it to stop.

She is in her cabin, and she can't breath and—

And—

And—

She really wanted Luffy.

Luffy…

Did he know?

Where was he?

Luffy would not let it go. He would come.

The last she heard Luffy was in Sabaody Archipelago where he punched a Celestial Dragon (everyone was either enraged with, or in awe of Luffy. Personally, she didn't understand the problem; the asshole had it coming. Of course she hadn't shared her thoughts aloud, she was no Luffy).

Luffy will come. He will try to save Ace.

No, he will save him, and Lina…

She just needed to buy him some more time.

Lina took a breath.

Then another.

She needed to get to the communications room. She could use Hina's name. Say that they had spotted an unknown ship on the way.

It was soon enough it would still work.

That was something that she could do.

It was like being a marionette. Like being outside of her body as she forced herself out of the room. And she built the story in her head, the convoy of ships watching and waiting, that Captain Hina had asked her to pass on the message.

She walked in. Smiled like a marine recruit who knew they had bad news (not like a sister who knew her brother was about to be executed and was doing something, anything to stop it) and passed on the message.

Then she went to see if she could find any more information.

When Luffy came she would need to be prepared.