IIRoxaII: Yeah. :( Luffy's going through some rough shit. Then there's the war that's coming real soon...

Wishfull-star: (*￣▽￣)b

Next chapter shit GOES DOWN. I make a HUGE non-canon change. It made me happy to write it, I'd been looking forward to writing that moment for dozens of chapters. So, look forward to a damn good time. Enjoy~

He passed out again, but could hear voices all around him faintly when he came to. He couldn't feel his body. He finally woke in a dark room. He was glad, any light would be painful. He hurt. Somebody was in front of him, standing there.

"Have you come to? You had quite the breakdown back there," a man with puffy hair said. That's all he could see. "You don't want to die, right?"

"I ca...nt die. No-t till I s - hah - save A-Ace," Luffy said.

"I can save you." Luffy's eyes widened, even if he couldn't see well. "It will come at a cost. Ten years of your life. Are you prepared for that? You will never get those years back. Though you will die here if you don't." Luffy said he accepted. "But even if I help you, the process will be so painful you may die from the pain."

"Nothing… can be… worse… than this," Luffy said.

"Maybe. But even if I try, it will only bring your chances of living from zero percent to two or three percent. You will be in agony, and you will need to prove that you want to live by surviving this." Luffy would prove. He didn't want to die, and he had things he needed to do. People he needed to see. He wasn't a weak child who cried about being lonely.

He only saw that that part of him was still buried deep inside. And he would bury it again. Deep, deep down where he'd never see it again! He was a man with a 300 million berries bounty on his head, not a helpless child! He gasped, and grit his teeth, ready for whatever would happen.

"Have a nice trip to the brink of death! I hope you survive! Emporio healing hormones!" the man shouted, and stabbed Luffy in the side with sharp things. Suddenly, he was in agony again. It replayed just how it had for the last hour or so. He wouldn't scream! He wouldn't cry! He grit his teeth, he couldn't cry! He wouldn't scream! He was a monster that can survive anything! He couldn't depend on blood, he couldn't depend on the life force of others, he had to fight this himself. He would see light again, he would feel the sun again! He'd return to the ocean, and see his brother again! He would see his crew, his lover again! They would make up for that fight!

Luffy would get stronger, and he would never die! Not while he still had dreams and people to see! What the hell good is being a monster, non-human, if you can't even live on your own!? Blood… who needs blood?!

"ACE!" Luffy finally screamed. He breathed heavily, and refused to scream in pain. If he let it out, he would never stop screaming. He'd cried like a baby before, he would prove he was strong. Not to this random person, not to Bon-chan. Not to anybody else but himself.

"I… am… strong!" he shouted. This was life or death, but it was also to test himself. Was he strong enough to take hell in silence, or would he scream it all out? He knew screaming would feel better. Letting out his pain would feel better. But he would be weak. To himself, screaming would show he was at the mercy of somebody else!

Even as his body melted from the inside and reformed over and over, he would never open his mouth again. Even as blood poured from every wound and orifice, he didn't scream. Blood came from everywhere. He still couldn't smell anything. His body broke down, dissolved, only to be built up again and again, a never ending, vicious cycle.

Fuck you, pain! There's nothing for you here! Everything had been horrible lately, he'd been weak, doubting himself. What good could he do in life if he did that?! If he let himself fall apart over old wounds that were surfacing after years. He spent a decade training to be a pirate, to be the king. To find a strong crew.

And he did. They were strong, he was strong. But the world was strong, too. They had to be more than they were. He knew they could. He would grow, he would become the monster necessary to protect his loved ones. If he lost everything, every part of himself, to live to the fullest, to be there for them, then sobeit.

Garp was right. He shouldn't be in the public, he shouldn't be a pirate, he should be on the island. But that wasn't Luffy's wish and that sure as hell wasn't his dream in life. He didn't care! He could drink blood, he could be a freak inside and out, and still, he wouldn't bend or bow to anybody else!

He would be the Pirate King! He would find out what the hell he was, he would surpass Roger in that way! He would be the king of the seas, and therefore the king of the pirates. The freest person in the world. He'd do it all because he wanted to.

Not because he had to, but he wanted to. He did whatever he wanted! That's why he was a pirate, because he wanted to do whatever he wanted. And what he wanted most, was to wake up from this hell, carry on and save his brother.

And… he did not scream.

Luffy woke up, and felt the chains burst apart from him with a lurch. He stood up, and was so hungry, so skinny and thirsty that he had trouble standing. He walked to the door, still unable to smell anything. He slammed on the door, and screamed for food. The door opened, and the next thing he knew, he was eating everything that was put into his hands.

He heard people shocked at him, but he kept eating. Ace. Ace, I'm coming. I'll just be a little late. He ate his worth in weight by far, and forced his entire body to absorb the nutrients, and pump him full of energy, fat and muscle. He was still sorely missing blood. He saw a lot of people in front of him, all shocked into silence.

Did he look different? Maybe it was because he wasn't bleeding or whining or crying like a scared little baby. For once, he was ashamed of himself. Not because anyone saw him that way, but because he found that part of him was so ready to burst to the surface with any sort of crack in his exterior pride and confidence.

He found he was shirtless, and showing his marks. He looked down at his body, and saw he had a band of black on his right arm, on the bicep, that wasn't there before. "I'm back. I have to get to Ace," Luffy said firmly. The room was silent, and someone finally spoke.

"You didn't scream at all!"

"I… I will never be weak again!" he said firmly. "I will never be that person ever again." Bon Clay ran at him and hugged him tightly. Luffy hugged him back, so happy to see him alive. Covered in bandages, but alive. People threw him in the air, cheering for him. The Bon-chan collapsed. Luffy freaked out in worry, and asked what was wrong with him.

"He's exhausted. You've been in that state for 20 hours. Even though you didn't make a single pained sound, he knew you were in agony, and shouted for you to get better for that whole time," he said it with a smile before his face changed. "Boy… what are you?" Luffy didn't even get the chance to thank him. But who was he? Iva-chan, maybe? Most likely the one Bon Clay was looking for! Did he save Luffy?

Yes, he did. He put Luffy in that hell where he solidified himself. He wouldn't break again. If he did, he'd pick himself back up!

Luffy asked who he was anyways, not wanting to make assumptions. "My name is Emporio Ivankov. Queen of the Kamabaka kingdom and New Kama Land. A former revolutionary to Dragon, the most wanted criminal in the world!"

"Ah, you mean dad."

"Yes, your dad. I'm not breaking out of here yet. My time hasn't come. I'll only leave this place once he makes a true sign. Once things start to truly progress, then I will break out! If I left now, I would only get recaptured! Until then, until Dragon makes his move, I will…" He froze and looked at Luffy. "Dad?! Did you say 'dad'?!" he demanded in disbelief, slamming backwards into the wall dramatically. He was a funny guy so far!

Luffy stood up. "Well, I don't know him, or what he looks like. Garp, my grandpa told me." Iva-chan was shocked. "I shouldn't have said that, huh?" he asked, plopping his hat back on his head. Thank goodness it wasn't covered in poison, too! It always seemed to escape damage. It was the past and future Pirate King's hat, though. It was to be expected!

"Where were you born?" Iva-chan asked quickly.

"The East Blue. Neh… do you want me to tell you the truth? About myself?"

Iva-chan was looking at him firmly, as if trying to determine whether he was being honest about being related to the revolutionary. "I saw you on the monitor, frightening animals into obeying you. It didn't seem like haki. You also handled seastone."

He saved him, Luffy would tell him the truth in gratitude. "I don't know what I am. But… this place. What is it?" He was explained where he was, an unusual place that was a secret in the prison. "Is there an infirmary?" he asked quickly. They nodded. They had everything here. "It's gonna sound like a weird request, but do you have any blood bags? Donated blood?"

Ivankov's brows raised, but he answered. "We do. Candies, go get all of the blood bags we have!" Luffy was surprised, and smiled in thanks. He finally fell to his knees, exhausted. He would heal. He needed to. He needed his sense of smell back. He could barely move, he needed energy.

He pulled the vivre card out of his hat, thank god both of them were still there, and saw it was still pointing down. Ace was still there! Luffy was coherent through the agony, repeating the same mantra in his head for hours. He was strong, he could do this. He was strong, he could do this. Maybe he could hear Bon Clay saying that, too.

The blood came, ten blood bags. More than enough. Without hesitation, Luffy started to drink from five of the bags. He wanted to save the rest. Those in the room looked repulsed, but saw his wounds start to fade. The color came back in his face, the burns on his hands faded. He was still covered in dirt and blood, but he was healed.

He knew, though, that blood wasn't enough. He needed rest, but that didn't matter now. He went through agony and he knew his body just went through extreme trauma. He needed more than blood, but he didn't care. Not now, he'd worry about that another time. He could tell he hadn't exploded. That power was still compacted inside of him.

Maybe it was good he hadn't used it up. Even though he'd tried. It hadn't worked. Maybe deep inside he hadn't wanted to use it then, he wasn't sure. Maybe he was saving it for something bigger. He'd never know. But things turned out really lucky again. Luffy deserved some luck after the poison and terrible treatment.

"I know that looked kind of gross," he said awkwardly. Clothes were handed to him, and he gladly dressed in something that wasn't covered in blood, poison and piss. He peed himself some time during that ordeal.

"Straw Hat boy, I've had a change of heart! I will help you break Ace boy out of prison!" Luffy beamed. He asked if he meant it. "I couldn't let Dragon's son risk his life anymore on his own when I can help!"

Luffy bowed to him, thanking him so much for everything. "Well, you've provided quite a bit of entertainment as well. I've never had somebody heal from such an ordeal so quickly and without a single cry of agony."

Luffy looked down at his hands. "I had to prove to myself that I wasn't a weak and insecure little boy anymore. I'm a monster who will become the Pirate King. If I screamed, I would have found I was weak. It hurt really, really bad. And I wanted to scream. I knew it would make me feel better, but I just couldn't."

Ivankov looked at him with a very knowing smile. "Somebody get a backpack! The best we have!" Someone did. The people of New Kama Land sure looked eccentric. Their outfits and appearances were very funny and unique. They looked like a happy bunch. At least some people in this prison weren't miserable and in agony.

"Inazuma, find out when Ace boy will be leaving. We must act quickly, we can't keep hanging around here. If his vivre card is still pointing down, he's still here! We're going to level six now." Luffy was so happy, though he thought there was no level six. Well, whatever! He had even more stronger allies. But Bon Clay was so injured.

Luffy put the backpack on with blood in it. Clothes were stuffed around it to cushion the bags. This place really was incredible. They were living there all this time, enjoying life. It really was cool. "Straw Hat boy, you must not reveal that secret to anybody else!" Luffy nodded. It was an accident. "I am your father's nakama, a commander of the Revolutionary Army! Therefore I have a duty to make sure you don't die!"

Luffy nodded and thanked him. Ivankov then turned to his people, and told them they were going to prepare to break out! Save Ace and then flee the prison successfully!" They were shocked at how sudden it all was. "Anybody who wishes to come along shall gather here and prepare and be ready for battle!"

"Do you have any seastone cuffs? That might be helpful again!" Ivankov kind of surprised him when they did have some. He stuffed it in his backpack. This thing would need to hold together. "Alright, Ace! I'm coming now!" He wasn't fully healed, but he sure as hell was good enough to save his brother. He had to be.

They fled level five, running down the halls to get to level six. There was no point in hiding their presence now, according to Ivankov. Luffy felt better than he had since entering the prison. Since he was blown away from Kuma, since he felt weak before Sabaody. He wasn't a weak little boy. He didn't hear his grandpa's voice in his head anymore.

That might come back, but it would never consume him again. He didn't plan on dying, but he would never give up on something he put his mind to and swore he would do.

It was only Luffy, Ivankov and Inazmua, the queen's right hand person, as they fluctuated between male and female at their desire. They were the party that was going for Ace, but then they were gathering the other new kamas and breaking out. They ran into level five, the freezing place where Luffy nearly gave up on everything, heading straight for the staircase to level six.

The wolves fled from seeing Luffy. Prisoners were shocked at their sights. After all, Ivankov was surely not someone who looked like they were in this place. Luffy didn't pay attention to the new marking on his arm, not wanting to think about that right now. It might be something weird, or just like a scar from the 20 hours of hell. It didn't matter right now.

They made it to the entrance to level five that Luffy hadn't seen when he was taken there. "There are guards from this point on!" Inazuma was still holding his glass of wine, not having spilled it at all. Impressive.

"Bring it on!" Luffy said. They sprinted down the stairs, Luffy breathing heavily as he pumped his legs. "I have to make it! I have to make it! I'm coming for you, Ace!" he chanted loudly. The whole prison knew about them by now. Who cares if they made a lot of noise? They broke through all the childish traps, Luffy smelling them easily, but all of them not needing that in advance. They acted quickly.

The guards also didn't stand a chance against them. All three of them were fit and strong. "Ace where are you?! I'm here to save you!" Luffy shouted, hoping he could hear him.

When they made it to level six, the stench of Ace and his blood was terribly strong. But when they made it to the cage that he was no doubt in, he was gone! "H-He's not here!" Luffy shouted. "He was just here, I can tell!" Luffy said, pressing down panic. His vivre card now pointed upwards!

"Are you sure this is his cage?!" Luffy said he knew it was. The blood was Ace's on the wall! "We must be a little late!" Luffy clenched his fists. Then the man, fishman, who was also in Ace's cage asked if he was Straw Hat Luffy, and then said Ace just left.

"You still have time to make it! Go now!" he shouted. "He was taken through the lift! Now move!" Luffy thanked him and nodded, swiftly running to the lift. Inazuma led him to the lift as the cable was closing. Luffy just had to climb it and he was at Ace! But Ivaknov said the contraption was locked, and they couldn't get it back down! Luffy did have to climb.

He stuck his head inside and looked up, only to jump away when spikes came hurtling down and slammed it closed. "No!" Luffy shouted.

"Of course they wouldn't let us up easily! The lift is useless! They have beaten us to it!" Ivankov said angrily. Luffy said they had to go back up the stairs, up the way they came! He got up and ran towards that place, but then a cage fell over the stairs! Bars made of seastone. Luffy tried to pull them apart, but while it didn't affect him much in strength wise, he couldn't break it. "No! Ace!"

"We have to break the bars somehow or we'll never catch up in time!" Luffy put his arms out and let out a blast, breaking apart the cage. He jumped inside and started to climb before gas came out. Inazuma yanked him out. No! He'd wasted the blast! Wait… that wasn't nearly all of it! He'd unconsciously only used some? That was great. And he wasn't harmed by the blast, even though it had been powerful. Just in case, he took a sip of a blood bag and then pinched it back closed.

"What was that?" Ivankov asked.

Luffy said it was a long story, but he exploded sometimes. To the man's credit, he didn't push. But the gas was going to fill up the whole floor! Then they'd be completely at the mercy of Impel Down. A very angry Impel Down.

"Hey, hey! You guys better not drag us down into this!" someone from a cage said. They were all surprisingly quiet, and Luffy barely noticed they were there in his distraction and panic about just missing Ace, and now being locked inside. How would they get out, now?

"Silence level six!" the kamabakka queen shouted. Luffy's nose caught whiffs of the sleeping gas before everyone else, and he passed out. Inazuma took the chance and new information to hurry and seal up the staircase. He had a devil fruit where his hands turned to scissors and he cut up the floor and manipulated it into sealing up the gas. But they really had no way out.

Luffy couldn't blast open the ceiling without risking killing all of them in the process. What now? What did they do now? He woke when he heard his brother's voice scream his name, echoing down the lift and through level six. He knew Luffy was there. He must think he would die now. Luffy put his hands in his hair.

Now what?

Inazuma said they were trapped. There was nothing to be done now. Their attempt was over. Luffy didn't like how easily he was giving up. "There has to be another way! We have to get out here, no matter what! The vivre card isn't pointing just up anymore! He's leaving soon, we need to get out of here now!"

"If he is going to Marineford, there is nothing we can do. You should give up. There is no hope now."

"Bullshit!" Luffy erupted. "I swore I'd save him and I will! I survived Magellan for him and I'll do that a million times more! I'll go to Marineford to save him if it kills me! But I won't die until he's safe! I don't care how I get out! I'll blow myself out if I have to! I should be able to aim okay… I think."

His new allies thought he was crazy, but he didn't budge. He was going to Marineford, with their help or not! Inzuma was more chill about it, while Ivankov shouted at him until he said he'd do it with or without them. Then he looked stunned for some reason. "We have no way out, though," the right hand man at the moment said. He still had his wine glass.

Then he heard a familiar deep laughing from a few cages away. "Straw Hat Luffy. I never thought I'd see you again. You trying to get out of here?"

"Crocodile!"

"Heh, if you free me, I'll get you out. You'll take me along with you, and I can be of help to you." Ivankov said it would be a good idea. "Ivankov?! The hell are you doing here?" Then the okama queen started to mock Crocodile, knowing something about his past. The former warlord wanted not to talk about this. He hated the former revolutionary, deeply. Luffy wondered why.

"I can keep him in line. If he messes up, I'll just tell everyone what he doesn't want anyone to hear, right Croco-boy?"

"Bastard…!"

Luffy didn't want to take him! He hurt Vivi badly. Her kingdom was in ruins because of him. But he swore to do anything to save Ace. Even if it was uniting with enemies, he would save his brother. Going to Marineford was reckless and maybe a death sentence, but it was the only thing he could do. It was the last chance to save him!

His powers could make them a hole in the ceiling. "As long as you don't do to me what you did last time, I'll lend you a hand." The villain didn't seem too bothered about last time. When Luffy nearly drank all his blood and killed him that way.

"I was really sick when that happened. I won't do it again," Luffy said stiffly.

"I assumed you were sick when you were bleeding out of your eyes," Crocodile said with amusement. "Well, I hold no grudge against you if you let me out. I have no interest in that kingdom anymore, either. I want to take Whitebeard's head. With my help, I could get us both out with my sand sand fruit." Luffy wouldn't let him take Ace's adoptive dad's head, but he didn't say that.

Inazuma voiced that taking him was worth it. Luffy relented, not liking it but knowing it was their only hope. He felt bad for doing it for Vivi, but it was to help them all get out of this hell. Teaming up with a past enemy… well, he was the fourth today, though Buggy and Three didn't really team up with him that much. Three didn't, Buggy actually helped him get down, annoying and loud though he was.

I hope we some day know what Crocodile's secret it. I like the theory that he was a woman before and Iva changed him into a man.