IIRoxaII: Thank you! So glad Bon Chan is alive, though. New Okama Queen of Impel Down!
Wishfull-star: ٩(◕‿◕)۶
And we have arrived at the war! Two more chapters until we finally see either how I save Ace or brutally kill him. A lava fist alone just isn't enough perhaps. Hehehe.
They then all heard a den den mushi ringing from the mast, and Luffy picked it up without hesitation. "Huh? Hello?" Luffy asked casually.
"Marine headquarters speaking."
"Hi, I'm Luffy."
"Don't tell him that, you idiot, you're a pirate for godsake!"
The man on the other end said they were aware of what happened at Impel Down. They knew everything. They also knew who the two ringleaders were. They wondered who else it would be, since Luffy was clearly the one who started it all. But the other, they said was Buggy! And he was horrified by this.
"What?! Wow! Captain Buggy is known more than warlords! Amazing!" prisoners he freed shouted. They were all sycophants to him. Well, he did help break them out, and did so without knowing they were possibly sailing right into their deaths.
"Why me?!" Buggy demanded.
"Did you think we don't know? You're not some insignificant pirate, you sailed on Gold Roger's ship! We also heard you are like a brother to the yonko, Shanks!" Everyone was shocked by this news, Luffy as well. He had no idea about that! No... Rayleigh might have mentioned it before!
He hoped he was okay after the fight where his crew were thoroughly defeated. The marines were mistaken when they said it was clear Buggy was trying to save Ace alongside Luffy. So, even if he escaped, no doubt would his bounty raise and he'd be chased more. And if Luffy knew one thing about Buggy, it was that he was a coward.
His life would not be so easy after this.
"We know there are over 200 cirminals on your ship. You're doomed and trapped in the current as nobody will let you through the Gates of Justice. There is no escape for you. You will be dead soon."
"You shut up! I'm gonna save Ace no matter what, you just wait and watch!" Everyone told him to stop picking a fight with marine hq, even though this guy started it first! Luffy hung up, slamming the receiver back and throwing the little doors shut. Buggy was trapped in shock by the world knowing who he was. He tried too hard to not be recognized. But everyone else was shocked. Either the prisoners in awe, or the strongest confused as to why he was so weak.
"Well, every crew has one disgrace," Ivankov said simply, lightly.
Luffy commented, "Oh, I remember! Old man's first mate told me about that." Buggy asked how he was, sounding wistful, talking about the first mate. Based on what Luffy had seen from him, his kindness and light hearted nature, it wasn't surprising that Buggy was happy to hear about the former first mate of his former crew.
How were Shanks and him best buddies, while one was so successful and the other was a near complete failure? Weird. Really weird. Buggy's new fans were still so obsessed with him. It was kind of weird, and a bit pathetic. They all had bounties higher than his, yet they were acting like he was some god just for giving them keys.
It wasn't like he'd helped them in the long run. They were free, but most of that effort was from everyone but Buggy. Well, let them dream. But then they started saying they would take over the ship and not go to marine hq, even if they had just heard there was no other place to go now that they were in the current.
So stupid.
Surprisingly, Buggy stopped their train of thought, to commandeer the ship from Jinbei and Luffy, not to mention having to face Crocodile and the other more prominent members of this group. He said it was a once in a lifetime chance to up his rank. So, following their savior, captain Buggy, they all changed their minds to follow him into the hell that was a war.
Luffy laid and rested some more. The ride took over an hour, as the wind wasn't with them and all they could depend on was the flow of the current. During that time, Luffy spoke with his new friend. "Jinbei."
"Yes?"
"I lost my crew. A few days ago, we were all defeated in Sabaody Archipelago. We were all sent flying in different directions by Kuma. Kizaru beat us up, too. I couldn't save a single one of them. I'm trying not to think of myself as a failure anymore, but if I can't save Ace, then I've lost everyone who ever cared and accepted me. I'll be completely alone. With all the failures of my past still floating around in my head."
"Then don't let Ace-san be executed. After that, you can reunite with your crew, and be stronger than before. This war will make you stronger than you have been before."
"Or it could break me into pieces. Or be my death… but, I won't let Ace die. Even if it kills me. I'm prepared for the world to see me as a monster, if it's to save my only brother."
"Rest for a bit. You'll need your strength," he simply replied. Luffy closed his eyes, and relaxed his body. The pent up pressure was starting to affect him. He could tell. Well… hopefully it would be over soon. He clutched his backpack a bit more.
Before they reached it, he went to the kitchen and ate what was left. The blood was good enough, and he drank one more pack, his heart fluttering. Before he went out, he got metal sheeting from the room with repair supplies, and bent it so it was like a shield. He put it on the bottom and front of the backpack for added security.
Three handcuffs from the armory were stuffed inside, and the two were hanging below his armpits through the straps that held the thing securely to his back.
When they got to the Gates of Justice, the entire ship was shocked to see them opening. Somebody was opening them for them? Who, why?! Well, it was lucky for them! Ace, I'm nearly there! He smiled a nervous smile. He was going to a real war. He would be fighting in it, alongside Whitebeard. Hopefully he'd accept him as an ally. Or at least somebody who isn't his target.
Ace spoke fondly of him, and respected him. Luffy thought he wouldn't kill him. Luffy put the extremely heavy backpack on. It wasn't enough to hinder him, but a normal person could never wear it and move around freely at the same time. He had another pair of seastone cuffs in his shorts. The arm cover was off. He would hide nothing.
"We're here," he sighed out loud.
"Going to war. It will be a nightmare, but we've chosen this fate," Jinbei said.
"I'll take that old man's head here," Crocodile muttered.
"I won't let your son die, Dragon," Ivankov said too quietly under his breath for anyone but Luffy to hear. He had strong allies. And the prisoners were all cheering Buggy on still. Luffy paid no attention to them. Not one bit.
They sailed through the gates easily, out of the current. "I wonder if your father will come, soon."
"Huh? Oh, Ace's dad is Gold Roger, not my dad." Everyone was shocked. "Oh, that was a secret."
"WHAAAT!?" Each person was shocked and showed it besides Crocodile, who just looked mildly interested.
Luffy looked ahead, but there was a fog he couldn't see. He knew they were getting close when he could smell all the gunpowder and metal. All the seastone ships, all of the concrete. They were getting there soon.
"I wish you didn't have to go…"
"We've been planning this for over seven years, Lu. I'll be fine, don't worry!"
"Still…"
"Don't be a baby again. You'll be fine here. More room for you to grow and beat up the forest animals, if they don't keep evading you, that is!"
"Yeah, I guess."
"Don't be so mopey, you'll ruin my departure!"
"I won't! I know nothing can stop you, though. I'm happy and sad at the same time!"
"You become a fearsome pirate and spit in Gramps' face. You don't belong in hiding, you belong out there causing havoc and making friends. Okay? Don't let that old man rule your life."
"Never! Shishishi!"
"I can hear a lot of sounds. I think the war started already. So noisy." He pulled out the two ear plugs that he found in the infirmary, and put them in. All the explosions would no doubt blow his eardrums if he didn't add any protection. He could still hear everything around him, but the sounds were not so sharp.
They all saw before Luffy said a thing, the fast moving wave towards them. It swept up the ship, high into the air as the tsunami crested. They all screamed, and Jinbei tried to swerve the ship, but the wave was too strong, and they all had to hold on for their lives as it threw the ship around. He saw a few prisoners fall over the side. Luffy was wrapped around the mast before there was a cracking sound, and the wave froze, sticking them inside.
"What happened?!"
"Aokiji!" Luffy said. The admirals really were there. He wondered what the third one was like, if the first two they met were so strong. "The war is below," he said darkly. "We're nearly there. Ace…" He made sure his backpack was secure, the seastone wrapped in cloth so they didn't bump against the bare skin of his upper arms.
The one in his pocket was heavy. All in all, he had six cuffs, and ten blood bags. He couldn't lose this backpack. He felt a huge pulse through him, and forced it down, clenching his teeth. God, the explosion was going to be unreal. Especially since it got stronger with negative emotions.
This would be a mess. He hoped none of his allies got caught up in it. "We should break the ice and slide down the back!" Luffy said. "The ship's gotta move now or we can't get down!" Then the den den mushi rang.
There were some code words beforehand, but they all heard, "Calling all ships and troops! The execution of Portgas D. Ace will commence advanced in schedule flawlessly!" Luffy grew pale. Another pulse. Damn it, not yet!
"Hurry! We gotta break the ice!" Luffy shouted. They all slammed into the ice, breaking it, only it didn't go to plan, like most of Luffy's plans didn't. The ice broke on the front, but the ship was unbalanced, it seemed, leaning more to the front of the wave. Instead of sliding down the back, the ship plummeted down to the ice that was the bay.
The people the size of ants got bigger as the ship fell and all those with it. "Ahhh!" they all screamed. Luffy could smell ace easily, and found where the execution platform was. He smelled Garp there, too. He didn't want to face him, truly. He didn't want them to fight one another. Not after the letter he read, and when Luffy told him the truth of how his damaging words had affected him.
He smelled tons of people, and all sorts of weapons along with the heavy stench of blood. That's right, people were dying here. Luffy had killed before, but as he saw the many bodies, pirates and marines, he shivered. But he had no regrets about coming.
"ACE!" Luffy shouted. He was glad he put a rope around the backpack and his chest so it wouldn't fall apart. If it had not had that rope, it would have fallen off his back. The seastone cuffs in his pocket fell out, so he now had five pairs. He hoped it was enough. He saw Aokiji and Kizaru there, and one more guy. He had wicked eyes.
Luffy also saw who he assumed the leader was. Standing beside Ace, bloody and chained to the platform he was on. Luffy would get him out of those cuffs, it would be great if he used Ace's trappings against someone else.
"We're gonna die!" Luffy shouted. "The bay is ice below! Ah, nevermind! I'll be fine, I'm made of rubber!"
"Then you'll be the only survivor!" Three shouted. They all blamed one another, and hearing these big, bad people get angry at one another for this was a bit strange. Luffy saw who he assumed was Whitebeard, and wow, he was huge. Not as big as giants, but at least 20 feet tall. Despite how old he was, the man was buff and strong.
He had a commanding presence that Luffy didn't really like, but was happy it was a force that was trying to save his big brother. "Ace! I'm here!" Luffy shouted.
"LUFFY!" he screamed in horror, seeing his brother on the battlefield. At least he knew Luffy wasn't trapped in Impel Down, though! Garp was furious that he was there. Well, if he wasn't gonna save Ace, then Luffy would. He should have expected this! Luckily, there was a huge chunk of ocean, and the ship landed there.
Jinbei saved the fruit users who fell into the water, and dragged them out. Luffy spit up water, and felt his backpack was no less heavy. The cuffs were still there. Good! His equipment was fine after the fall. "Aaaaccceeee!" Luffy called. "I finally found you!" Luffy cheered. He stood on the front of the tilted marine battleship that brought them there, with his strong allies.
Jinbei, Ivankov, Crocodile, Mr. 1, Buggy, and the rest of the Impel Down escapees. 200 men were just added to the battlefield. All of the Impel Down convicts were strong, so hopefully they fought and didn't just stick to their "lord and saviour" the whole time. Though they could get in their way, too. Well, he had strong allies and that was the more important part.
"Garp, it's your damn family!" Luffy heard it faintly. It seemed sound echoed here a lot. It made sense, they were in a sort of tunnel between the frozen tsunamis. Garp shouted his name in fury again.
"Ace, we're here to save you!" The Impel Down escapees cheered, holding weapons they got from the ship. They sure were an intimidating bunch, but did prison dull them, or were they raring to fight against the marines that put them there? They would see soon.
Luffy saw Hancock, Kuma, Mihawk (grrr, he hurt Zoro!), Moria and one other guy. He'd encountered all warlords but one. The feathery guy. Hancock was happy to see him, while Moria was pissed that he was there. Only a few weeks ago, Luffy defeated him.
"Certainly the group he's got there," Aokiji said, almost impressed.
"To see him so soon. Hoh, it seems his wrecked body has been healed," Kizaru's voice said. He lightly worried the ear plugs were worthless. Well, even if he was turned deaf by sudden explosions, he could still fight, would still fight. But now, he'd officially breached all major branches of the marines and government.
He didn't feel very proud, mostly focused now on the war he had literally been dropped into.
"That must be the brother Ace was talking about. He sure doesn't look like a cute little boy." Well yeah, Luffy was in weird tattoos, red eyes, and looking tired and angry. He pushed down another pulse from the rage he felt at the state his brother was in. He'd seen how bloody his prison cell was, though. It wasn't surprising based on how badly injured Jinbei was from the beatings.
Luffy was just happy he was told Ace never experienced anything other than level six. He didn't go through the other hells of that place. Good, it was relief.
Luffy recognized many scents here. Smoker, Tashigi, Coby and Helmeppo, Jango and that guy from Baratie. He remembered how both of them had smelled gross. But the only scent he focused on was his brother's.
He was so angry at Luffy.
He would avoid the most menacing one here. The third admiral, sitting beside Aokiji. Luffy couldn't explain why, but if there was anyone he'd be avoiding, it was that guy. He could hear through his ear plugs. Maybe real wax would have been better. Though it didn't matter now.
Sengoku addressed Jinbei, furious about his involvement in this and the prison break. "I resign as a warlord!" he shouted. What a cool way to resign, though! Garp was confused with the line up backing Luffy, sure they weren't all in it for the same reason. Three of them were, Buggy and Crocodile were not.
Speaking of Crocodile, he was going after Whitebeard.
"He's my father now. The best father you could ever have."
Luffy used gear second in an instant, kicking Crocodile's hook out of the way of the old guy's head. Luffy in hindsight probably didn't need to do that, this guy was Whitebeard. The strongest man in the world. But he wanted to. Plus, he still had something to tell the man. His leg was wet, his body still wet from the water, so it worked.
"We have an agreement. This doesn't concern you!" Crocodile said in annoyance and anger. Luffy responded that Ace really liked this guy. He heard praises from other people for helping Whitebeard, though very few seemed worried about what would have happened if Luffy hadn't been there.
He stood next to Whitebeard for a moment before the guy looked at the hat hanging against his back. Luffy didn't care about his hair. That was the least important part of his weird appearance. "Boy, that Straw Hat you wear…"
"Shanks gave it to me to hang on to," Luffy said firmly. Proud of the hat that had belonged to two powerful men before him. One more like him than the other.
"Are you here to save your brother?"
"That's right!" Luffy said. He already knew this guy was underestimating him. Everybody would maybe but for the warlords and two of the admirals. He didn't look tough if he wasn't using that scary face, letting out that aura. It would have been cool to bring the demon guards along so they could fight beside him, but they might have just made a mess and attacked the guys he wasn't against.
"I hope you understand what you're up against! A brat like you won't stand a chance here!" Luffy scowled at him. It was annoying, being told he wasn't strong enough. He already had that feeling in his head, he didn't need others to tell him that so bluntly.
Luffy growled. "Shut up! That's not for you to decide!" Everyone was silent in shock, but Luffy continued. He promised Zoro he'd say this one day. "I know what you want! You want to be the Pirate King!" he accused. "Well I'm the one who's gonna be the Pirate King!" he shouted confidently, defiantly.
Whitebeard narrowed his eyes and spun his bisento, the largest weapon Luffy'd seen since Dorry and Broggy back on Little Garden, so long ago. He slammed the base of it down, sending a shock wave across the front of his ship, where both were standing. The ship was huge! Bigger than a marine warship! Ace did say the crew was big.
"Gurarara, you sure are a cheeky brat. I won't show mercy if you slow us down!" the yonko said. He wasn't angry at Luffy, thankfully. Though Ace was watching, he loved his brother. Whitebeard would be a terrible father if he killed Luffy.
"I'll do whatever the hell I want. No matter what it takes, I'm saving Ace myself!" Everyone was still shocked by his attitude. If Luffy was going to be Pirate King, he had to surpass every person in the world. Even this man. At least he got to say what he'd wanted, even if it wasn't in the situation Luffy expected it to be in. In a war to save his last big brother.
Luffy told him about the marines moving the execution up casually. "That's important information, then. Sorry for earlier." Neehee, he was talking on (seemingly) equal terms with Whitebeard! He had something to tell him. Maybe it would raise his spirits.
He bluntly said, "I killed Blackbeard. He won't take Ace again." Whitebeard narrowed his eyes at Luffy, clearly not believing him.
"And how did you manage that?" The others in the area were surprised, too. Luffy said he strangled him with a seastone chain. And that the monsters of Impel Down took down his crew. He didn't mention the whole biting, gouging his eyes out and breaking his spine. That was a bit too graphic. He didn't want Whitebeard to think he was an insane murderer.
The man looked shocked for a moment. Then he saw the seastone cuffs dangling from the backpack. "Well, that's very helpful. Ace will be ashamed of you defeating him when he couldn't."
"Shishishi, yup!" Luffy said.