Wishfull-star: (ᵔ◡ᵔ)

nicolecarmen9495: Thank you!

IIRoxaII: I really dislike when mental health issues are glossed over. Like in MHA manga (no spoiler) Deku is supposed to be super depressed and then the mangaka just dropped that when it's so unrealistic someone could get over trauma and depression so fast. It's probably only because I love angst, and a lot of people wouldn't want to read depressing shit.

Luffy's arm hung still on the left side as he paced on the Kuja pirate ship. He could use it just fine, but when it wasn't in use doing something, it mostly hung down, no reason to use it to fidget. He'd gotten used to it long ago, and observation haki made it easier to keep track of its movements, but it was still completely numb.

Two years had passed since the injury, and he was used to it. What was a bigger problem was the completely untreated PTSD. Rayleigh talked to him about the issues when Luffy would open up, but that was rare. He felt weak for it, even though Rayleigh and Hancock said it was completely justified. Fire and loud noises triggered it.

When the volcano on the island erupted, making loud bangs but not shooting out lava, Luffy usually had a flashback. But most islands didn't have active volcanoes. He thought. So he should be fine for that. He did still have nightmares sometimes, but they were manageable and able to be hidden from his mentor that had left six months ago.

Luffy had new super moves. He was much stronger, using all types of haki now. The burst at Marineford had been haki, nothing to do with his monster side. Even though one important thing had never been controllable completely, it didn't hurt him anymore.

"Don't be worried, Luffy," Hancock said kindly. Luffy asked if they weren't there. "Can you smell them?" Luffy said not yet. When the island came into view, Luffy put the cape on and the face glasses and nose. Luffy had an open shirt now that hid nothing. All his markings showed, on his arm and chest.

Luffy did smell somebody, but the scent was old. Ace had been here! He was so happy, and felt he must have left him something. Maybe a letter! Hancock brought his attention back, and had a huge backpack for him. It had way too much stuff for even him to carry, so he discarded everything but the food, predictably.

"I'll miss all you guys. You helped me so much," Luffy said earnestly. "And I'm so glad I met somebody like me, Hancock," he added. She blushed strongly, and looked away in embarrassment. She totally had a crush on him, it was clear after all this time, but she never pressed him about it, which he appreciated. He still loved Zoro. He hoped he still loved him, too.

When they got to the island, Luffy got off, saying goodbye to his saviors and friends. So much had happened. It was hard to believe it. He smiled, waving goodbye. Hancock looked upset to see him go, but Luffy promised to visit someday. The women, the Kuja Pirates, shouted goodbyes, and the pirate ship sailed off.

"Time to see everybody," Luffy said brightly. He ran to their smells, and passed some weird people. He had his hood over, hiding everything. Every part of him was hidden so he could leave quickly and quietly. He did smell marines and pacifistas, so he had to be careful. He didn't want to cause any trouble.

The people he passed were imitating his crew, badly. Luffy's right arm was holding onto the strap while his left continued to hang. He didn't really notice it. As he often didn't notice it was even there without his observation haki. Luffy bumped the guy badly imitating him. He looked nothing like the wanted poster. Maybe people thought he'd gotten fat over the last two years.

"Are you gonna apologize?" the imposter asked.

"Sorry," Luffy said flatly. Then his huge bag bumped him again, and a gun was pulled on him. People around them begged him to get on his knees and apologize. Because this guy was apparently the dangerous Straw Hat Luffy. Fools. Everyone thought he was dead, so did they latch onto this guy because of that? Cause the real Luffy was missing?

Luffy let out a small burst of conqueror's haki. They collapsed, and Luffy continued on his way. He could hear his lover and his chef arguing somewhere, and passed a huge group of pirates and pacifistas on his way. Sentonmaru was there, still missing one arm. The one Luffy blew apart. He wondered why it hadn't been fixed in some way.

Luffy moved his left to grab the backpack strap so it didn't look injured. He hurried past them, wanting to find his crew already. But he felt and heard a blast coming towards him, and dodged easily. It was too slow for his reflexes and haki. "So you are alive!" Sentonmaru said, glaring at him. "I'll make you pay for what you did to me and uncle!"

He wondered how they uncuffed Kizaru. There were two pacifistas, and Luffy used gear second to take care of one of them, shooting above it and punching it in the head with a haki covered fist. It slammed into the ground, making a crater before it blew up. "Neehee!" Luffy giggled, running off.

"See you another time!" Luffy called to Sentonmaru. Luffy heard and smelled his two fellow strong members coming, and his face lit up at seeing them.

"It was you! We knew you got into trouble!" Sanji called. Luffy locked eyes with Zoro, and he was wearing a relieved grin, not an expression that would seem he was no longer interested in being in a romantic relationship. So much had happened. A pacifista was behind Luffy, and Zoro and Sanji went after it, the blonde kicking its head while the other sliced it along the stomach, both making it die.

"Zoro, Sanji! It's been forever! I missed you!" They both smiled, unbothered by the dead pacifistas.

"You're number nine," Zoro said. Sanji told him to shut up about it, which Luffy didn't know what it meant. They led him to the ship, even though Luffy could smell it, so they weren't too far. He also smelled the familiar scent of his nakama. He was finally back.

Two years ago, they could barely handle one without all of them working together to take it down. They were so much stronger, and so was Luffy. Finally strong enough to make it to the New World. "Roronoa, Black Leg! They are alive!" Sentonmaru said angrily. The marines came after them, but then Rayleigh was there, and like those years ago, he stopped enemies from going after them.

Luffy turned around, and the marines were too scared to pass Rayleigh, who had a sword and looked so easy going, like usual. "Rayleigh!" Luffy called with a grin. "Thank you for all you've done!" He pumped both arms in the air. "I'll be the Pirate King! Just you wait!" The man wore a truly fond smile, and Luffy remembered all he'd done for him.

Never looking down at him for the nightmares, the crying in the beginning. The flashbacks he helped him through, never thinking he was weak, or looking disappointed. Then he gave him blood when he needed it, and made him so strong without Luffy asking. He would forever be thankful. He had been so right. They needed two years. He needed two years.

Luffy and his lover and friend ran back to the ship, Rayleigh still holding off the marines. "You've become so strong. I'll be waiting to see you in the papers. Head straight to the top," Rayleigh said, loud enough for only Luffy to hear. A smile was in his voice. Maybe even another emotion. Sadness, bittersweet. Luffy felt the same.

"Yeah! I will!" Luffy shouted in response. Then he ran off with Zoro and Sanji to the Sunny, both of them shouting thank yous to the man that saved them from an admiral. He had his arm relaxed again, not noticing really. When they ran into marines in front of them, those negative ghosts struck again! That girl was here? She was!

Why was Perona here? But she spoke to Zoro in a familiar tone, though both didn't seem too happy to be with one another. Zoro especially. Sanji was drooling over her just for being a woman. Apparently she was helping Zoro get away safely. Were they together during the two years? How strange!

She helped them get away, and they ran further towards the Sunny. Sanji looked at Luffy's arm with a look of slight concern. He moved it to hold onto the backpack strap. He'd explain soon enough. They were not as close to the grove as Luffy thought. It seemed it had been moved recently, so it made sense he smelled it in a closer place than it was now.

More marines came, and bounty hunters for their high bounties. But a huge bird landed on them, and Luffy heard his doctor calling their names. "Whoa!" Luffy said, not hesitating to jump on the huge bird Chopper was riding. Did they all have weird times on their islands? And everyone was there, if Zoro said he was number nine, did that mean everyone else was back?

The huge bird flew to the ship, and Chopper hugged Luffy tightly. Luffy hugged him back with a bright smile. He would no doubt be worried about Luffy's arm, even though it functioned just fine, even if he used his other arm more. They came across the Thousand Sunny, and Luffy was finally home.

His crew were already there, and he beamed. After six months of isolation, he was finally with people he loved. He felt bad for forcing them to not meet up for two years, but they all looked stronger! Usopp and Franky the most! Robin and Nami's hair ahd changed. Franky was… very different now, but looked so cool! Brook was wearing a super fun outfit. So colorful! Chopper's hat had changed, too. Zoro had a scar over his left eye, and Sanji's hair had moved to the other side, showing he wasn't missing one of his eyes!

Luffy was the one who looked like he hadn't changed at all.

"We're all together again!" Usopp shouted. Everyone else was cheering at seeing them all. All nine were here now. The ship was already coated. For some reason, the moment Sanji saw Nami and Robin, he had a violent nose bleed. That could be a problem. Luffy suddenly turned a bit uneasy, but Robin caught on.

"Rayleigh stocked up blood in the cooler for you." Of course he did, Luffy was unsurprised. He put his backpack full of food down. It smelled like the Kuja Pirates. He would forever thank them for all they'd done. Maybe he wouldn't tell Zoro and Sanji about who he was with for some of the two years. For different reasons, but both having to do with Hancock's extreme crush on him.

But it seemed he couldn't hide it, when Hancock's ship moved in front of the marine ship attacking them. Luffy heard her snappy voice she never sent at him. "Who was so thoughtless to put a battleship in my way?" she asked in a cold voice. Robin recognized the emblem of their ship, and knew who it was.

Luffy was smiling, and they wondered why a warlord was there. The other men but Zoro were in awe of Hancock's beauty. Zoro could care less, and took his hand, the right one so he could feel it. Luffy squeezed his hand, so happy to feel his big, calloused hand in his.

"Hancock saved us! We should go now!" Hancock winked at them, and sent the man in a tizzy about how beautiful she was. "Thank you, Hancock! So much!" They saw her turn away and hold her face. Zoro scowled at the image. Nami asked how he knew the warlord. "I was sent to her island during the two years. A lot happened there!" Luffy laughed.

Sanji was furious, and Luffy wondered just how bad his two years had been. "You had better been training hard!"

"I didn't spend the whole time with them," Luffy said, smiling. Franky said they would be going now. Air would blow into the bubble, and the jelly-like substance did raise when Franky dived, and then popped back into the bubble. Luffy could hear a commotion coming from the island. It sounded like some interesting stuff was happening!

Nami said the ship would sink, and now raise as they would sink down. They couldn't pop the bubble or the pressure would crush the ship and kill them all. "We can't stop once we start to sink!"

"I understand," both Zoro and Luffy said bluntly.

"No, you don't… well, raise the sails! We're sinking now!" Nami said, sounding excited for this. Luffy was, too!

"The sails can use the sea currents like wind, propelling the ship forward," Robin said.

"Are we setting sail, Nami?"

"Yes, captain!"

"Alright everyone! I have a ton of stuff to tell you, but for now, I want to thank you for going along with my selfish request to train for two years!" Marines were freaking about the ship submerging, getting away. "LET'S SET SAIL!"

"Yeah!" Usopp called.

"Fishman Island, here we come!" Franky cheered, and the ship submerged. They were on their way to the next adventure! Luffy hoped to see Jinbei there. He had to thank him for his support. He helped Luffy when he was depressed and discouraged about saving Ace, giving him more motivation. Iva-chan was so helpful, too. Someday, he'd thank him properly.

After spending some time in awe and watching them leave the surface into a completely different world, Luffy gathered them to explain things.

On their way to the underwater island, Luffy had to explain his problems while things were peaceful as they headed down, still in the sunlight. "So, I gotta say some stuff about what happened at Marineford," Luffy started. They all grew serious. "During the trip to somewhere, I had to hold in the explosion. It wrecked my arms during the three days of flying, but I got blood on Amazon Lily, so they helped me out.

"But when I held in the explosion, it was for over five days. When it did come, it gave me nerve damage on half of my body. I got healed mostly by a doctor, but the nerve damage is permanent in my left arm. I can't feel it anymore, so I usually use my right arm the most. I also have hearing impairment in my left ear, but it's not too bad. I also have untreated PTSD, so I hope Chopper can make me some meds and I can get better sooner," Luffy said. His voice was light, and everyone looked bothered.

"Well, I'm actually in pretty good shape considering everything that happened." Zoro asked why blood didn't help, looking at Luffy's left arm, which he wouldn't be able to hold. Luffy said it was a quick fix. It didn't heal all the nerve damage, though.

"I'm used to it by now, it's been two years. About the PTSD, it's mostly triggered by loud booms and fire or bright flashes." Chopper said he wanted to do a check up immediately. Luffy knew that was coming. Zoro looked especially bothered, but it was also about something else.

He said, "I'm so sorry for getting mad at you, and then leaving before we could make up." Luffy walked over and sat in his lap. He said he forgave him a long time ago. Zoro hugged him closely. Luffy wouldn't mention Impel Down's poisoning to anyone but Chopper, and that would be brief.

"Neh, you guys wanna hear something?" He sounded so positive despite the previous topic of the after effects of the war. "I turned these monster guards against the Impel Down guards! Haha, I scared them so bad that they got on my side. And I handcuffed the warden so his devil fruit didn't work. And then I ended up killing Blackbeard on my way out… so that was kind of satisfying after what he did to Ace.

"Then at Marineford, I told Whitebeard that I was gonna be the Pirate King, not him. It's too bad he died, he was a good guy. And then I was able to save Ace and Hancock gave me the key to his cuffs. I also cuffed Kizaru so he couldn't fight anymore! Shishishi." They were all shocked by the sudden onslaught of crazy information.

"Ace was the one to take me from the battlefield. Cause I couldn't move anymore," Luffy explained. "That burst that damaged my nerves blew apart a seastone wall that let us all get to the plaza. Oh! And I became allies with Crocodile!" They were shocked. "He even saved Ace from being executed at first! It was hard to make him an ally, but it was necessary to get out of level six. Iva-chan was so helpful, too! I couldn't have done anything without him."

"How dare that asshole not tell me any of this!"

"Oh, you know him?"

"Yes!" Sanji was angry about that.

"Did you go to the Kamabakka Kingdom?! I met all the new kamas, they helped me escape-"

"NEVER MENTION THAT PLACE AGAIN!" The rest of the crew wanted to know badly what was so terrible about. Luffy laughed and said he wouldn't bring it up again. "How dare you be with a goddess so long!"

"Hancock is awesome! She broke me into Impel Down." Nami raised her brows and asked how. "I hid under her robe." Everyone was shocked and Zoro was furious and Sanji tackled Luffy in even more fury. Nami asked why she would do that. "Well, it's personal information for her, so I'm not gonna tell anybody."

They were surprised. "I missed everyone." Franky apologized that they all disappeared. "Well, it was hard for all of us, not just me. I wanna hear all about your time on the islands, too!"

"After a check up. We're still in the safe part of the sea. Relatively safe," Nami said. Chopper nodded, and the two went inside the infirmary. Luffy got a thorough examination, and had to tell him about the poison incident.

"Your body was destroyed from the inside?" he asked quietly.

Luffy said, "It was the only way to cure me. The poison was really bad. But I'm better now. Law told me I was okay, and only had nerve damage and a messed up ear." Chopper asked why Law got him. "He just said he wanted me in the New World. But I'm grateful. I think it was only him who could'a taken care of me."

Chopper hugged him tightly. "Never do anything that reckless again."

"Never again. Ace promised he'd never go through something like that ever again." Chopper then asked about the PTSD. "The flashbacks don't come as often anymore, but I still have regular nightmares. Even after two years…" He sighed.

"Untreated PTSD can last a long time. You went through a war, I would be surprised if nothing lingered." Luffy said that was what Jinbei and Rayleigh said. "How were you treated on your training island?"

Luffy smiled and said Rayleigh did his best to help him heal. It wasn't professional, but he wasn't alone besides the last six months. "I will make you medication. Over the two years, I became a much better doctor!"

"I assumed everyone would be stronger. You're all amazing!" Luffy said with pride. Once the check up was over, he went back outside and saw there was less light now. Luffy forgot to tell them something. "I can't control the explosions. They're kind of like an injury? Maybe a condition of a sort? I can concentrate it into one place, but I can't bring it up when I want to. Nami, can I poke a finger through the bubble or will it pop?"

"A finger is fine," she said. Luffy stuck his finger out and discharged the explosion, and it made a huge current. He lifted the other hand and did the same. She then handed him a piece of paper. It smelled like Ace. "This was on the kitchen counter. It seemed Ace came onto the ship before any of us got back."

Luffy took the letter and sat down to read it. But Zoro came over and made it so Luffy was in his lap, arms wrapped around his waist tightly. He hid his face in his shoulder, kissing his neck softly. Luffy relaxed into his hold. He'd missed him so much, missed this. He read the letter though.

His right hand was holding it while his other arm rested in his lap.

Luffy, sorry I can't come and greet you to the New World, Marco gave me a mission. We're not a yonko crew anymore, but we're still together. It's the best we can ask for, really. We're doing well after two years. Things are very different without Pops, but we've all moved on and are happy enough.

I truly hope you've healed. Emotionally and physically. I left a den den mushi in your navigation room. It's in a cupboard under the maps. If you ever need help, that will connect to our new ship. Well, not new anymore, really.

Be careful in the New World, but I trust you're strong enough by now! Don't do anything too reckless, little bro. I'll see you again soon enough. Make your name in the New World, okay? Good luck! Thank you for everything. Love you!

-Ace

Luffy hugged the letter to his chest, and pursed his lips. He was glad Ace was okay. Ace was alive. He'd saved him, and would forever be so proud and grateful for not failing him. He didn't lose his last brother.

"You're amazing," Zoro said. "Taking on everyone at Impel Down and Marineford. Saving your brother no matter what happened. So strong, amazing." He ran his fingers along Luffy's numb arm. He didn't feel it.

"I wasn't strong during that time. I was broken. I got hurt bad at Impel Down, and I cried about it. The whole time after landing on Amazon Lily and before the war, all I could think about was that I failed everybody. I was a failure captain. All I could think was 'what could I have done differently'. It wasn't nice. I was full of doubts."

The others heard this. "I was a failure, too. All of us failed," Sanji said. "But we're not who we were before. We're strong and determined. Not to mention we have haki now. Usopp's strong now-"

"Hey!"

"The last two years, though it was lonely, was what we all needed. Rayleigh and you made a good decision. No matter how bad it felt, it was the right thing. I think we can all agree on that." The others nodded, and Luffy smiled. Luffy was sure they could all take care of themselves and one another now.

The New World was a challenge, but not a death sentence.