Author Note: You're getting this a few days early as I have some unexpected free time from work this week! And some of you were spot on guessing what Kuma called Sabo about ;)
Thank you to everyone who reviewed the earlier chapters! The response to the last chapter blew me away!
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Chapter 6 - Amazon Lily
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A heavy silence had fallen all around them. Even Ace had stilled as Sabo's story drew to a close. At Ace's insistence - which had gradually increased to threats - Sabo had reluctantly disclosed the events leading up to his departure from the family home and the subsequent attack. They had heard it once before from Dogra, but to hear it from Sabo himself (with details that were certainly going to give Luffy nightmares) had made the whole event that much more horrific.
Luffy suddenly felt even more grateful to the people who had saved his brother, which he hadn't thought possible. He shivered slightly as a cool breeze brushed against him gently as he peered up at Sabo, confusion and upset marring his round face. "I don't understand," he said simply. "How could someone shoot you for sailing near them?"
Ace practically snarled as he resumed his agitated stalking. The last time Luffy had seen his brother so upset was when a tramp in Gray Terminal had fired a pistol at him. It hadn't had any effect at all, but Luffy wished there was a more pleasant way of discovering one was bullet proof.
Sabo sighed and shrugged helplessly. "That's the kind of people the Celestial Dragons are, Luffy," he explained, reaching out to run a hand through Luffy's wild locks. Luffy leaned into the familiar touch, eagerly soaking up the offered comfort. "They're descendants of the Kings who founded the World Government and think that they're above everyone else."
"What's the name of the one who shot you?" Ace asked, fists clenched tight at his sides. Sabo shook his head. "Sabo, tell me!" Ace demanded, as he glared down at his blond brother perched on an old tree stump.
"No!"
Luffy's head swung backwards and forwards as he followed his brother's rather loud argument. He could see a couple of the bandits poking their heads around the corner of the hut, obviously curious about all the noise but wisely keeping out of Ace's way. Luffy almost wished he could join them but he refused to be separated from Sabo. He knew it was irrational, but he half expected to blink and find Sabo had disappeared again. Luffy had been adamantly keeping the blond within arm's reach since he had reappeared the day before.
"Come on, tell me who it was!" Ace all but growled.
Sabo sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose wearily. "Ace, it's not like you can do anything to him so why do you want to know?"
"So I can be first in line to punch him for shooting my brother!" Ace huffed, flinging himself onto the stump next to Sabo.
"I wanted to be first in line," Luffy grumbled, crossing his arms.
Ace and Sabo stared down at him; neither one looked amused.
"Luffy, I don't even want to think about you being anywhere near a Celestial Dragon. Either of you," said Sabo quietly, and Luffy was a little alarmed to see that he had paled considerably.
"Why do the marines let them get away with stuff like that? How can Gramps?" asked Luffy, biting his lip. He couldn't reconcile the thought of marine hero Garp following the orders of one of those ruthless monsters.
"Money and power, what else?" said Sabo ruefully. "The marines can't oppose them, the Celestial Dragons have the Admirals at their beck and call."
"Well, someone needs to do something," Luffy muttered, leaning back against Sabo's legs.
Sabo grinned and nudged him. "What do you think the Revolutionary Army was founded for?"
"That's one of your main goals as a Revolutionary, then? Get rid of the World Government?" asked Ace curiously.
Sabo nodded. "Get rid of it and replace it with a proper Government that won't allow slavery or any of the other atrocities that are currently going on."
Ace stared at him in shock. "Slavery?"
Sabo nodded slowly with a grim expression that Luffy didn't think suited his brother at all. "A lot of Revolutionaries are former slaves, my friend Koala was one. We also have society's outcasts. Were there many bodies found in Gray Terminal after the fire?"
Ace and Luffy glanced at each other, the question catching them off guard, before shaking their heads.
Sabo grinned. "That's because Dragon-san evacuated them." Luffy felt his jaw drop. "Most of them are still part of the Army in one way or another."
"Okay, wasn't expecting to hear that," Ace admitted as Luffy cheered loudly. He may not have liked the majority of the former Gray Terminal residents but that didn't mean they deserved to die. Luffy wondered aloud if they would be able to meet any of them again, ignoring Ace's dry quip of whether he would actually be able to recognise any of them if he ever did.
"Promise me something," Sabo requested seriously, cutting off his brother's excited chatter. Ace and Luffy looked at him in surprise. "If you ever do come across a Celestial Dragon, just do as everyone else around you does. Don't pick any fights or do anything stupid." Ace opened his mouth to argue, a scowl fixed firmly on his face but Sabo gripped his forearm tightly. "I mean it, Ace," Sabo ordered firmly. "Forget about what they did to me and about what they might be doing to anyone else. Do not react at all. They might be pathetically weak but that doesn't make them any less dangerous."
Luffy watched as his brothers contested in a silent standoff. After several tense moments, Ace finally nodded, although he looked far from happy if the deep set scowl was anything to go by. Sabo relaxed and smiled at him with relief.
"I still want to punch one in the face," Ace groused, causing Sabo and Luffy to snicker.
"Me too," Sabo admitted.
"I bet I can punch one before Ace does," Luffy announced abruptly, a cheeky smirk breaking out as both his brothers burst into laughter.
Luffy grinned with delight as he watched the last of the tension drain away from them. He took a flying leap at the pair, knocking them off the tree stump and beginning an impromptu wrestling match which ended up with Ace falling asleep halfway through. Luffy happily declared himself the winner.
xxx
Luffy stared down into the sea of trees from Elder Nyon's humble home in the mountain above the village. The evening was warm and serene with nothing but the chirping sound of the insects for company. The beautiful surroundings felt like they were mocking the young captain as he stared out, munching absently on the single piece of meat he had liberated from the food hall. It wasn't often Luffy claimed to dislike a flavour, especially if it was meat, but the teen could barely taste anything as he chewed and swallowed. Food didn't taste as good when it wasn't shared with his crew.
Luffy paused thoughtfully as his precious people drifted across his mind. He had lost them, his nakama, because he wasn't strong enough to defend them. They had all been sent off to only who knows where and nearly every single one had been injured. Never before had he felt so utterly defeated.
He had also broken his promise to his brother, he acknowledged sadly. Sabo had practically pleaded with him and Ace to never act out around the Celestial Dragons. He had warned them how dangerous they were and that they weren't at all afraid of abusing their authority, but Luffy had let white hot fury override everything else.
It had been hard enough having to kneel before the very same people who had nearly killed his brother; he had clenched his fists so hard that his nails drawn blood, much to Chopper's dismay. Very rarely did Luffy ever felt ill but the revulsion he felt at seeing the Celestial Dragons in the flesh, knowing they didn't care how many lives they destroyed so long as they remained in control, had made him feel physically sick.
Finding Camie in that tank and watching helplessly as Hachi was shot had been the final straw. Luffy had released his pent up anger and frustration - all ten years' worth of it - at the Celestial Dragon in front of him. He had known there was no way word of his rash actions hadn't gotten out and he would no doubt be facing a tongue lashing from his blond brother when they next met. But after hearing Hancock's story, picturing beautiful, vibrant Koala in a slave collar and remembering Sabo's marred features, Luffy couldn't bring himself to regret his actions at all.
The dark haired teen was jolted from his thoughts by the loud rustle of the newspaper from behind him. He glanced back and saw the former Empress tutting as she flicked through the pages. Luffy gave himself a small shake, willing his dark thoughts to cheerier things and took another large bite out of the leg of meat. It may not have been anywhere near as good as Sanji's cooking, but waste not, want not.
Luffy nodded his thanks as Margaret set a steaming mug of tea beside him. She gave him a rather concerned stare as he continued to devour the food, uncaring that any normal person would have choked by now.
"Ha!"
Margaret jumped at Elder Nyon's elated shriek. Luffy swiveled his neck to stare at the little old lady, doing an amazing impression of an owl.
"Something the matter, Nyon-sama?" Margaret enquired lightly, as she placed the second cup of tea in front of her Elder.
"It seems the Marines tried to make a move against Whitebeard. It appears to have backfired on them!" the old woman crowed. "That'll teach 'em. Counting their snakes before they've hatched. Ridiculous."
"Whitebeard?" Luffy asked, curiosity instantly peaked at the mention of his brother's Captain.
"Hm," the Elder stared hard at him over the top of her paper. "Please tell me you've at least heard of Whitebeard," she growled, obviously still sore over Luffy's lack of knowledge of her Empress' Warlord status. Luffy had no idea why she was so offended; he never read the news, it was boring and never had enough pictures.
"I've heard of Whitebeard," Luffy parroted back dutifully as he joined them at the small table.
"That's something at least," Elder Nyon grumbled. Margaret shook her head with a fond but exasperated smile. "The Marines were getting ready to receive one of Whitebeard's top subordinates who'd been captured," Elder Nyon explained. "They put in a summons for everyone, including the Warlords, to make their way to Marineford. It certainly would've been a pain trying to convince our Snake Princess to attend," she added darkly.
"Why did they need everyone?" Margaret asked, as Luffy took a sip of tea.
"Ah," the Elder skimmed the article again. "They were planning to announce the public execution of Portgas D. Ace," she said.
Luffy froze, his heart thudding a mile a minute in his chest. He must have made some sound as Margaret turned to him in concern.
"What's wrong?"
"Who?" Luffy stammered instead of answering her, carefully setting down his mug, hands trembling.
"Ace. Fire Fist Ace," Elder Nyon supplied. "Pirate Blackbeard contacted the Marines and informed them he would hand over Fire Fist Ace if they gave him Warlord status," she explained, seemingly unaware of the inner turmoil currently assaulting her guest.
Luffy had to remind himself to breathe as the world suddenly seemed to fold in on him. He blinked rapidly to try and clear himself of the black spots threatening to overwhelm him.
"Granny," he whispered, and he wasn't at all surprised his voice sounded like he had swallowed a frog, but the old woman continued on as if she hadn't heard him.
"The Marines were going to take advantage of the large chip they gained against Whitebeard but-"
"Granny!" The two women jumped as Luffy leapt to his feet and grasped the old woman's shoulders, the young captain desperately trying to remain gentle despite his terror. Margaret had lurched to her knees and Luffy was under no illusion that if he had been anyone else, he would've have been tossed half way down the mountain already. As it was, he was rather grateful for her show of restraint. "He's my big brother! Ace is my big brother!" he yelled, shaking the old woman as much as he dared.
"What?!" Elder Nyon easily shook of the rubber hands and stood up in her chair in order to be eye level with Luffy. "He's your brother?" She shared a stunned glance with Margaret.
"I didn't even realised he'd been captured," Luffy exclaimed, fists clenched tightly, mind racing with half a dozen scenarios, each one making him feel even sicker than the last. "What do you mean 'executed'? Does that mean he can't get out of it?" he demanded, heart hammering in his chest.
Not again…I can't lose one of them again...Ace…
Luffy whipped off his precious straw hat and began to fumble with the ribbon. To his surprise, Elder Nyon simply huffed and calmly sat herself down again.
"You really ought to at least try to keep up with the goings on in the world," she reprimanded as she primly gathered up the battered newspaper.
"Nyon-sama," Margaret pleaded, as she watched Luffy fight with his hat and nearly drop it in his panic.
"If you'd have let me finish," Elder Nyon glared at the pair, "you'd know by now your brother is already safe."
Luffy paused as his finger finally came into contact with Ace's vivre card.
"Safe?" he repeated, sinking to the floor like a puppet whose string had just been cut. He slowly released his death grip on his hat and it slid from his lap.
"Yes, safe," she confirmed, much more gently than before. Luffy glanced up and she offered him an encouraging smile. "Fire Fist Ace never even reached the handover point. He was rescued from Blackbeard's ship before the marines could formally arrest him."
"That's why you were laughing," Margaret suddenly chipped in.
Elder Nyon nodded and a sly grin appeared. "The marines announced they had Fire Fist in their custody before they had even laid eyes on him. Far too cocky of them, thinking they could keep hold of one of Whitebeard's Commanders."
Luffy carefully picked up his hat and adjusted the red ribbon which he had rather rumpled in his haste to retrieve Ace's vivre card. He delicately peeled the paper he'd been searching for away from the ribbon and laid it flat on his palm.
Pure, unadulterated relief ripped through him as he stared at the paper. A few days ago, he had been perched on Sunny's figurehead, watching the same piece of paper smolder away and valiantly trying to reassure himself Ace didn't need his little brother to rush to his rescue. He'd had faith his big brother would be fine, despite his crew's assurances they would were willing taking a detour if Luffy wanted.
"Is that your brother's vivre card, by any chance?"
Luffy nodded and finally graced his companions with a blinding smile. "Yeah, it was burning a few days ago but it's back to normal now," he told them both. He slammed his hat back onto his head but kept the paper in his hand, unwilling to put it away just yet.
"Well, there you go. Your brother's in a much better place than he was a couple of days ago," Elder Nyon waved a hand dismissively.
"Stupid big brothers," Luffy huffed, crossings his arms with a pout and causing Margaret to snicker quietly at his disgruntlement. "And they always remind me to be careful," he snorted. Now his shock and stomach churning fear had finally settled, Luffy allowed himself to think of all the ways he could lord the whole situation over Ace. He grinned to himself; he was going to have so much fun with this the next time he saw the Commander!
"So, Whitebeard rescued Luffy's big brother, then?" the young tribeswoman enquired, as Luffy reached for his cup of tea, taking several large gulps, suddenly feeling rather lightheaded now his racing heart had finally returned to a more normal rhythm.
"Hm, no, not Whitebeard," the old woman said, flinging a page from the paper at Luffy who caught it easily.
Luffy stared at the photograph taking up most of the page. It had obviously been taken from the deck of a marine warship as he could just make out the front cannons peeking into frame. The rain had blurred out most of the details but Luffy could just about see a rather fearsome looking pirate ship off to the left and in the distance another vessel flying a small triangular flag.
"The ship was flying the colours of the Revolutionary Army," said Elder Nyon with a smirk. "The marines don't appear to know quite what to make of that."
Luffy blinked before abruptly bursting into laughter, startling both his companions. He slapped the table in his mirth, sending Margaret scrambling to catch the cups of tea before they could be upended.
"And pray tell, what is so funny?" Elder Nyon asked, frowning at the jubilant display.
"Sabo!" Luffy managed to force out before another wave of laughter overtook him and he collapsed back onto the floor.
"Who?" asked Margaret, giggling slightly at the captain rolled around on the floor.
"Sabo, our other brother," Luffy hiccupped, wiping at his eyes as tears of joy ran down his face. "He's a Revolutionary. He must have heard Ace had been caught and gone to rescue him!" he grinned.
Elder Nyon rolled her eyes. "Well, he at least seems to keep up with the news," she muttered to herself. "Margaret, would you be so kind as to set up the spare room for this maniac. I don't think it would be wise to send him back to the village tonight. He'll be mobbed."
"Of course, Nyon-sama," Margaret hurried to comply with the request.
Luffy rolled over with a sigh and stared up at the inky black sky, the stars twinkling merrily down at him. As happy as he was that Sabo had managed to rescue Ace – and Luffy had no plans of letting Ace ever live that down – he couldn't stop the small voice in the back of his mind questioning how in the world his brother had managed to get himself to captured in the first place.
Luffy suddenly shivered despite the warmth of the night. He slowly raised Ace's vivre card to his eyes and watched the little piece of paper wriggle around in his carefully clenched hand. He wasn't one to back down from a challenge, but he secretly wished to never meet this Blackbeard person. If he could overpower Ace, Luffy had to wonder who else he could defeat.
xxx
Luffy panted as he dashed quickly through the thick jungle undergrowth, leaping logs and swinging from branches. Casting a wary glance over his shoulder to check he hadn't been followed, he finally slowed down with a relieved huff.
He was enjoying his time on Amazon Lily (despite the awful circumstances that had led him to staying there in the first place) but he was getting slightly tired of having to dodge all the women. They were entirely too interested in him, he acknowledged as he made his way deeper into the jungle. He self-consciously rubbed his arm where a spry young girl had managed to pinch him. It had left an angry red mark which would no doubt bruise. Luffy was rather intrigued as to how he was being hurt by them - he was entirely convinced it wasn't intentional - but the bottom line of it was that he was a rubber man. He shouldn't bruise like Usopp.
Making a mental note to ask Elder Nyon when he next saw her, he happily strolled on through the jungle, following the sound of the ocean waves breaking on the coast until the sea opened up before him.
He breathed in a lungful of the fresh salty air before plonking himself down on the grass, arms folded across his chest. The small gulf he had found provided excellent protection from the worst of the sea elements and the women, who had unfortunately discovered he'd been residing with Elder Nyon. Her cosy house was no longer an option as she didn't want it overrun. Luffy didn't mind, he was used to sleeping outside and it reminded him a little of Dawn Island. The view wasn't anywhere near as good as from the Sunny's figurehead, but it made do for the time being.
Luffy felt the grin slip of his face as he thought about the Sunny. He hoped she didn't think they'd abandoned her.
He wished there was some way of knowing if at least one of his nakama had managed to return to Saboady; it had been three weeks since his arrival on Amazon Lily. Nami would be mad at him if he was the last to arrive, Luffy thought despondently.
He cast a quick glance back at the mountain protecting the Kuja tribe's palace.
Hancock had promised him days ago that she would give him safe passage back to Saboady but she had come down with a mystery illness. Luffy had seen her a few times when he had visited with Elder Nyon but he couldn't see anything wrong with her. She was always up and moving around, offering him drinks and food at every opportunity. The only clue he'd seen that she might be a little ill was she would flush a vibrant red whenever he called her name. In all honesty, Luffy thought she was acting rather like Sanji, and he certainly wasn't sick or Chopper would never have let him leave the Sunny.
He was so lost in thought that it took Luffy a few moments to realise that he was no longer staring at ordinary waves, but instead a moving object. He squinted to try and catch a better glimpse. He jumped as a large Sea King breached the waves, leaping high before crashing back down, sending a small tidal wave towards shore.
Luffy listened curiously as it roared. It sounded rather distressed and Luffy watched with bemusement as it thrashed wildly just under the waves. Barely a minute later, there was a final screech and a surge of red erupted.
The now very dead Sea King floated to the surface. Luffy blinked.
"Meat!" he shouted in elation, jumping to his feet and preparing to throw his arm out to his unexpected prize.
A sharp cough interrupted him.
Luffy frowned and looked around in bemusement. The cough sounded again and Luffy glanced down the small embankment to see someone pulling themselves up out of the sea.
Luffy's eyes bulged in recognition.
"Rayleigh!"
The former first mate to the Pirate King looked up and smiled.
"Ah, Luffy, what luck," he said as he finally came to a stop before the shocked teen.
"How did you…" Luffy trailed off and looked around the former pirate, trying to spy a boat but there was nothing but the carcass of the Sea King visible. "How'd you get here?" he wondered.
"I had a small vessel but it went down in a storm," Rayleigh explained, dropping down onto a small boulder and beginning to wring out his soaked clothes. "I had to swim the final leg."
"Did you kill that, then?" Luffy gestured to the Sea King. Rayleigh nodded and he could've sworn he heard the old man mutter how it wasn't the only one either. "Ah! Have any of my nakama arrived back at Sabaody yet?" Luffy asked desperately.
Rayleigh shook his head slowly. "No one had arrived when I left and I doubt they'll be there yet," he explained. Luffy's thin shoulders slumped.
Luffy dropped to the ground at the feet of his unexpected visitor, uncaring that he ended up sitting in the wet patch from Rayleigh's clothes.
"Don't worry, I left my vivre card with Shakki, otherwise I wouldn't be able to move around freely. They'll still be able to return," Rayleigh explained quietly, finally shrugging on his damp shirt.
Luffy nodded slowly, concern over his nakama's safety warring with the delight at seeing Rayleigh again.
"I'm very glad to see you're still in one piece," said Rayleigh. Luffy returned the man's smile weakly. "Now, why don't you recover that delectable Sea King over there whilst I start a fire. I suddenly find myself rather peckish."
xxx
"Luffy!"
The dark haired teen paused as a shrill, girlish voice drifted out of the jungle. He turned to see Hancock and her small entourage approaching, a small cart of fresh fruit and meat being dragged along behind.
"Luffy!" Hancock called again, rushing forward with little dignity, pale hands clasped together tightly. "Luffy, I brought you some – where did you get that?" she growled, pointing accusingly at the large lump of Sea King Luffy was devouring.
Luffy grinned. "Rayleigh killed it! It's so tasty!" he exclaimed, taking another large bite.
Hancock's face fell and a small pout appeared. "But I'm meant to provide you with food, it's my duty as your wi-"
"Rayleigh-san!" Elder Nyon cried with surprise as she caught sight of the man.
"Gloriosa," Rayleigh greeted the small woman warmly.
Luffy ignored the pleasantries swirling around him in favour of setting upon the new cart of fresh meat Hancock directed him towards.
"You being here concerns me," Elder Nyon grumbled, the dark tone catching Luffy's attention. He peered around Hancock curiously.
"Oh?" Rayleigh enquired lightly.
"Yes, you were able to guess where Luffy was. He's a wanted pirate. If the marines ever find out that Princess-sama has been sheltering him here, they may well decide to revoke her status as Warlord," the old woman worried.
The blunt statement broke Hancock out of her dreamy state and she whirled around, waving a hand dismissively. "Who cares about the marines or status? The most important thing is that Luffy is safe and…Rayleigh-san? When did you get here?"
Elder Nyon threw her hands up in disgust. "You've only just noticed?" she cried in despair.
Luffy laughed and shared a grin with Rayleigh. He looked completely unperturbed and Luffy had to guess he was rather used to the Empress' odd mannerisms.
Rayleigh cleared his throat, regaining the attention of the squabbling women. "The marines won't guess where Luffy is," he explained calmly.
"They won't?" Luffy wondered. In his experience, whether through luck or skill, the marines always seemed to be where he didn't want them and he wouldn't be at all surprised if they suddenly appeared before him.
Rayleigh shook his head. "The very person who sent Luffy flying told me what direction he went," he said.
Luffy stared at him, unable to comprehend what he'd just heard. "You mean Kuma?" he asked, wanting to be sure.
Rayleigh nodded shortly. "When he told me which direction he'd sent you, I realised the Island of Women was directly in your path," he explained.
"Why would he tell you?" Luffy wondered aloud, pulling his straw hat down protectively. "He's the one that separated us, why would he want you to be able to find me?"
"He said he was a Revolutionary."
Luffy's head jerked up and his jaw dropped. "You mean Kuma works with my big brother?" he half shouted.
"Bartholomew Kuma mentioned he was running out of time but he would contact someone called Sabo and inform him of what had happened," said Rayleigh. "I assume this Sabo person is your brother?"
Luffy nodded weakly. He was half relieved that Sabo had been made aware of the situation; hopefully he would be able to stop Ace from doing anything crazy if word got out that the Straw Hat Pirates had been defeated. But he was also a little ashamed. Discounting Ace's recent mishap with Blackbeard, Luffy knew neither one of his brothers would ever have let anyone - regardless of who they were or what position they held – to take away their nakama. Luffy had failed spectacularly in that regard, he thought miserably as he slumped back against the food cart.
"Luffy." The captain gave himself a small shake, ignoring Hancock as she fluttered around him, concerned at his distress, and turned his attention back to Rayleigh. "Back to the point at hand," Rayleigh said. "I assume you're planning on returning to Sabaody?"
Luffy nodded eagerly. "Hammock," the woman in question swooned slightly, "said she'd take me back," he explained.
"Are you sure that's what you should do?" Rayleigh enquired softly. Luffy visibly recoiled.
"What do you mean?" he asked weakly, apprehension settling heavily in his stomach.
Rayleigh's eyes bored into him. "I mean, are you just going to reassemble for the same tragedy to happen again?"
Luffy tugged absently on the hem of his shorts, pondering the question hard. Did he want to gather his crew together and risk losing them all over again? They were headed to the New World. By all accounts, it would be much harder to deal with than anything the Grand Line could throw at them.
He peered up at Rayleigh from underneath the brim of his hat. The man smiled down at him kindly and leant forwards.
"I have a suggestion," he offered, gently tapping the rim of the straw hat. "Will you hear me out?"
Luffy stared at him thoughtfully, before nodding slowly.
XXX
To be continued…
Some dialogue was swiped straight from the anime so all credit to the writers! Next chapter is the last one. Please remember to review!
As I think I've said in a previous chapter, if there are any missing scenes or parts you want to see expanded or just want to throw prompts at me for this 'verse, please feel free! I've been toying with the idea of doing some one shots and already have a few ideas but if there's something specific you guys would like to read just let me know ;)
On a completely unrelated note, is anyone able to ride to my rescue and be a beta reader for my new fics? I have a couple currently in the works, including a new multi-chaptered fic so if anyone is interested please drop me a review or PM. I'm more than happy to return the favour x