Monkey D. Luffy as a fairly simple minded person, his mind had three basic modes, namely, eating, sleeping and fighting. However there was a part of him that helped him earn his reputation and his bounty. A truly frightening part that, when pushed, would take down any person that was in his way and damn the consequences. It was that part that caused his name to be spread around the world, from the corner of the four oceans and even in the grand line, where a certain red haired pirate was waiting for him, a broad and carefree smile on his face. But that was in the future, for now, Luffy was in that part of himself, the part which would save his brother, the part which would completely and utterly demolish any single person who tried to stop him. That was the thing about Monkey D. Luffy which the people of the world uttered in hushed whispers, as if half in awe and half petrified, the latter more likely in his enemies, who lay trembling behind him and stood strong in front of him. Each person on his path, he had defeated, everyone except Bartholomew Kuma but Luffy wasn't scared of him, Luffy wasn't scared of anything. There came a time when fear reared up, of course there did, it was that way with everyone, human instinct. But Luffy brushed away with a practised hand and slid into the depths of his very simple mind to a place which, if allowed, would flourish into the greatest pirate the world had ever known.

Again, that was later, for now, Monkey D. Luffy, stood next to his brother with a face splitting grin taking over his features as he smiled up at his beloved older brother and the one had come to save. He was a little late but, that was Luffy. Ace looked down at his brother in all but blood and chuckled deeply, a grin on his features which reminded everyone who remembered of a certain man who was killed 20 years ago, if only because he was dying anyway. Luffy turned suddenly, his ears catching his name as he focused solely on that conversation. "Monkey D. Luffy. You forget that brothers, even if there is no blood between them, have the closest bond in the world and nothing, absolutely nothing you can do will stop Luffy from saving Ace. Nor will it stop fate. You are fated to fall and I won't allow you to succeed in this. Lock me up and throw away the key, I don't care. It'll be Worthing seeing your defeat, Fleet Admiral Sengoku." There was a faint cough and the slick sound of blood. "You take it from here, Monkey D. Luffy, I have to regain my strength for a while.." Silence fell as the sentence faded, Luffy nodding silently to whomever it was. He knew he wouldn't be able to save the man, emotionally-charged though he was, a Fleet Admiral was far too strong for him.

A long way away in Sabaody Archipelago, an old man sat quietly in the bar, nursing a glass of his favourite sake, Binks', he was chuckling as he watched the TV which sat on the bar, pulled up from under the counter so they could watch the proceedings to see what was going to happen and what the fate of pirates and normal people everywhere would be. For that's what this battle was, one to decided who got the advantage in Gol. D Rogers' long standing war against the Marines. One which the man himself never intended to start, he merely started it as a kid, looking for revenge after what he thought was the death of his captain. That captains name was Tatsuo.

Rayleigh smiled as he leaned back and cast his mind back to a long time ago.

Laughter echoed throughout the small bar, the occupants all laughing as two young boys fought in the middle in the floor, the first was slightly larger than was normal for his age with white hair and the other had silky black hair and a wicked grin. From the back of the room, their captain opened his eyes and chuckled softly, turning his gaze to outside the window. He froze as he noticed something off, his hand lifting as he brought a pair of gloves from his pocket, pulling the black material over his fingers, clenching them slightly. He was wearing a long black coat which fell to the backs of his knees and underneath it was a thin white shirt, he was wearing black trousers and black boots on his bottom half and strapped to his waist was a thin Japanese sword with a hilt and blade of black.

He turned silently and walked out the door, shutting it near silently behind him. He jerked as he noticed movement and saw a small kid with black hair hiding in the shadows of a house. He went towards the kid, keeping a friendly smile on his features. Crouching he lifted the boys chin with a finger, tilting his head as the boy went slightly crimson. "Well hello there, little one." The boy bit his lip and lifted his hand, waggling his fingers in a shy hello. "My names Tatsuo, its nice to meet you…?"

"Rayleigh, Silvers Rayleigh." The young boy smiled hesitantly, but that smile quickly transformed into a look of horror as he noticed the gleam of a sword from a person clothed in white. Tatsuo continued smiling, even as he lifted his hand and caught the blade with two fingers, pressing his fingers to the mans chest and pulling upwards. Rayleigh's eyes gleamed as he saw the man fall, a stream of water flowing as if from nowhere.

"It seems, Silvers Rayleigh, that I will have to teach these guys a lesson." Tatsuo stood, mussing Rayleigh's hair and walking towards the shore where a crowd of marine's waited, a confidant looking Admiral Sengoku smirking down at him. Tatsuo looked shocked for a moment, his expression morphing into one of laughter. "All this fuss, just for little old me?" He pulled his sword from its sheath and parried a blow of a marine, pushing his blade downwards and throwing the man to the side with a lazy jerk of his arm. Tatsuo ducked and weaved as the marine's all rushed him at once, he lifted both arms and spread them wide, fingers widening as he called on his power. Dimly he heard the thrashing of the sea as he curled his fists as if grasping something and then he pulled swiftly, feeling nearly all the marines fall to the ground, thin streams of water escaping from every pore.

Tatsuo realised the trap too late and tried to turn, to catch the blade, to do anything, but Sengoku pushed it through him, the cool steel parting flesh easily and blood flowing to the cut to try and fill the gap but the blood only poured away, sliding down his skin and dying it red. He heard a scream and a cry of "Captain" from a multitude of different voices. He turned slightly, looking past Sengoku to his crew, Gol. D Roger and Edward Newgate standing at the front, their eyes worried. Tatsuo smiled one, his legs jerking as the fought to hold him up, and fell slowly, body colliding with the floor as his blood pooled around him. He felt himself being lifted up by an extremely tall person and he was taken away, a pair of seastone cuffs strapped around his wrists. Tatsuo would laugh later that Sengoku had missed the two most important people of his crew, the two boys at the front who would one day each take the world by storm.

Rayleigh sighed and leaned back, looking to the screen as he laughed. "Tatsuo's alive then? Roger, my friend. I'm sure you would have been ecstatic, it's shame you weren't alive to see this."

***

Luffy gasped as he ran, going towards the white haired man's ship. He looked up at Ace who was nearly unconscious on his back. The seastone cuffs made him feel ill but he met Luffy's eyes anyway. Luffy didn't stop he just nodded to the white haired man and, in an astonishing display of understanding, Ace nodded weakly. Luffy gave him a reassuring smile and continued on, stretching as he grasped a bit of debris and threw himself at the ship, holding onto Ace for dear life as they flew. Luffy landed hard, gently lowering Ace from his back and looking up at someone approached him, it was Boa.

"Luffy." She said softly, her cheeks stained red. "It's so good to see you're okay! I was afraid you were dead, you got caught in that god forsaken prison!" Boa was near tears, looking at Luffy who was covered in blood.

"Sorry, Hancock." Luffy said, smiling brightly. Boa lifted her hand to her hair and pulled out a gleaming silver key, she knelt down beside Ace, noting that behind her Whitebeard tensed. She unclasped the cuffs and lifted them up, throwing them into the depths of the sea.

"So you're Ace then?" Boa murmured softly, tilting her head curiously as she studied him. "Maybe not in blood but Luffy thinks of you as his brother and best friend so I hope you won't blame him for coming to save you." Boa turned to Whitebeard, standing up smoothly. "You are welcome to return to my island, we have fine healers for your men and I know Luffy was planning on returning anyway. I think the brothers need some time to be just that." Whitebeard nodded and turned towards Marco, who nodded and make the call to pull back.

"Ace." Luffy said, smiling gently as he helped his brother stand. The moment was broken as Ace punched him hard in the chin, Luffy rubbing it gently as it throbbed. "Ow! Ace, why did you do that?"

"Because you're a reckless idiot! Why did you break into Impel Down, you even got yourself caught! You nearly died you fool. I'm your big brother, I was worried about you." The last bit was said softly, reaching out his arm and pulling Luffy against him. "Don't you remember what I said when last we met? I'm supposed to be worried about you but it doesn't mean I like worrying." Ace sighed and shook his head, releasing his brother.

"Sorry Ace." Luffy said, looking up at his brother with large sparkling eyes. Luffy then grinned. "How about you show them why they shouldn't mess with you?" Luffy murmured, looking at his older brother who grinned, lifting his hand. He waited until the last member of the fleet was on the boats and, with a wicked grin, allowed fire to envelope the entire area. The members of the marines all screamed as the fire scored their skin. Ace smiled at his brother and then turned to Whitebeard as the fleet make a quick escape.

"Pops, who's Tatsuo?" Ace said, sliding down the edge of the railing to sit on the floor, rubbing his forehead lightly. Ace froze as he noticed his captain and adopted father, Whitebeard had frozen, his fists clenching as he fought against something Ace couldn't decipher. Luffy watched carefully, his face very serious for Luffy, at least.

"Where did you hear that name, Ace, my son?" Whitebeard said, his voice tight. "How did you hear that name?! He's long dead!"

Ace coughed quietly, blood coming from his mouth and sliding down his chin. "He's apparently not as dead as you thought. He was being used by the marines but he said he had a debt with you and that he owed that man and you." Ace crossed his arms and looked down sadly. "He.. Sacrificed himself to save me. He was a marine's prisoner and he was told he could go and see his friends graves but because he rebelled, Sengoku said he would be locked up for the rest of his life."

"Captain Tatsuo?" Whitebeard whispered shakily, his eyes looking unseeing into the depths of Marine HQ. "B-but he was stabbed, I saw him fall." Whitebeard was trembling violently now. "We have to rescue him!"

***

Authors Note:

I loved writing this chapter! It was reallyyy fun! =]

Still, here it is! The next one should be up as soon as the new chapter comes out. =] Promise. Besides, I've got my rhythm back with this story! REVIEWWWW! =]