Note: Last chapter!
Chapter 9: All's Well
Zoro doesn't hesitate to unsheath his swords, as Sanji similarly rasies one of his legs at the same time. Like the rest of the crew, their eyes are fixed on the tree.
Robin's eyes were the first to look away, settling back on Luffy, who looks back at her in pained urgency. As she does this, the rest of the crew starts drawing out their weapons.
"Please help me…" He whispers again.
Robin is quiet in thought, but she runs a hand through the boys hair. She often did that with her captain and that made him relax, but she doesn't know how her currently possessed younger captain would take it. The archaeologist isn't entirely surprised when she feels a slight flinch under her long fingers or when he arches into her touch; this probably being the first human touch the spirit had felt in who knows how long.
"Robin-sis, if we destroy the tree do you think Luffy-bro and Ace-bro will turn back too?" Franky asks, making the woman look up momentarily.
"I believe so." Robin calmly starts, her eyes moving to Ace who sits across from her. The teen tenses at the information. "Seeing as we found the boys at this tree, it's completely plausible that it was the tree that brought the younger Luffy and Ace-san to us."
"But…how?" Usopp asks, unsure if he should look at Robin or the tree, as if the plant would vanished f her dared to look away for more than a second.
"Yeah, how?" Ace urges, his whole body tense. He isn't looking at the black haired woman, much more focused on his little brother who is still shaking.
"You have all seen certain inanimate objects with devil fruit abilities. I do not see why a tree cannot, after all it is living. It's possible that it absorbed a fruit that was exposed to it." Robin explains.
"Oh…" Usopp says, remembering Alabasta and Mr. 4's weird dog. Franky grunts as he remembers Spam-guy's sword-elephant, Funkfreid.
"So, the shitty tree absorbed a shitty devil fruit and trapped the shitty ghost and probably brought Luffy and Ace back here?" Sanji says calmly, lighting up another cigarette.
"Something like that." Robin agrees.
"...What are we waiting for, then?" Zoro said, his eyes and swords gleaming.
Sanji's still raised leg lights up in flames. Nami adjusts her clima-tact higher, Usopp draws back his Kuro Kabuto, Franky's hands retract backwards, and Brook's sword is halfway out. Only Robin, Chopper, and Ace stayed.
The fifteen year old looks torn, however. He wants to join the crew in destroying the tree because of what it had done to his brother, but at the same time he doesn't want to dare leaving Luffy, even if it was with Robin and Chopper who weren't all that bad.
Robin and Chopper have similar feelings, wanting to stay near their younger captain, but . know well they can trust the other members of their crew.
Zoro and Sanji move in a flash, slashing and kicking at the tree. The branches of the the tree catch aflame and began to spread to the trunk. Brook moves next, cutting it with his own sword quickly to cut away the bark so the flames could burn better. Nami sends a bolt of lighting, Usopp releases his slingshot, and Franky sends a beam, causing the increasing fire to blaze.
Luffy gasps and his back arches and turns around, unconsciously burying his face into his brother's lap. Ace's eyes are wide and his fingers dig into Luffy's shoulders.
"Ace?" Robin asks, reaching over to put a hand on the teenagers shoulder.
The freckled teen looks up at her but his brown eyes seem far away.
"It's done..." Nami says as the tree burnt into ash. The fire had started to spread to nearby trees, but she quickly cast rain clouds to drench the flames.
The rain also washes away the fire around their target, but it was clear to all that the tree was long dead.
As one, the six Straw Hat pirates turn around only to find their archeologist and doctor tending to their younger captain and his brother.
Robin holds Luffy in her arms while also propping up a passed out Ace with her extra arms while Chopper pulls back his eyelids.
"What happened?" Brook voices out for the crew as they quickly flock to the four.
"Luffy and Ace-san passed out while you were burning down the tree." Robin says, her brow creased.
"There's nothing physically wrong with him." Chopper says after checking Ace's vitals.
A tiny, quiet intake of breath is heard before Zoro quickly grabs Chopper and looks at Robin. "Let go of them, now!"
And she did, because it was well known in the crew that, after Luffy, Zoro has the best instincts.
Ace falls onto his little brother and in an instant the entire crew has to cover their eyes as a blinding light bursts from Luffy and Ace.
Franky regrets not bringing his sunglasses with him for once.
A minute or so passes but it feels like a lifetime until the light dissipates and the crew finally begins to get their eyesight back.
Usopp is the first to see again and gasps happily. Nami's own gasp soon follows as the two rush forward.
As soon as they can see again, the rest of the crew do the same, crowding the space where the younger Luffy and Ace had been just minutes ago.
Because in their places was a fully sized Luffy and Ace. Their Luffy and Ace, leaning heavily on one another as they slept on.
When Luffy wakes up, his nose itches and his face is pressed against something really warm, but it's not an uncomfortable warmth.
In fact, he almost doesn't want to itch his nose because its so comfortable. He also notices that there's something limp on top of him, holding him close. He yawns and pulls his head from whatever was warm and sleepily rubs his nose. What he decides to be an arm moves down a little to his waist.
Slowly he opens his eyes and the first thing he sees is brother.
That explains the warmth.
Ace was sleeping away happily, his mouth wide open and drool at the corners of his lips. Luffy can't help but giggle at the site before he put his face back on Ace's shoulder.
He was close to falling back asleep when the door of wherever he was open and a tiny, high pitched voice rang out.
"Luffy?" It was Chopper.
"Goodmorning Chopper..." Luffy mumbles, opening his eyes but not moving from Ace.
A delighted squeal fills the room that Luffy recognizes to be the infirmary (which was weird because he remembers falling asleep in the big forest he was exploring with Ace).
"You're awake!" Chopper exclaims, hopping up to the bed and putting his hooves on Luffy's arms.
"Yeah! Why is this a big deal though?" Luffy asks in confusion.
"You... You don't remember anything?" Chopper says, confused.
"Remember what? Ne, I'm hungry. Why am I in the infirmary? Am I sick?"
Chopper sticks his hooves up and waves them in denial. "No! It's... a long story. We should wait until Ace is awake and the crew is together, okay?"
Luffy pouts, not liking to wait, but nods his head.
As soon as he does, Ace starts to stir.
"Mmm... Stop moving, Lu." Ace groans sleepily, pulling his little brother into his chest. Luffy laughs and let's his brother pull him in, being reminded of all the times he would sleep with Ace when they were younger. It was usually Luffy who clung to Ace like this, not the other way around. "What are ya laughing at twerp?"
"Shishishi, you're funny! Goodmorning, Ace!"
"Good afternoon!" Chopper corrects.
"Ehhh?! Afternoon?! DID I MISS LUNCH?" Luffy screams, sitting up and causing Ace's arm to fly off of him. The freckled Whitebeard commander looks like he would start screaming with his little brother any second.
"No!" The tiny doctor assures. "Sanji was just making it!"
"Good!" Luffy relaxes with a smile. His stomach grumbles loudly, as if on cue. Ace's growls right after.
Then they hear the magic words being yelled. "Lunch is ready!"
Luffy runs out of the infirmary in a flash and Ace follows. The only difference, however, is that Ace stops to scoops up the tiny reindeer.
"So... We turned into kids because of a weird tree?"
"And it was trapping a spirit that possessed Lu?" Ace's eyebrows furrow as he chews a piece of meat.
Robin nods and swallows her tea. "Yes. The tree absorbed a devil fruit at some point and reverted you two into children for a while. However, the devil fruit had nothing to do with the spirit. I found the tree in a book and it seems that the particular species of tree trap spirits that are unable to move on."
Usopp shivers and whispers, "Creepy." under his breath. Chopper, Nami, and Brook nod their heads silently in agreement.
"So... It's a mystery tree." Luffy says simply.
"Indeed." Robin agrees with an indulgent smile.
"You guys weren't taken somewhere like your younger selves were?" Sanji asks in between cigarettes.
Both Ace and Luffy shake their heads.
"No, just felt like we were sleeping for a long time."
"How long were little us here anyways?"
"A week." Zoro answers.
Ace swallows his food and scratches his head. "Damn... I told the guys I would be back... Two days ago. I should probably go after this."
Luffy pouts and looks at his brother. "Do you have too? I didn't get to see you at all!"
"You're seeing me right now, dork." Ace slaps his Luffy on the head lightly. "I gotta go, but I'll see if I can visit you guys in a few months."
"Okay!" Luffy chirps, satisfied with that answer. It wasn't often that he got to see Ace, after all. Both brothers had their own adventures, but it was nice that he was going to see his older brother in a few months.
And that settles that.
"Seeya, Ace!" Luffy screams as Ace jumps from deck onto his skiff. The crew smiles, or cries manly tears in Franky's case after seeing the brothers hug just seconds earlier.
Ace salutes the crew casually and powers up his skiff with his flames, quickly catching a breeze and moving away with the water.
Soon, the freckled commander is out of sight and Luffy turns to his crew and beams brightly.
"SET SAIL! We have islands to explore, shishishi!"
"AYE!" The Straw Hat crew yells together, punching the air before running off in their respective positions so they could continue on with their journey.
Notes: IT'S DONE! AFTER NEARLY 6 MONTHS! (DANCES)
I know, I know.. I said there were going to be two more chapters last time. But well, I lied. I realized it would be for the best if I just ended it now!
I'm sorry that it's been taking so long. A lot of stuff has come up and I'm trying to finish high school! but thank you all for reading this little story! I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it, but I hope you guys enjoyed it in the end :')!
Also, I have been organizing a little thing recently! An AceLu / D bros week! (It doesn't have to be romantic!) If you're interested, check it out on my blog and please help me spread the word about it if you can! ace-lu . tumblr post/81316265709/acelu-d-brothers-week-2014 (get rid of spaces)
So yeah, its been a nice ride! I'd like to know what you all thought of it! Thanks for reading and see you later :)