Woohoo, let's go! Look at me, uploading quickly. It's like I'm my old self again and not busy. Or, I might have been on an four hour road trip. Lol.

I stagger because we don't exactly land perfectly. There were several shouts of surprise from the marines, as if we really came out of nowhere. The shore was literally covered with marines, and I saw the multitude of battleships surrounding us, but I didn't care. I had all eyes for Luffy.

It was just like my dream. He was kneeling, covered in chains on the executioner's platform, with Akainu standing beside him. He was just a dot in the distance, but I could tell it was him, and my heart leapt at the chance to get back what was ours, to fill the void on the crew I had felt the past couple of days.

Akainu straightened and my heart sank back down in the middle of my stomach as I physically growled at the man. There is no one I hated more; even the Celestial Dragons didn't spark such a reaction. Akainu's voice boomed out over the now silent marines.

"Straw-hats, this is a pointless endeavor. Give up and go back, unless you want to be executed with your captain."

I yell back.

"I'm sorry, but I think you have forgotten who you are dealing with. We are pirates, and by no means listen to any orders marines give us. Also, he is our captain and our king, and we are inclined to protect him, and nothing you say will change that."

Everything was completely silent, the strawhat crew because of determination, the marines for pure shock. No one had probably spoken to him like that. Good. Now, let's get this thing on the road.

"Franky, you ready?"

The shipwright had dissappeared, but I heard him yell up from the bowels of the ship.

"Give me two seconds."

I gestured to the shore of marines with a grin, addressing my nakama.

"Have fun."

Zoro smirked.

"Don't mind if I do."

He leapt off the ship toward the show. Sanji quickly followed.

"Wait up you spiky mosshead."

Robin crossed her arms.

"Gigante fleur."

Giant wings sprung out of her back. She grabbed onto Nami's hands, and started to fly off the ship. I call after her.

"Keep Sanji out of trouble."

Nami twisted around.

"I will."

Then they were gone. I was about to say something to Brook, but the skeleton was already sprinting across the water, laughing maniaclly. I sigh as I glance across the bay. It looks like everyone had already started and I saw marines flying up in the air. I laugh; they really are going at it, just as I suspected, but I'm missing the action. I turn to yell at the shipwright again but didn't, and smiled instead.

General Franky stood on the deck, looking incredibly terrifying. He picks up me, Chopper, and Usopp in his robotic hands.

"You got the Ice bullets?"

I pat the three refridgerated cannisters I have on my hip. Usopp also glances at the three he has and nods. I take a deep breath.

"Hold down the fort while we are gone."

While the rest of us are fighting and trying to draw attention away from the ship, Franky will be its main defender, while keeping his eyes on the skies. Franky saluted in his cockpit.

"Good luck Rose."

Then without hesitation, he threw us toward Marineford. Usopp and Chopper screamed, but I kept a hand on both of them. The ground was coming up fast and I knew I had to make a sort of stable landing or I would shove my legs into my torso.

I kept a hold on Usopp, Chopper, and my weapon as we landed and used the momentum to roll forward several feet. The impact was a little painful but not bad, considering I had a lot of marines to cushion my fall.

Immediately I am back on my feet, ready to take whatever came my way. I was focused on one thing, and one thing only. Get to Luffy as quickly as possible. I glance up at the executioner's platforms, gauging the distance. That's a mile, maybe a little more? Please, I can run that in five to six minutes at most. I just need to get there.

The marines look like they aren't taking us very seriously. I mean, in truth we are only eight people. I would underestimate us too, but I just grinned. Soon now, they wouldn't.

I had barely let the nuerons fire off when a huge roar buffeted me from both sides. I laughed as the marines looked scared to death as they turned to see themselves surrounded by all sides by pirates. Yes! Let's kick some butt.

As the marines fumbled and try to deal with the new threat, I bent down in a starting stance. They were opening up a new path for me, one I can see to get through. Rose, focus only on getting Luffy back, no fighting. This is like a giant game of tag. You can't get caught, and you can't fight. Not yet, prioritize Luffy's safety first.

Ready? Set go!

I take off at a sprint, not a dead one per say, but fast enough for the start of a mile. I see pirates and marines fighting left and right, but I do not care. I am only focused on one thing.

I see Zoro dealing with marines on my left, Hancock kicking and shooting love arrows at marines on my right. I have no time to marvel at her beauty, but I have to agree that she is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.

Sanji and Nami are fighting back to back, and I am pleased to say that the cook is serious and keeping his promise. I see Nami smack him a few times with her climatact when his eyes strayed. Usopp was shooting his stars all around, trying to go for mass effect. Chopper was in kung fu point, but I saw him stop and Usopp became his gaurd as he bandaged a red haired pirates arm.

I was too busy glancing around, that I completely neglected to see where I was going. I looked ahead just in time to see a marine thrust a sword at me. I was about to parry with my own weapon, when I hear a familiar sound.

"Room, shanbles!"

The marine's head suddenly switched with his sword, and he looked incredibly confused. Grinning, I turn to see a brooding fluffy hatted guy.

"Law, thanks for the assist."

He smirked at me, fingering his long sword.

"Rose-ya."

I nodded, and turned my attention back to the executioner platform.

"Gotta go, see you later."

Law nodded, and turned back to deal with another group of marines. Ok, regular task at hand, and try not to run face first into swords.

I try not to look around as I run, but sometimes I cannot help it, and it is only glimpses of the battlefield. Ivankov is using his hormones to change some of the marines into girls, turning them to our side.

I hear a shout from behind me, and can only guess that is Jinbe and the revolutionary army finishing up their ship job and joining in the battle of the ordinary marines.

Suddenly, I see a glow ahead of me and I see all the marines duck. I glance up to see Akainu looking down smugly on the battlefield. I knew what happened and shouted over the battle noise.

"Magma fists, duck!"

Most around me heard and spread the message. Pirates all ducked. I glanced back at the Sunny, and sure enough, Franky is firing cannons as fast as he can reload them. The magma fists come back down. A few were shot away, but a few hit clumps of pirates, somehow missing the marines entirely. Akainu must have amazing aim.

I see Ivankov, Law, and Chopper congregate to those areas with Usopp, Inazuma, and Bepo as thier body guards as they helped the wounded quickly and efficiently. I sigh with relief that there wasn't that much damage, and once again go back to my course. I can't afford to keep getting distracted. I have no idea when Akainu will decide to just execute Luffy right there.

I dodge, dip, duck, dive, and dodge marines left and right, never wavering too far from the straight path. Most marines, I could just juke around, but the more persistant ones I took as little time as possible on them, swatting them away with my weapon. My momentum kept me going; if I stopped I was done.

It looked like I was the one who had gotten the farthest. Most other were not taking the dodge approach but the plow through marines approach, trying to take out as many as possible. I would do that too, because I love a good fight, but that's not our true objective.

I had just dodged a captain when I turned around to run straight again when I froze, my momentum broken.

Because there stood Dracule Mihawk, the former best.

I remember our last encounter, when Zoro had beaten him. I gulp, stepping back slightly and fingering my weapon. I had forgotten he would be here, being a warlord and all. Mihawk regarded me coolly, his golden eyes freezing me in place.

"Ah, Rose. I believe I wanted to fight you."

I shake my head.

"Sorry Mihawk, wouldn't dream of it."

He cocked his head to one side, looking quite hawklike, in fact he looked like a hawk ready to pounce on a mouse.

"Is it because I am not the best anymore?"

I shake my head fervently.

"No, it's because you were the best that I don't want to tangle with you."

This man will defeat me, and if I am defeated, then I cannot rescue Luffy. He drew his butterknife.

"I insist."

He is suddenly in front of me, and I barely parry his little dagger with my own weapon. The strength behind the hit is as strong as Zoro's. I cannot compete with this man. I grit my teeth and shove him back, driving at him with a shout. He raises the dagger to parry, and I fake a move toward his right temple, and then skirt him on his left, ready to run again. Get Luffy now, fight later.

Mihawk sticks out a foot, catching my shin. I tumble, somersault forward and land kneeling, turning back to the swordsman. He is not letting me go that easy. I smirk.

"Why do you want to fight me so bad? I am nowhere near your league."

Mihawk sheathes his butterknife, and draws the dreaded black blade itself, something I never wanted pointed in my direction.

"You had such faith in Roronoa, I had to test you myself."

I shake my head, standing.

"What does that even mean?"

Mihawk started taking large swings at me. With the incredible mass of the sword, the momentum of the swings were perilous so I chose to dodge instead of block. I thought it was insulting to fight a swordsman with anything but a sword, so with practiced ease, I unhooked my sword and sheathed the rest of my weapon. I try to be careful because he could probably break my sword easily. Mihawk stated conversationally, while I was panting hard.

"Roronoa had high respect of you. I have never seen him listen to someone in a fight with me. Several people had interrupted our spars before, but he never paid them mind. You he listened to. Roronoa is someone who respects someone with strength, now I want to see how strong someone who gains Roronoa's respect can possibly be."

I take a hit to my shoulder and wince slightly, but otherwise ignore it.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but I'm not that great. I'm just a little braver then most people."

Mihawk raised his eyebrows, his sword pointed at me.

"Are you sure that is all?"

I shrug.

"I am not as strong as Zoro, nor am I as strong as you."

Mihawk blinked, and swiped at me.

"I cannot let you go further Rose."

I push back against him, but it is useless. He is way stronger then me. He pushes me to the ground and I fall back on my butt. Mihawk instantly recovers, slamming his sword down, right on the path to split me in half.