Yay, the gang is back together again! Now we just need to get out right? Nope lol.

I gave them as much time as I could before I interrupted the reunion reluctantly.

"Guys, we need to go."

They all looked at me. Nami pulled me to my feet, concern painted on her features.

"Jeez, are you ok?"

I chuckle.

"Yeah, just peachy."

I glance around to see the marines inching closer and closer.

"But we need to get out of here before the marines get up their courage to attack us again."

Suddenly a blue and yellow flash dashed by me, nearly tackling Luffy.

"Luffy!"

I smile as Sabo examines his brother, making sure he was uninjured, with Luffy smiling and embracing his older brother happily. All right, I guess we can stay a little longer. However, fate did not have that in mind.

"Dragon's son!"

I freeze, and everyone turns to see Akainu emerge from the marines that have surrounded us. Everyone faced the fleet admiral. Sabo asked, completely serious and not like the older brother at all.

"Is that him Luffy?"

Luffy nodded, cracking his knuckles.

"Yeah, it's him."

I step in front of them, grabbing both their arms.

"No guys you can't."

Luffy protested.

"Rose, he killed-"

"I know."

I interrupted with a fierce spark in my eye. Akainu taunted.

"You going to run, like your cowardly weak brother? You aren't going to avenge his death?"

Luffy pushed forward and it took all my strength to keep him still.

"Bastard, I will kick your ass."

I close my eyes.

"No Luffy, you can't. You are doing what Ace did. Please that's how he died. You know that. If you turn back, I'm not sure you will survive. Please, let's just leave."

Sabo gritted his teeth.

"Still Rose, you can't expect us not to avenge his death."

I grit at him, still trying to hold both brothers back.

"And if you both die? How do you think Ace will think then? That both of his brothers died protecting just an image? Sabo, let go of the one that is dead. Focus on the one that is still alive. Our first priority is getting him out of here without a magma fist through his chest."

Sabo winced, imagining the image. He glanced at me and back at Akainu, and I am relieved to find Luffy sagging in my arms, no longer struggling. I know I am being super harsh, but if that's what gets Luffy to go, then so be it. Then my captain speaks softly.

"I'm sorry Rose, but we cannot run from this guy."

I let him go, cocking my head.

"What do you mean?"

Luffy looks completely serious.

"He will not let me go Rose. He is obsessed. He threatened to kill my entire crew at Raftel unless I gave myself up. If I run, he will follow. It doesn't matter how far we go on this battlefield or on these seas, if I do not defeat him, I will not leave here. You know that. You saw him last war."

I pause. The one loophole in my argument, and Luffy found it. Why does he have to be smart when I don't want him to? Luffy popped his knuckles again.

"I have to kick his ass."

Sabo followed up quickly.

"Don't worry Rose, I will back him up. I have a bone to pick with him too."

I glance from one brother to the other. Both are so determined to avenge thier fallen brother, and so I decide this is one battle I shouldn't fight.

"FIne, but if there is trouble, you both bail."

Luffy was gone at the word fine, but Sabo nodded.

"Thank you Rose."

He walked camly toward the already battling Akainu and Luffy, fist encased in flames. I sigh; just because a plan doesn't go my way, doesn't mean I can't tweak it a little.

"All right everyone, let's give them a nice guard and try to take care of the rest of these marines."

Sanji and Nami faced back to back, while Chopper and Usopp paired up. Brook and Robin took off somewhere to the left, already fighting in perfect tandem.

"Hey, want to fight with me Rose?"

I turn with a grin to see my favorite green haired swordsman.

"Of course Zoro."

I place my back gently against his, making sure not to press to hard against my new injuries. We complete the protective circle around the three combatants.

"You are hurt."

His observation makes me chuckle as marines close around us.

"Yes, comes with the job. How was Fujitora?"

I feel him swipe, his powerful back muscles expanding and contracting, easily decimating at least fifty marines in front of him.

"Not bad, I barely won, but I won. I heard you met Mihawk."

I snort, taking out a marine's elbow with my chains.

"Yeah, he really wanted to fight me."

Zoro nodded, shifting his grip on Kitetsu.

"Yes, I had heard he expressed an intrest."

I sigh.

"I don't know why. I'm not that great."

Zoro placed his swords in a familiar pattern and I ducked, literally hit the ground.

"Dragon Twister."

I heard many a despaired yell from the marines as I bounce back up, ready to fight again. Somehow I got seperated from my swordsman, but that didn't matter. I was back in my element, and after my previous encounter with the Vice admirals all by myself, this wasn 't nearly as bad, only disadvantagous by my new injuries.

I use this as practice of my adapting skills. I would use my sword for a few minutes, then switch to my sling shot, then my chains, then my quarterstaff, then a marine weapon I deemed worthy. All of the lessons I had learned from my various masters and old enemies I had fought surfaced. I used moves I picked up and adapted from freind and foe alike.

These were just gruntmen, not nearly as powerful as the upper ranks, so I can afford to play around a teeny bit. With me playing around, it gave me time to keep an eye on Luffy and Sabo. This was one fight I didn't want to miss, nor could I afford to. If something happened, I wanted to be able to interfere.

Sabo had one hand black with haki, holding up his dragon claw. The other was Ace's own trademark, a fire fist. Luffy was in second gear and all of his limbs were coated with haki. He was moving way too fast for me to follow, and both brothers had this angry look in their eye as they dished out well deserved revenge on thier brother's murderer.

Akainu wasn't doing too badly either though. He kept changing into magma, and barely missed his two opponents. The haki from both users seems to be doing very little if no damage at all. I keep a very lose eye on them though. Akainu is going to lose; I have faith in both of the self proclaimed brothers.

I kept an eye on my other crew mates as well. We were doing well in keeping the other marines from touching the three in the middle, and we weren't sustaining any injuries, unless you count me. We were fluid, determined, fighting naturally beside each other as if it was as common as breathing. I saw Zoro and Sanji rotate to take the higher up rank marines, while Usopp, Chopper, and Nami, who stayed still near to Sanji, chose the grunts like I was. I kind of miss Franky in the midst of the chaos but I was reminded he was still here by the cannon fire from the Sunny.

I was minding my own business, fighting with my swords as easily as I could with one arm and my back messed up, when a sound made me pause. It was the sound of a gunshot. Normally, in the middle of a war, it wouldn't be something that demanded my attention, but this one was louder, more clear then any other one. That meant that it was pointed at me.

Suddenly, I hear a pained grunt behind me. Curious, I turn, and I tense up so much my joints crackle and pop. No, he didn't. He didn't just protect me again. I leap forward as my savior collapses to the ground, yelling his name.

"Zoro!"