Yay Whitebeard is here, and I have fallen behind in updating again! I knew it was only a matter of time. Let's see what's going to happen. Happy late valentines day to everyone. All my love goes to you all.

Oh yes, thank you somebody for answering my prayers. I grin.

"Your help is much appreciated. You think you can deal with the marine reinforcements coming from the sea?"

Marco replied boredly.

"We already took care of them."

Even better. This is turning out to be an amazing day. I tap my finger against the reciever, trying to strategize, when Luffy interrupted me.

"Hey, is that fire bird guy?"

Marco smirked.

"Ace's little brother? You still alive and kicking?"

Luffy chuckled.

"Shihihihi, yes."

All right, strategizing complete. I pick back up, shooing Luffy away.

"You think you can give us a rearguard? We have Luffy, we just need to leave. So can you just distract them long enough for us to get to our ships and then you can bail."

Marco's smirk got considerably wider.

"That sounds doable. I will see what we can do."

I ask.

"Everybody else get that?"

"Aye!"

Three or four voices replied in unison. Good, now we all know the plan, and know what we are doing.

Cadja. I put the den den mushi back in my pocket. So now we just need to get to the Sunny. All right, no problem.

We were maybe three fourths of a mile away. Oh please, that's like four to five minutes, depending on how many marines get in our way. I just want to get out of here before Akainu wakes up again.

"Yosh let's go!"

I chuckle at Luffy.

"I like your enthusiasm."

Usopp tossed his slingshot in between his fingers.

"Yeah, I've face enough strong opponants for the day."

Sanji waved his arms.

"Oh Nami-swan, Rose-swan, Robin-chwan, I will face so many strong opponents for you."

Nami whacked him again.

"Not necessary Sanji."

Robin raised her hands, crossed and with a calm smile.

"I'm ready."

Luffy jumps forward.

"Let's go, to Sunny."

I am right at his heels, drawing my slingshot out, ready to deal with groups of enemies rather then just one at a time.

For a group of people who didn't run on strategy, the Strawhats find ways to make themselves put up a strategic offense or defense, without even trying. I must have whipped them into shape, or the more plausible reason being they were so intuned with each other they could fight that well together.

So our group this time formed a circle, which always moved clockwise, the people almost constantly switching. That way, the people in the front and back get a break, while the people on the sides get a turn in the action in small spurts. This is surprisingly really efficient, even though it is slightly slower then just sprinting ahead.

I switch weapons constantly, depending where I am. On the sides, I use quarterstaff and swords, while front and back, I use my stars that Usopp generously gave me. I keep moving, and it felt amazing to fight beside my friends again.

It was different me going to Luffy because I was just running and not fighting anywhere near them. Now I felt more like the crew. With Luffy back by our side and the crew back together, I felt unstoppable.

Well, almost unstoppable. My back and arm were starting to flare up, warning me what the punishment would be if I kept pushing my body like this, but I couldn't care less. I just needed to get back to the ship is all. This is nothing. So I resist the temptation to take my nap right there and push forward.

Robin and I were on one side, she would clutch the enemy and I would whack them over the head. We made a pretty great team until she switched to the back and Usopp took her place. We also made a good team, him shooting farther away while I dealt with the enemies up close.

"Dragon's son!"

I know that roar, and I don't have to look back to know what it is. Akainu is back up and running again. Crap. Well looks like we have to move a little faster then. I slowly pick up the pace, relying on the pack mentality to pull the others with me. It's something that happens in races all the time, and I will have to go at a slower pace then normal, but not by much.

Luffy and Sabo are the first to repsond to the faster pace, followed by Sanji and Usopp. Nami and Robin follow quickly after, turning our circle into a whirlpool of death as we zoomed forward.

I don't hear anything but a yelled order and a sudden rumbling clanking noise. I look straight toward the ship to see the encircling walls slowly rising out of the ground. Oh lovely. They plan to trap us here and keep us from getting to our ship.

I don't dare slow down as I mutter.

"Come on Franky, that's your cue."

A marine smirked smugly at me.

"Now you are done for. Nothing can break the encircling walls."

Nope, not going to listen. Franky is the best shipwright/inventor in the world next to Vegapunk. No way am I going to doubt him on this. I whack the offending marine out of the way, my eyes glued on the walls. Almost there...I skidded to a stop right by the wall.

We are stuck. Luffy swings his arm.

"I will rocket over."

I grab his wrist.

"Nope, made of seastone. You can't do that."

I place my back against the wall, facing the sea of marines. Come on Franky.

Suddenly the ground shakes and everyone around me staggers, falling to the ground. I grip the wall to keep myself upright. I glance up to see a giant dent in the encircling walls. Luffy glanced up.

"What is that?"

Usopp smirked.

"That's Franky."

Another boom shook the earth and I prepared myself. When, not if, when Franky busted through, I had to be ready to go. The dent grew in size and depth, much like at Arlong park, where Luffy courteously knocked before entering. Those fell, these would too.

The marines were looking at the walls about to crumble with disbelief. I kept expecting an admiral or something to come whirling out of the ranks to stop us, but there seems to be a standstill for the moment. I felt my crewmates tense beside me, and I could tell as soon as those walls were coming down, everything would jerk back into normal speed.

With a final bang, a section of the wall snapped in half.

Sanji was the first to move, giving the piece of seastone infused metal a barrage of kicks that shoved it up to fall down on the marines, who tried to scatter. I say tried because Robin kept them still by grabbing onto their feet.

With the wall, came a horde. I glanced up to see a bunch of men leaping over the gap and toward the marines. I recognized a couple, including a bright blue blur literally flying into the ranks of the marines. Marco. With him, was a giant sparkling mass, Jozu, and something flashed with what looked like rose petals, Vista. The gang is here.

With a smile, I make eye contact with the first commander of the former Whitebeard pirates, and bow my head. Thank you, not just for this. Thank you for trying to save Ace and protecting my Captain last war.

Marco nodded back, and turned to face Kizaru, while Jozu and Vista grabbed the other two admirals. I am jerked back to the present as a rubbery arm wraps around me like a noose. I'm not the only one as the rest of the crew is swept up in Luffy's arm as well.

"Let's go! Gomu Gomu no, Rocket!"

He sped his arm across and I felt his body shudder as it hits something solid. I allow myself a grin, and one last look at the battlefield. We were finally leaving. We had won this round. The marines hadn't taken another life that was important.

Come on Rose, you know better. Do not count your chickens before they hatch.

Then we are flying through the air. I brace myself for the pain sure to happen, but I am still facing backwards, toward the battlefield. Because of that, I see the magma fist coming straight at us.

No, not a normal magma fist. Like Luffy's extending rubber hand to grab something. My mind figures it out in less then a second. He is not letting Luffy leave. He is going to drag the rubbery captain back kicking and screaming and execute him.

My options were limited, and as far as I knew, I was the only one aware of this development. I would not let the fleet admiral have his prize back if I had anything to do with it, so my option was pretty clear. In no way is it clean, or at least the best ending, but it was the best option I had right now.

I leaned over and unhooked Usopp's three containers off of his hip. We were almost to the ship, but the magma fist was catching up fast. I take a deep breath, preparing myself for the pain that was sure to come, but I had to protect my captain. Captain takes priority, not the crew.

So when the fist grabbed for Luffy's back, I slid myself out of my captain's grasp, letting the fist grab me instead.

I had hoped for it to go unnoticed but I couldn't help the groan as magma connected with my already injured back, wrapping around my torso. Thankfully the magma hardened, maybe better for keeping me in his grasp.

"Rose!"

I felt something grab my hand and I realize it's Luffy. The other crewmembers are on the deck, and I was literally four feet from the railing. So very close, but I had already made my decision. I was extremely willing to sacrifice myself for my captain. I know that's not what I should want, considering the pain I caused Luffy last time, but I had little choice. Luffy was standing on the deck, but his teeth were gritted with exertion, pulling hard.

"Rose, come on, don't leave."

I give him a calm smile as I notice the coup de burst getting ready to leave.

"Come on Luffy let go or Franky will rip your arms off."

Luffy started skidding forward, but Nami and Usopp grabbed him, holding him still. Robin frowned, crossing her arms.

"Treinta fleur!"

I felt more arms grab my legs and arms. I felt thuds where Sanji was kicking the connection, trying to break it. Brook was slashing on the other side, but the magma was healing itself. I felt like the object of a huge tug of war, and I felt like I was being torn apart.

I had maybe ten seconds before coup de burst shot the ship out of the bay. I glance around to see the Kuja ship, Law's submarine, Shank's ship, and Ivankov's ship all take off. Even the Whitebeard pirates were boarding thier ships. Everyone was leaving.

Suddenly the restraint on me broke. I fell forward, only for Luffy to pull me on the deck. I breathe a sigh of relief. Thank goodness, my crew saved me. I don't have to sacrifice myself. I allow a grin to cross my features, that was mirrored by Luffy. There is only three more seconds before we leave.

"All right let's-"

Then the crushing feeling was back around my waist. I look down. Two seconds. The magma fist has returned and this time it yanks me back quicker then anyone on the crew to react. One second. No! I was so close. What the heck Akainu? Why? Let him go. Nevertheless I am glad the fleet admiral made the mistake of grabbing me. I close my eyes and relax.

Zero seconds. The ship disappears from in front of me, and with it went the horrified faces of my freinds.

I am so sorry guys. I didn't mean for this to happen. I let the fist drag my backwards, offering no resistance, for the moment. My mind however was going a mile a minute, trying to figure out strategies. Then I felt something lock onto my hand. What on earth?

I open my eyes and come face to face with Zoro.

My mouth drops open. What? Shouldn't he be in the infirmary, not in any condition to move? What is he doing here? Zoro smirked at me.

"I'm glad I leapt when I did."

I exhaled sharply.

"You idiot what are you doing?"

He didn't answer because we crashed into the concrete. We seperated, him flying in a random direction as I was pulled across the ground to halt abruptly. Everything burned, but I glanced over to see some tidy shoes. I slowly follow the shoes up to the face of Akainu.

All right Rose, get rid of the magma first, then get Zoro, then get out of here. I writhed, grunting against my restraints. Akainu raised his foot and stomped down on my stomach.

"Hold still."

I cough as pain erupted in my stomach. I twitched. Rose, breathe. Get out of here. Franky will be back any second to pick us up. You just have to survive until then. The pain subsides, and I start trying to get out again. I finger the cannisters I had pick pocketed from Usopp. Yes, I forgot I had those.

I flicked open the container and shoved it at Akainu's foot, who stumbled backwards, releasing me. All right, now to grab Zoro. I leap to my feet only to be faced with Fujitora.

"You will stop now."

I shake my head, trying to dart around him. I need to get to Zoro. I don't know how hurt he is, and he shouldn't be fighting in his condition. Then I feel the flick of a sword and stop abruptly. No, did he just cut me?

The pressure came suddenly and hard, shoving me into the ground. I shake with the effort, trying to stand. I have to get out of here.

With the pressure came the pain, not only of being pressed into the ground, but the pain of previous injuries getting pressed on. I gritted my teeth.

"Fujitora, let me go."

I feel a extra burst of gravity and I flatten against the ground. I slowly draw an ice bullet and roll it towards the admiral. It brushes against his foot and in that instance, the gravity stopped. I bounded up again and rushed forward, throwing my quarterstaff against Fujitora's temple, stunning him but not knocking him unconscious. I can't believe that worked.

I was just about to move on and try to find Zoro when something heavy connects with my back shoving back to the concrete. I grit my teeth. Why can't I get a break? Kizaru leans down.

"Rose-chan give up."

No, I refuse. I need to get back to the ship. I shakily reach for the cannister again, but Kizaru grabbed my ponytail, jerking my head up and slamming my face into the ground. Stars erupted once again in my vision, and I barely had a break before he did it again, this time adding a thin layer of haki.

I'm trembling with so much pain as he does it again and again, adding a little more haki each time. He was trying to see how much it would take before I gave up, before I relinquished my hold on reality.

"Give up Rose-chan. You can't win."

My weaker side joined him in protesting my resistance. Come on Rose. There is no way for your body to go on like this.

My strong side replied weakly. No, you can do it. Don't give up. They are counting on you.

The weak side purred persuasively. No, just take a little nap. Then you can escape. Let your body rest. You have injuries that cannot carry your body anymore, and you have a pint less of blood in your body. You need to rest, or you will never get out of here.

The haki, the pain, and my weak side were winning it's battle over my strong portion of my mind. I closed my eyes as Kizaru slammed my head against the ground one more time, and haki swamped my mind.

All thoughts were obliterated, all muscles relaxed, and I was barely aware of gripping my weapon as darkness crashed over my mind.