Chapter 13: Moving up in the rescue

Whitebeard smirked and talked to the First Division Commander. "Marco… don't you dare let those boys die…"

"Roger that," Marco responded with another smirk.

And Ace, looking the scene that was unfolding in front of him, couldn't even speak. How was it possible that Sabo, who he had thought lost and for whom he, Dadan and Luffy had held a funeral despite the fact that they hadn't found any body to bury, for whom Luffy had cried every night for a whole week, was now here, getting involved in all this mess he had provoked.

He still couldn't believe that Whitebeard himself had said that it wasn't his fault, that he had 'ordered' him to go after Blackbeard. All of this was so damn wrong. But all of it was unfair to his friends and his new found family. "I feel like I can accept any future now. I'll grasp the hand that will reach out to save me… I'll accept the blade that will swing down to judge me…" the Second Commander said. "I won't resist anymore. I owe everyone that much."

And, as he was saying all of this, he was still watching Sabo, Luffy, his crewmembers and family fighting it off just to reach him and set him free. He now knew that Luffy wouldn't be all alone. After all, his little brother had his own crew and now he also had Sabo by his side. This was better than the perspective he had had before.

Luffy and Sabo went on ahead and as Moria got in their way, Jimbei intercepted him and let them through. But then it was Smoker who jumped in and smacked his face with the tip his Nanashaku Jitte which is made of seastone.

"Damn you, Smokey… Of course, that Jitte is made of Kairouseki…"

"I will finish you myself…" Smoker responded, ready to attack.

Luffy was way too busy thinking about getting to his brother to even activate his Haki right away and as he tried to take Smoker down without even thinking, the Vice-Admiral was already on him with the Jitte against his throat and himself against the floor.

"Out of the way, fool!" Hancock yelled as she hit Smoker with one of her kicks imbued with Haki of her own, sending the Marine flying away.

"She managed to hit my body that's made of smoke?!" He blurted out as he turned around. "Hancock! Do you, too, mean to abandon the Shichibukai?!"

"Silence! I'm in such rage that I cannot even hear your words! How dare you attack my beloved and pin him to the ground?!" She was so angry to the mere fact that someone could even try to harm Luffy that she didn't even care of anything else. "You shall not live… I have never felt such anger in all my life! I shall slice you to pieces and feed you to the beasts!"

"So this is the Kuja Haki…"

"Hancock!" Luffy exclaimed. The Pirate Empress came closer to him.

"I knew, all along, that you would live and make it here. Take this, it's the key to your brother's handcuffs."

"Hancock! You're the best! Thank you, I'm in your debt!" the Straw Hat Captain exclaimed as he hugged her.

"Oh… N-no, no. Don't mention it. Just… go. Do what you must do, Luffy!" The Pirate Empress mumbled as her face turned a deep red.

"Thanks!" Luffy yelled as he sprinted away with the key safely tucked into one of his pants' pockets as Hancock fell in shock and in absolute bliss after such an affectionate embrace.

"You're not getting away, Straw Hat!" Smoker yelled as he tried to chase after him, but the Shichibukai recovered quickly and intercepted him once more.

"Perfume femur! Insolent swine! Get back, I say!" Hancock stood in front of him. "I shall not permit you to pass!" She said as she looked him down, far too down on him.

"I hope you're aware of what will happen if it gets found out that you're obstructing the Marine Forces!"

"No matter what I may do, I will be forgiven!" She retorted.

Luffy kept on going and met with Sabo not long after. "Good news?" He asked.

"Yeah. That was a big help. She's really helpful…" Luffy answered. "Iva-chan! Damn, this bear-guy again…" He muttered. "You know him?"

"Somewhat, yes… However, there is something strange about him…"

Doflamingo laughed. "Looks like the both of you know the ol' Kuma, eh?" he said as if they were old acquaintances. "But this guy and the Kuma you knew are two different people."

"What are you talking about?!" Ivankov yelled. "It's utterly impossible! This is most certainly the user of the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi! And that user is Kuma! Come, Kuma, say something!"

"It happened but a few days ago! The Government's Scientist Dr. Vegapunk performed the final reconstructing of his body… finally turning him into a complete human weapon!" Doflamingo informed the Okama Queen. "This man is… the former Bartholomew Kuma!

"Reconstructing!? Weapon!? What on earth are you blabbering about!?"

And as Kuma, now transformed into PX-0, shoot his beam, Ivankov, Luffy and Sabo were merely able to dodge the explosion.

"Thinking about it… back then he said…" Luffy said as he tried to regain his breath. "This guy's dangerous, be careful, guys!"

It was Iva who got in the middle of the fight. "Leave this to me, you guys go with Straw-boy on ahead and back him up!"

"Roger!"

"Go on, Straw Hat!"

"Thank you!"

Sabo also stayed a bit behind to hold some of the Marines back.

"My apologies, Red Hair. But I won't be merciful with my power…" Mihawk sighed as he unsheathed his sword.

"Hawkeye!" Luffy exclaimed as he saw the one man who defeated Zoro once. This was bad. He was no swordsman and his power was one to be feared.

"Now, fate… Let us see how you favor this shining star of the next generation. Will his life end here…? Or will you save it from my black blade…?"

"I've got no time to fight such a strong man like him… I have to hurry up and save Ace…" Luffy told himself as he activated his Gear Second to practically disappear from his sight and try to pass him by. But Mihawk wasn't having any of it and launched one of his long-ranged attacks.

"You're still remaining in my range," the swordsman said nonchalantly.

It was hard to dodge while there was so many people around and trying to blind into them wasn't even helping or an option. He somehow managed to dodge again but got a slight cut on one of his legs.

"Straw Hat, out of the way, we'll try to stop him for you!" Two of the okama yelled as they launched themselves to him, but to no avail. Mihawk disposed of them in one single strike.

"Why you…! Gomu Gomu no Jet Baz…!" But before he could even launch it he detected with Haki that if he did that his arms would be cut off and dodged just in time. "That was close…" he muttered. "If I had done this, just now, I would've ended up without arm."

"You seem unusually calm…" Dracule said.

Luffy dodged again and the attack cut one of the frozen waves in half, surprising more than one person on the battlefield.

"What now, hm?" the swordsman commented. "You are moving farther and farther from your brother."

"Damn it! Gomu Gomu no…" he began as he saw Buggy flying about above him and stretched his arms towards him. "Jet Substitute!" As he launched his arms back down with his 'price' on hold, he placed the clown pirate in front of him as a shield.

"Why was that for, Straw Hat?!" the red-nosed pirate yelled.

"What? It wasn't me but him who cut you, didn't it?"

"You're Hawkeye, right? Take that Muggy Ball and get blown away!"

But the swordsman just deflected it and sent it back to its owner, making the ball explode right in front of him.

Luffy took the chance to run for it. "This is far from over…" Mihawk said calmly as he prepared to launch yet another attack.

"Vista! Lend him a hand!" Marco yelled.

"Roger that!" the Whitebeard Pirate Swordsman responded as he intercepted Mihawk with his own sword.

"Whitebeard Pirates, Fifth Division Commander, Floral Blade Vista…"

"A pleasure, Hawkeye Mihawk… I see you've heard of me."

"I'd be a fool if I hadn't," Mihawk responded.

Luffy, on the other hand, managed to get away. "Thanks, Vista!" he yelled back as he ran towards his goal. And it was then when the Pacifistas showed up and as Luffy noticed it, he also knew that they were about to execute Ace, so he ran as fast as he possibly could.

"Damn, Ace's in danger! I gotta hurry!"

As he almost managed to reach forward, Admiral Kizaru appeared out of nowhere. "It's time you went back to square one…" he said as he attacked him with one of his light beams, sending him flying back just to be caught by Jimbei.

"Luffy-kun!"

"Damn, the Admiral came after me…" he grumbled as he got on his own feet. "He may be powerful, but we must hurry!" the Straw Hat Captain said. "No matter how formidable the enemies who appear stand in our path… we were fully aware of as much when we made the decision to come to this place!" Jimbei answered.

"Ace's brother! Is that all you've got?" one of Whitebeard Pirate crew members said.

"The Division Commanders are here…" Jimbei said. "Fearsome allies, indeed.

"You can't let yourself get held up by a single Admiral! Come with us!"

"I'll show him that no one can stop me," Luffy said as he got up and prepared himself.

"Oh, dear me… How scary…" ironized Kizaru.

But as he was getting ready for the inevitable fight, everyone froze as they saw how Squardo, one of their allies, stabbing Whitebeard. "Boss!"

"Old man…" Luffy murmured in shock, having forgotten that this had happened so many years ago as well.

"Squardo!" Marco screamed as he attacked him with all his might, so angry and enraged that couldn't control himself any longer. "Why did you do this!?"

"Shut up! You're the ones who forced us to do this! Stop this insanity, Whitebeard! You've already made a deal with the Marines, haven't you!? They promised to let your Whitebeard Pirates and Ace live, right!?"

"What are you talking about!?"

"He let us into a trap! We didn't know anything about Ace being Gol D. Roger's son! When you picked me up, I was alone. Do you know why!? It was because the friends I fought alongside for so long were obliterated by Roger himself! You should know the hate I held for Roger! Why didn't you say anything about how Ace was Roger's son and you planned on making him the next Pirate King!? As soon as you did that, you already betrayed us all… you mocked me by having me be friendly with Ace, and when your darling Ace was captured… You just sold out the forty-three captains following you in exchange of Ace's life! The Whitebeard Pirates and Ace would be spared! You have a deal with Sengoku, isn't that right!? And we didn't suspect a damn thing…! We came here to throw our lives away for Ace and Whitebeard, and look at us! Who're the ones that the Marines are aiming at? It isn't you or the Whitebeard crew! It's us! Us who are blocked by the frozen waves, we can't escape! I didn't want to believe it… but right now, in front of my own eyes…"

"You idiot! You were fooled, Squardo! Why didn't you trust the Boss!?" Marco yelled at him as he grabbed him by his shirt.

"Don't you dare talk to me like that, Marco!"

"It's true that Ace is Roger's son, they turned to the man who would be most affected by that, so their plan was one step ahead of ours."

It was then when the contention walls were ordered to be raised.

"Squardo, you attacked your own father with your blade. You're an unbelievably stupid son!" Whitebeard yelled, the anger plastered on his face. "But even so… I still love you." He said as he hugged him.

"Don't screw with me! You threw our lives away!" Squardo retorted.

"You have a straightforward, loyal heart… Who was it that dragged it into darkness…?"

"One of the Marines! A member of a rebel faction… He said if I killed you, we would be spared!"

"So it was Akainu who said that… I know how much you hate Roger… to the point that it hurts even me. But Squardo, the son doesn't bear the father's sins. What has Ace ever done to you?" Whitebeard asked. "Be good to each other. Ace isn't the only special one. You are all my family!" the Captain said as his eyes locked on the spot where he could see Sengoku standing. "You haven't lost it, Sengoku…! You've made a fine mess of things."

"Boss, say it's a lie!"

"You sold us out! Damn it!"

"So, I gave away my sons' lives?!" The rage bubbling in Whitebeard was fearsome. With his Devil Fruit abilities, he opened a path for the remaining allies he still had on the battlefield.

"He opened a path… for the other pirates…! He's shrewd."

"IF YOU ARE PIRATES, CHOOSE WHO TO BELIEVE YOURSELVES!"

"I knew it was a lie!" a lot of the pirates yelled.

"If you want to fight with me, be prepared to give up your lives!"

"Oyaji…"

"Here we go!"

"Get ready! The strongest man in the world is attacking!" Sengoku warned as Whitebeard himself jumped off the Moby Dick and into the battlefield.

"Follow the boss! Clear the path for him!"

"You won't get away with this, Marines!"

"That old man is amazing… He's already been stabbed…" Luffy muttered as he watched the scene unfolding.

"Luffy-kun…" Jimbei warned him.

"Yeah. Ace comes first…" the Straw Hat Captain said as he once more began to run towards the Execution Platform.

"Jimbei, take a look at that! The enemies have all ascended to the platform!"

"I've got a bad feeling about this, but the Boss made his move, it's not the time to think about it anymore!" Jimbei responded to Ivankov as they also followed Luffy's lead.

"I won't let you reach the platform, Whitebeard Pirates!"

"It's John Giant!"

"You're in my way!" Whitebeard yelled as he blocked the giant's sword.

"I won't let you pass!"

But Whitebeard used his Devil Fruit to tilt the ground, taking the Marines off balance. The whole island seemed about to turn upside down but the three Admirals managed to block it so it wouldn't reach the platform.

"They should hurry up and raise the Siege Wall," Aokiji said, slightly annoyed.

"They can't because of your ice…" Akainu retorted.

"You should go and melt it away, don't you, Sakazuki?" Kizaru chimed in.

"I almost fell off the ice… Can't that old man tell who's on his side?" Luffy huffed.

"His crew expected it and got out of the way," Jimbei explained.

"The obstacles are gone, now I can get up there!" Luffy said as he stretched his arms but was blocked out by the Siege Walls popping up. All but a couple of them. Oars' unconscious body and Aokiji's ice were blocking their path.

It was then when Akainu's meteor attack began to fall down on the ice trying to melt it away.

In one of his allies oversights, Luffy had gone on ahead of them to try and pass through where Oars Junior lay, but an explosion forced him back to almost square one.

"Are you crazy!? There's no way the enemy would leave the one hole unguarded! It's obviously a trap! Don't be so reckless!" Ivankov scolded him as he got him before he could hurt himself further.

"If I don't do something… If I don't hurry… they're gonna execute Ace…!"

"That's right, and that's the only opening in that steel wall. We have to use it somehow…" Jimbei agreed.

"But only a few can get through at a time, and then they'll face the full force of the Marines."

"I've got an idea!" Luffy yelled. In that moment, Oars began to move.

"Ace…!"

"Oars!"

"I'll take care of it," Kizaru sighed, as if getting rid of it was a nuisance to him. "In these cases you just need to take the head…" At that moment, something similar to a spray of water flew over the Siege Wall, landing right in front of the Three Admirals.

"Straw Hat Luffy…"

"Oh, you've made it this far. But it's a little too early for you to stand on this stage."

"You certainly are bold, Dragon's son…"

"That youthfulness is quite frightening…"

"Luffy!"

"Give… Ace back!" Luffy screamed as he attacked them with the mast of one of the wrecked ships, passing directly to an all-out reckless whim.

"That recklessness… It's just like his brother's… Oars, stay there!" Whitebeard instructed him. "We need your strength!"

"Boss…"

"Joz, it's time for the trump card!"

"Roger!" Joz answered.

"Get ready, men! We're breaking through the platform!"

But none of Luffy's efforts were effective. He then resorted to his Gear Second. He knew he was pushing himself to the very limit but he had to reach his brother no matter what. As he tried to get past the Admirals, only Kizaru was able to get on his level when it came to speed and was thrown back with one of the Admiral's kicks.

"Do it!" Sengoku ordered.

It was then when Luffy got fed up. Concentrating as much as he could and getting slightly out of control, he used his Haoshoku Haki, knocking off a lot of Marines, pirates and those who were about to execute his brother.

Luffy's scream as Aokiji stabbed his shoulder could be heard above the yelling and clinging of iron against iron.

"I owe your grandfather, but I've got no choice… You chose the path to your death."

"Don't lay a hand on Luffy, you…!" Hancock yelled as she tried to rush towards where the Straw Hat Captain was, but one of Whitebeard crewmembers was faster and interfered in the last blow Aokiji was about to land on the raven-haired boy.

"First Squad Leader, Marco…"

Right then another of Whitebeard ships appeared and Oars Junior propelled it into the Square where the platform was, letting all the Whitebeard Pirates inside right when the semi-giant collapsed due to all of his wounds.

"Ace…" Luffy mumbled as he, once more, began to run towards the Execution Platform, dodging as best as he could one of the Vice-Admirals attacks, reactivating his Gear Second to gain in speed but being wounded by one of the shigan attacks, bringing him to his knees and as he tried to get up, he saw the light of one of Kizaru's attacks right in front of him, making him collapse and as he was blown away by another of his attacks it was Whitebeard who caught him before he got too far from his one goal.

"You've fallen so low if you send that trash as your vanguard, Whitebeard…"

"What did I tell you?" Ivankov yelled from above the iron wall.

"Luffy!" Jimbei exclaimed.

"L-let me go, old man! I…"

"You've done more than enough. Take care of him," Whitebeard said as he passed on to his crewmates.

"Yes, sir!"

"There's no need! Ace is… Ace is my brother! I have to…" He said as he tried to stand up and go back into battle, collapsing out of fatigue.

Well, here's another chapter. Damn, this is harder. I know there's a lack of Sabo, but don't worry, he's save and he'll intervene when the time's right!

Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. And YES, it's eight pages long! 3299 words long. YAY!

See you all on the next chapter! Leave your comments, since they brighten my day!

P.S.: By the way! We've gone past the 100 reviews! We're currently at 115. Wow! Thank you very much!

To be honest, the first time I posted the Prologue to No Regrets I was so damn afraid no one would like it. Now I feel extremely flattered by the good reception it's had had. I feel like I've accomplished a lot just by the amount of love this story has received. Keep on reading and I hope I won't disappoint any of you.

Thanks again for your support. Even if you don't leave a comment, every read, every favorite and every follow counts!