Luffy and Ace stood facing each other, neither moving. Luffy's face was shadowed, but his clenched fists conveyed his emotions. Ace grinned, but his eyes told a different story. They darted around as if looking for an escape, because Ace was afraid. The air was tense, waiting to see who would strike first. Luffy broke,

"Gomu Gomu no Pistol!" he shouted as his arm shot forward, but Ace was fast. He darted to the side and grabbed Luffy's wrist in his burning hand. Ace stood his ground and tightened his grip. Soon Luffy was flying towards him, his body trying to catch up with his arm. Ace waited for his brother to get closer, and then he threw a punch. The fist smashed into Luffy's face and he crashed into the sand. In a minute he was up again and he charged at Ace. Luffy burst through the fire, and turned only to get a foot in his stomach. He barely moved, and he grabbed onto Ace's leg, catching him off guard.

"Gomu Gomu no Pistol!" he yelled again. This time the attack hit its mark. Ace groaned as his brother's hand slammed into his stomach, just inches from where Zoro had stabbed him. He fell to his knees trying to regain his breath, but there was no time.

"Gomu Gomu no Bazooka!" Ace hurtled backwards. He rolled to his feet, chest heaving.

What am I doing? This is my brother that I'm fighting.

Another punch came out of nowhere, and Ace morphed to avoid it. As he reformed he looked around the small camp. Chopper was hovering over Sanji, who was propped against some rocks. Nami was sitting a few feet away with Usopp. She was covered in sand, and she looked scared. Zoro lay on the ground, his eyes closed, his katana scattered around him.

These are my brother's friends.

"Gomu Gomu no . . ."

I never wanted to fight Luffy, I just thought . . .

"Pistol!"

I thought I could take out his crew. Without them he didn't stand a chance.

Ace doubled over at the impact of the attack.

I figured that with them gone I could make sure White Beard became the Pirate King.

Ace coughed and blood dripped onto the ground.

Without his crew Luffy would give up. He'd be broken. I never imagined it'd come to this.

He looked up as Luffy came to stand over him.

Nami realized that it wasn't just Zoro who was in danger. I was supposed to gain their trust. Then it was just going to be accidents along the way.

Luffy knelt, and looked into his brother's eyes, his own cold and wary.

He was never supposed to know it was me. When they were all gone I'd vanish. I'd return to the White Beard pirates and I would help my own captain become the Pirate King.

"I can't forgive you." Ace's breath caught in his throat. "Not yet, and not anytime soon. You hurt my nakama." Ace turned away as he saw tears begin to fall down his brother's face. "I trusted you, and you hurt them." Ace felt guilt wash over him.

"Luffy . . . I'm sorry. I only - " Luffy cut him off sharply.

"I don't need to know why. I trusted you, and you hurt them," he repeated. He stood and backed up a few feet. "You need to leave." Ace stared at his brother.

"But, I don't have any food, or water . . . I - "

"You need to leave. Go back the way we came, and don't follow us. I don't want to fight you anymore, but if you come back, I will." Ace pushed himself up, and climbed to his feet. He watched as his brother walked back to his small, powerful crew.

"Luffy! I'm sorry. Please," but his brother didn't look back. Ace hung his head and started to leave when he heard a soft thud behind him. Looking over his shoulder he saw Luffy's arm retracting from a small bag of food and water. Ace picked it up hesitantly.

"Thank you," he whispered.

I underestimated them, he thought as he walked away from the doctor, the sharpshooter, the navigator, the cook, the swordsman, and the Pirate King.

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