XXX

Ace had to take a step back at the sheer force of his brothers. Haruka fell upon him first and he tensed, even as his arms came around him in a tight hold. The others weren't far behind, falling into step behind Haruka as they clambered around him. He hadn't known them to be much in the way of hugging. Yet here they were, huddled around him like moths…it was kind of heavy- no it was suffocating. Ace felt like all the breath had been stripped from his lungs. He couldn't breathe. That was happening a lot lately.

"Ace are you alright," Juzo's heavy hand rested firmly on his shoulder like a weight. He hadn't bothered with the hugging but he looked concerned all the same. He gestured for the others to give him a bit of space. Reluctantly they stepped back.

"We heard what happened," Haruta told him. "We thought… well, were just glad to see you again."

They had heard some version of the truth.

"- You are okay aren't you?"

Ace was pretty far from okay. He was hard pressed to remember a time in his life when he felt worse than he did right now.

"I'm okay," He told them and then for added benefit gave them a small smile.

"Do you know anything about Marco?"

"Don't rush him! Can't you see how tired he is!"

"I was just asking."

Ace looked at the faces of his crew mates, eager and anxious as they were. It seemed like he wasn't the only one who was having a hard time lately. He had been dreading this for days. Ever since Teach had ordered him back to his home ship, back to his crew. The entire trip over he had thought about it, the crew they left behind turning up to look at him and asking for answers he didn't have or couldn't give them. Ace had never lied to his crew before and he honestly never thought he was going to. But it seems like there were a lot of firsts lately.

"I- I … I don't know." He fought back the urge to stare down at the ground below. Nothing to tip them off. He lied so infrequently he didn't know if he was any good at it or not. Probably not. It was one of those things you were either born with or you learned. And for him it was neither.

"But you saw him right! He was with you before… before he disappeared."

They were going to hate him. Good, let them hate him. He deserved it.

"I didn't. He was there and then…he was just gone. I'm- I'm sorry."

The hand tightened on his shoulder a bit. "No one blames you Ace. We know you did your best."

This all would be so much easier if they did. If everyone finally started to realize that this was his doing.

XXX

"We will leave this island, Set sail and be freer than anyone else."

It felt like he was floating under the ocean. Every time he clawed his way to the surface another wave would crash over him and drag him back down. Down to the darkness. That was alright though. There was nothing up there but pain and violence and Luffy was getting sick of those. He was sick of just about everything lately.

"Set sail and be freer than anyone else."

'Ace, Sabo, I'm sorry. I think there's a crack in me.' It wasn't there before, in fact Luffy didn't know where it had come from. But lately it felt so big Luffy would just split apart. Like glass.

"Freer than anyone else…"

Only he wasn't glass, he was made of tougher stuff then that. He was raised to be brave and strong, he was born to be a warrior. And he was trying, he really was. He had been trying so hard ever since he was a little kid. It was just-

'I want to see the sky again.'

'Freedom.'

'We're supposed to be free right?'

It was better to die in the ocean then to live in a cage. Was that right? Only he didn't think that Ace would ever forgive him.

Not for dying before he got the chance to save him….

-And then Luffy was really drowning.

Violently yanked back into the waking world where everything was sharper. All of his senses came slamming back to him at once and he tried to gasp for air but only ended up choking on the water as it rushed into his lungs. He kicked frantically and pounded his hands, fighting for air. Everything was dark, and wet and cold and he was trapped.

Just when black spots were starting to dance in the corner of his vision and his movements had started to drag he was pulled out and unceremoniously dumped onto the floor.

Somebody was laughing. Luffy was choking, he was shaking on his hands and knees, coughing up water from his lungs.

"This is grunt work. My talents are wasted with this."

The laughter stopped.

"Well no grunts will go near him anymore so you and your talents are stuck with it."

"Cowards, their scared of a little kid."

"A little kid who killed one of them…. Maybe there is hope for him yet. And all this time I thought he wasn't listening to me."

"Please, a drunk man with a butter knife could have taken them out. Their weaklings. I heard the Whitebeard pirates took out a few just last week. They are cannon fodder. That's why you recruited us no?"

When it felt like Luffy had nothing left to cough up he pulled himself up on shaky arms. Every inch of him was drenched in frigid water. Which now dripped off of him, stinging his injuries and collecting into a pale red puddle beneath him.

The room they were currently in was small and dark. It was the same slate stone the rest of the fortress was carved from. Most of the floor was wet, probably from the half empty barrel they had just tried to drown him in. Aside from that there were a few stools and buckets full of water. Teach stood a few feet away. He had taken a break from their conversation to look over at Luffy. A woman was standing behind him, near the doorway. He recognized her from the cell. She had been their while the others were fighting Thatch.

When it became apparent Luffy was breathing again Teach turned back to the lady. "It's ain't just that. A few of the guys said he did something weird. There's one, Cr- something, who can remember their names, but he won't go within ten feet of the kid. Claims he is witch or something. He says he was supposed to be watching him, keeping him out of everyone's way. And the next thing he knew he was waking up two hours later."

"So the kid sucker punched him then, mystery solved."

Teach shrugged, "Maybe. Wouldn't be the first time for those idiots." He turned back to Luffy who was watching them both with dark eyes."

"Either way boy you're starting to be more trouble than your worth."

"W-where's Th-thatch." Luffy's voice was shaky and barley louder than if he whispered it. His teeth were chattering too hard to speak.

Teach heard him all the same. Even if he pretended not too. "How about some gratitude?" He said irritation in his tone. "If I hadn't been there to pull those guys off you, then there wouldn't be anything left of you to mouth off. I damn near saved your life."

Luffy narrowed his eyes. "W-where is T-thatch!"

The man pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing in disappointment. A clear sign the other was grating his nerves yet again.

"You know Luffy, I'm getting really sick of this attitude of yours. I see the way you look at me. Think your better or something? I've seen where you come from. A backwater country populated with trash and criminals. You have nothing, no parents, no family, and no home. I doubt anyone even realized you're gone. If they did they would probably give me a medal. Your grandfather? I don't see him screaming to get you back. Your brother? Please he's not even that. You're fooling yourself if you think his attachment to you is anything other than misplaced guilt. You're the offspring of a criminal. Good for nothing gutter trash. So what about that makes you think that you are any better than I am? Huh?"

Luffy didn't answer.

"Nothing to say then!"

He brought his knees up to his chest fully feeling the coldness of the room. The entire base was like ice and the water he had been unceremoniously dumped into was colder than that still. Every part of him was numb from his blueish toes all the way to his heart which felt like it had frozen all the way through.

Satisfied with his silence the man continued. Confident he had gotten through to his prisoner. "Now you have a chance, for once in your miserable life, to be some of use to someone. Some very important people are going to come see you and I need you to look less like bloody road kill while they're here. Can you at least do that?"

"…"

"Well!"

Luffy hugged his knees a little tighter to his chest. Thatch's shirt, that had kept him warm this entire time now felt heavy and frigid against his skin. Who would ever had thought hell would be so cold?

Teach may be right; about Luffy, about Grandpa and even Ace, but he didn't think so. The man lied a lot, nearly constantly. And even if he was right about everything that didn't change the way Luffy felt about them. He loved everyone. His friends, his grandfather, and his brothers. So much that it hurt. He always had. Even if he had nothing he had them and to him that mattered a whole lot.

"G-go to hell!" He growled. "You're worse than me. I-f, if I'm trash then- what does that make you?"

The room fell silent, Teach staring at Luffy as his words sunk in. It seems like his speech hadn't had the effect he thought it would on the boy. Time seemed to still for a long moment before he turned to the woman.

"Catarina," He said his voice softer than usual but there was a tremor underneath that promised blood.

"Boss?" She asked, sensing the same heaviness in the air for what it was. Dangerous.

"Those talents you spoke of, now is your chance to use them."

"What can I do sir?"

"The Whitebeard pirate. Kill him. Make it slow."

"NO!" Luffy screamed his eyes going impossibly wide as he fell forwards.

"Don't you need him?" She questioned ignoring Luffy's screams.

"Take backup if need be but I want it done," He told her. The coldness in his tone carried enough authority that she didn't question him again.

"STOP!" Luffy screamed pushing forwards. "Don't you DARE!"

Teach finally turned his attention to him, his face white with anger. "You did this not me." The woman looked unsurely between the two of them before moving towards the door.

"STOP!" Luffy cried again. "Don't Hurt H-him."

"This is how you ask for things," He told him his tone still soft with anger.

Luffy grit his teeth, his lip trembling at the thought of anything bad happening to Thatch. He couldn't be alone here. He wouldn't do it. Not now not ever.

Before Teach's eyes he pushed his forehead into the ground. "Please," He said forcing his teeth to stop shaking so he could speak clearly. "Please don't hurt him Blackbeard. I'm sorry for what I said. I take it back…just don't hurt him."

Teach regarded him a moment. "Catarina," He said after a long moment and she paused in the doorway. "Finish up here."

"And the Whitebeard?"

Teach didn't answer. He cast one last look at Luffy before heading out the door, brushing past both of them and slamming it behind them.

Luffy didn't dare move. Even after Teach had left.

Catarina sighed recognizing both of their dismissals. And just when she finally had something fun to do. But better to listen to the boss right now, otherwise it would be her head on the chopping block.

She filled a bucket with water from the barrel mixing in some soap with it. "Get up," She snapped at the kid but he ignored her. She dumped the ice water back over him anyways, washing away the last of the blood.

"Their scared of you now you know." She told him putting the bucket down.

Luffy sat up slowley.

"They think you're tough, they say you're strong, and that you're a monster… now you're a murderer too."

"They are pathetic no? I can see you for what you are." She leaned forward a bit and he tensed.

"After the boss stepped in and saved you he had me carry you here so we could wash the blood off ya… do you know that you cry in your sleep? You're no murderer. You're a frightened kid who was forced to sit at the adults table." Her hands reached out and he flinched away from her.

"Look at that! You do know fear don't you." She rose to her feet.

"You know what I think?" She grabbed a clean set of clothes from the bench and tossed them over to him. The shirt landed on his head and the pants falling to the ground besides him. "I think you're getting tired of playing with the adults. -I think you're getting real tired of playing at all." And with that she followed her boss, slamming the door behind her and clicking the lock into place. Leaving Luffy alone in the dark and cold.

XXX

Far removed from Luffy's suffering ,but not unaware of it, on the other side of Paradise sat Sengoku. A thick stack of papers beside him on the desk awaiting his immediate signature. He ignored them for the time being and instead sat in silence, hands clasped together as he stared across his office. Contemplating a great many things.

"Sir," There was a knock on his door. "There's a man outside. He requested a meeting with you. We detained him at the gates but he said it is urgent, that you were expecting him. What would you like us to do?"

"These pirates today are getting bolder."

"Sir?"

"Search him and send him up. While you're at it bring me my Admirals. We have much to discuss."

XXX

The rain was coming down hard by then. Covering the entire town with cold misery. By the time he found him they were both soaking wet and shivering. The younger boy was in bad shape. He was beaten half to hell and it looked like he had been tortured. Sabo did the best he could, carrying him to safety and drying and wrapping the worst of his injuries. The entire time feeling anger burning in his stomach.

Sabo was no stranger to anger. It was the feeling that usually accompanied injustice and mistreatment of the innocent. But this time… this time it felt different. For starters he was angrier then he could remember feeling before. Part of him, the more malicious part, wanted to track down the ones who had done this to the kid and rip their tongues out of their mouths.

But the other part of him was just confused. And that was the part he had decided to listen too. So Sabo had gone through with the assignment as planned. Like the good little tool he was. And he had been paying for it ever since.

Ace had left two days ago, he should be meeting up with his crew anytime now. Sabo shifted in his seat feeling restless. Despite their talk he still wished he had gone along with his… with Ace. Sending him back to his crew after what had happened was like sending him into a wasps nest and then shaking it. One word and they might turn on him. Then how much good would Sabo be? By the time he made it over there might be nothing left to save. He could lose Ace. Just when he got him back.

Keeping with his promise to the other boy he would go save Luffy regardless. And then he would have to look into those big eyes and say:

-"Hey there Luffy, I don't know if you remember me or not but I guess I'm your brother. Or foster brother... If not no hard feelings, I mean you were so young. After all I don't really remember you either. But I'm here to save you. And oh by the way the brother who didn't abandon you is dead. Sorry… but you still have me."

Yea that would go over great.

He had told Ace as much while they were arguing over just how long Sabo was allowed to wait before rushing after him if Ace missed a check in.

Ace did not seem to share the same fears he did. He had nearly laughed. "First off I'm not going to die, I have you watching my back." He had told him. "Second Luffy would never forget you. How could you think that?"

How could he not?

Sabo leaned into the table in front of him. A cup of coffee sat before him, cold by this point. Now that Ace had left it was quieter. He hated it. Left alone here for long hours all alone with his thoughts. He thought about Luffy a lot. Almost constantly now. He kept replaying what had happened over and over in his head, as if he could somehow change the ending.

He remembered Luffy's face. The way he looked a split second after he had been knocked to the ground. He had stared up at Sabo, or strait through him. As if he hadn't truly seen him there. Or anyone. But Sabo had seen him. He had looked so young, even more so covered in blood and bruises with a split lip and watering eyes.

'He was a crybaby after all.'

Sabo rested his head on the table, feeling the cool wood against his pounding forehead. What a mean thing to think.

He heard a shuffling in the doorway but didn't bother to look up.

"And what's wrong with you then?" The raspy words were slurred.

"Nothing's wrong with me." Sabo told him

"Want me to take a look at you?"

Sabo pushed himself back up, turning in his chair to look at the man, a grizzled old drunken creature.

"Are you sure you should be drinking?"

He let out a gruff chuckle, patting the bottle at his hip. "Boy I've been drinking longer then you have been on this earth. I do my best work drunk."

He was close enough that Sabo could smell the alcohol… and blood. He always smelt like alcohol and blood. He hated that smell.

Alcohol, blood, so much blood. He was crying. Of course he was crying. Seven years old, covered in blood, dangling like a broken toy on a rope and screaming for help.

Sabo groaned as he reached up to hold his forehead. Like he could push it back together again even when it felt like it was about the split apart.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing's wrong with me. I just have a head ache." He told the man getting to his feet.

"I might have something for that."

"It will pass on its own." He held out his hand for the bottle. If you can't beat them join them.

With a bit of grumbling it was passed over and Sabo took a deep drink.

"That bad huh?"

"Worse." He said wiping his mouth with his sleeve as he handed it back over.

"Well when the hangover kicks in I'm sure you will feel much better. I'm heading home. I'll check back tomorrow. You should try to get some sleep. You look like hell."

"Thanks," He felt like hell. But he didn't go to sleep like he had been told. Rather Sabo pulled his coat on, moving his den-den from the table into one of the pockets. There was work to be done.

XXX

"I was wondering when you would call." This was bound to be interesting.

There was only silence from the other line.

"What have you gotten yourself wrapped up in this time Sabo?"

"We need to talk."

"Yes," Dragon put his pen down. "I would say we do."

"I think you want to be alone for this."

Sabo sounded a little off. He had been a little off for a while now. Ever since coming back from that mission. But tonight he sounded less like himself than ever.

-And it just got more and more interesting. He looked up at the two men in his office. One sorting through the cabinet and another standing awkwardly in the doorway. He dismissed them both locking the door behind them and returning to his desk.

"We are quite alone now. Say what you needed to say."

"It's about your son-"

XXX

"Thank you for allowing me some of your precious time today chief," Burgess said. His tone was sincere but something in his face mocked them. He was a very large man with a sinister feel about him and a greasy smile. Sengoku recognized him for what he was, a criminal.

"I expected to meet with your boss."

"Teach? He wanted to come but he has his hands full at the moment, sent me in his place. You have our highest apologies sir." The mocking look was still there even as he apologized.

"Busy avoiding his old captain Edward Newgate."

The man laughed, a very odd sounding laugh. "You heard about that."

"We are more informed then you know," Sengoku told him gravely. "Now stop wasting my time and tell me why I shouldn't just throw you into prison right now?"

"Well you could. But I take it that if you already agreed to meet me you know what we have."

"I know who you claim to have."

Burgess motioned to one of the marines standing at his side. "Show him why don't you," He told the unsmiling man.

"Sir," The marine stepped forward. "Upon arresting him we searched him and confiscated his possessions. He appeared to have only this." He handed the photograph to Sengoku.

The Fleet Admirable looked it over briefly before putting it down on his desk. "And this is?"

They both knew that Sengoku already knew who it was but Burgess answered anyways. "Monkey D. Luffy- sir. Son of Dragon the revolutionary leader."

The admirable on his right who had, up until that point been looking out the window, turned to face them. He took the picture from Sengoku's desk to inspect, as if it held some secret for them to uncover.

"You are sure?"

"Yep that's him."

"How do you know this?"

"Do you doubt that's him?"

"Answer the grand admirable questions!" The man to his right snapped, slamming the photograph back down.

Burgess held up his hands in surrender, "His brother of course."

"I was not aware Dragon had more than one offspring."

"-I guess I should say his foster brother. You will all know him as the second commander of the Whitebeard Pirates Firefist, or Portgas D. Ace."

"This is ridiculous!"

Sengoku held up his hand and silence fell over the room almost instantly. "And where is the evidence of this?"

Burgess looked amused again. "Sir," He said lowering his voice as if the others wouldn't be able to hear him if he spoke quietly enough. "Do you really doubt what I'm saying? With all due respect I though your information network was past this point."

"What I believe and what you can prove are two very different things. Now if you expect us to trust anything you have to say I suggest you start showing us some proof," He snapped.

"Alright, alright. Full discloser then. As I am sure you are well aware of by now my captain, Marshall D. Teach betrayed his old boss Whitebeard. He kidnapped one of the old man's commanders as leverage. Newgate is ridiculously fond of his crew, sees them as all his children."

"-And by doing so starting a war with the Whitebeard pirates. One you cannot possibly hope to win."

"A necessary risk I assure you."

"Is it now?" Sengoku asked.

"We don't just have one of his commander," He assured him.

"No it seems like you also have this boy."

"Yes, and as long as we have the younger Monkey we have Portgas as well."

"Why is it so important you have him?"

"Sir," The mock sincerity was heavy in his tone as the pirate smiled. "I am sure you already know what's so special about him."

"Humor me then or we are through here."

"Alright, okay. The outlaw pirate you know as Firefist is actually the son the infamous pirate captain Gol D. Rodger. The last of the presumed dead Gol blood line."

"Impossible," One of the admirable snarled.

The Pirate turned his attention back to Sengoku. "What do you think sir?

Sengoku refused to rise to the bait. He ignored the man besides him as he continued on. "Firefist will obey you?"

"Yes, he has already proven his loyalty to his foster brother outweighs that of his crew."

"To what extent?"

"I'm sure you all have noticed the absence of Whitebeards right hand man the Phoenix. I assure you that was no accident. Nor was it by my hand he was done in. Although it was on my captains orders."

"So you're claiming Firefist is your prisoner?"

"Prisoner? Where is the fun in that? He is our puppet."

"This is ridiculous!" The heated Admirable slammed his hands down. "These are nothing but baseless claims. Do you really expect that the World Government can operate on nothing but the words of a lowly criminal?"

Burgess looked up at the outburst but his attention turned back to Sengoku. He didn't seem bothered by their lack of trust in him. Rather he seemed as smug as a cat. As if they had already given him the keys to the kingdom.

"Sir- Grant Fleet Admirable, My captain is offering you the chance to fight the overreaching hold Whitebeard has on this world as well as the offspring of the two most dangerous criminals in recent history. All in one move. If it is proof you want I would be more than happy to show you. It's understandable if you are hesitant. But I don't believe that hesitance stems from disbelief in my claims does it…sir."

Sengoku neither denied nor agreed with anything he said instead asking, "What are you asking in return?"

"Only your support against the Whitebeards and any other opposing forces against my captain."

"You're asking for back up against this war with Whitebeard that you started." The second admirable finally spoke up.

"A chance for the government to be rid of the Whitebeard pirates once and for all, surely that is in all of our best interests no?"

"What else do you want? Don't insult me by pretending that you are here on our behalf."

Burgess wet his lips, mentally arranging his next words carefully in his head. "My captain," He said after a moment, "requests warlord status and the support of the government that comes with it."

"Warlord status is something to be earned."

"I assure you by the time all is said and done he will have earned it five times over." He turned to address the room. "Do we have a deal then?"

"You have given us much to consider," Sengoku said coldly.

The infuriating grin was back now. "If I may sir, if you do believe me, and we both know you do. Then what possible reason do you have to refuse me? On behalf of the world government could you afford to turn us down?"

Sengoku rose from his desk, standing at an impressive height in front of the pirate. "I think I can afford to do whatever I see fit on behalf of my superiors." He told him and the smile disappeared from the pirates face. "You however cannot afford to get on my bad side or the price will be your worthless life pirate scum. Now as I said you have given us much to consider. We will discuss, during which you will wait for our verdict. Now I presume if we do agree to your terms we will need to verify what you said is accurate. You will take us to your boss?"

"Yes sir!" It seems like he had finally managed to make the ignorant man aware of his current circumstances.

"Any failure to do so will lead to your immediate execution and your captain's arrest."

"Yes sir."

Sengoku gestured to the two men standing beside their prisoner and they gripped his upper arms, leading him away. The pirate obeyed willingly, pausing only briefly in front of the door.

"Consider carefully sir," He told Sengoku and to one of the men standing silently at the back of the room he simply smiled.

"My apologies for your loss vice-admirable."

XXX

After this you guys are probably thinking, good! I'm glad you failed your O-Chem midterm you monster. But in my defense I did warn it was going to be sad.

XXX

Guest #1: Thank you!

SoulMore: Thank you!

Jordansdevil: Thank you I did! It was a lot of fun.

xXxWolvesInTheNightxXx: Don't worry! He is still alright! He is too good and sweet to die. I'm still getting over him dying in the cannon and that was years ago. Thank you!

Mocca: Haha I'm sorry I didn't mean to trick you. I just didn't want the violence to scare anyone. On reflection I guess that was misleading.

yukino76: I LOVE Luffy! He is so sweet. I promise I will make it up to him. Or try.

But I'm glad you liked the chapter!

Azufyra: Thank you! That's so sweet.

TheDancingMelon: Lol thank you for the backup. Don't worry, I can't be bothered by one person when I have so much support from everyone. (They?) Made me realize how lucky I was to get so much encouragement for my story.

Mel72000: You're very welcome. Thanks for reading. It's true haha. I do this to him because he is one of my favorites. Which probably says something about me…

Kitsune Foxfire: That's true, he had bigger things to worry about right now. Thank you though. I'm glad you liked it!

DemonKittyAngel: I think Thatch just wants to protect Luffy. But Luffy's not all that upset about it. Don't worry about it! I am just thrilled to know people are enjoying my story at all! Hopefully the move went well. But Teach learned from his mistakes. Yes, he is a spiteful man. Thank you for reviewing with all the craziness right now!

SarahPrincess : Thank you! I am really glad you like it, and him. Haha thanks, it's hard to hurt my feelings. But that is very kind of you. I try my best to keep them in character but I fail sometimes. Good luck with your writing!

H3llion: Yea, poor buddy.

Daralis: Thank you! I will, and again after this.

Sophia Mendes-Coruja: Aw thank you. That is so sweet.

Yes it is quite dark, with worse to come for just about everyone. Luffy could use so many hugs right now. I will try to have another Thatch and Luffy scene to try and offset some of the badness before things get worse. I am glad you like them together as well! Both are sweet hearts. But I'm glad to hear I haven't scared off everyone. I will try to update soon and I wish you luck with your endeavors as well! May this year be your year!

markshandon7 : He did. But it wasn't the full thing. I thought of it like the time when he frightened that animal in the anime without realizing he had done anything. Where his powers weren't really ready yet but some was starting to leak through.

Phoenix's death: Well you never know… ooh look a butterfly. Pretty!

Magic: Thank you! And yes! Hopefully you liked the more as well. I know my grammer is super weird. I make it needlessly complicated. IDK why. And I don't spell check nearly enough. A lot of mistakes get past my proof reading and I don't have enough time to fix it all (most go over my head). If it's any consolation I am aware and feel bad about it. But I would rather be writing then spell checking with what spare time I have. I'm sorry I know it must be annoying. Thanx fur ta revuuw.

Fi Suki Saki: I know I'm sorry. I promise it will get better soon. Please don't cry. I have happier stories than this one if it is getting too dark/ stressful. I know the feeling and I sympathize.

bpv229: Yes! For a bit he did. Hopefully again, if I can squeeze it in. More on them next time! Thanks for the review!

Avalayn: Yes he did. But it was a watered down version. Kind of like in the anime where he started uses pieces of it before it was ready to be used. It was a precursor to what's to come down the road. The lackeys are actually Ace recruits. I know they are supposed to be in impel down but I am trying to follow the cannon a bit so I am going to say two and a half years before the story line they weren't arrested yet. Is this true? I have no idea. But I promise the in-continuity isn't a huge point in the story. Just a detail I threw in from the cannon.

SvalbardGirl: Thank you! I am really glad you liked it. Luffy is a creature of instinct. I will get back around to Thatch I promise. He is more upset about it then anyone. Haha me too. I'm glad to know you are still enjoying it! Hopefully the next bit will be all right too.

Guest #3: Ooh that would be an interesting story for sure. You should write it.

Guest #4: Yes! Will do! Darker it is. More suffering all around check. Also happy ending check. I am too! And thank you, that is kind to say.

SakuraKoi:Thanks!

Guest #5: I promise I am working on it. They will be here soon!

XXX