Another dark one. Warnings for blood, brief torture, PTSD, ratchet medical procedures, near-death, and slight mentions of suicide (depending on how you interpret Ace's answers.)
XXX
There wasn't much to do in the mountains as far as entertainment went. Ace and Luffy still managed to find ways to get into trouble that took up a lot of their time. But in between, they would collect on the tin roof of Dadan's shack and look out at the stars together. Their favorite time to stargaze was in the summer when the air was warm and the sky above them was clear. The view was amazing and the longer they stared the more stars would appear. Thousands of tiny pinpricks of light against the indigo sky stretched out above them. It made everything feel so small beneath it.
It was just about the only thing that made Luffy remember how small Ace really was. The rest of the time there was no need to doubt him. Ace was a force to be reckoned with. Aside from physically, Ace wasn't small in any aspect of his life. He toppled most opponents in strength, he was large in terms of his voice, determination, and willpower. He was skilled in almost everything he did, especially compared to Luffy who naturally seemed to struggle with just about everything.
Most of all, Ace wasn't afraid of anything. Not even a little. Which was insane to Luffy as there were a lot of things in this world that made him take a step back. But it was all one big challenge to Ace, and he loved a challenge. So Luffy followed him every time, because even though he knew that while he didn't have the strength in his small hands to do something, Ace would be there. He was always there to protect him, to cover him when he fell short. Plus, he had promised Luffy that he would always be around for him, to make sure Luffy never had to be alone again. And so Luffy never had to lose someone like he had lost Sabo. Because that feeling- the feeling of his heartbreaking, wasn't something he ever wanted to go through again.
So Luffy never doubted Ace in his promise or his actions. And it was only when they were lying here, that he was even reminded that there was a chance, no matter how small, that his brother could fail.
Turning his head away from the spackled sky above Luffy poked Ace's cheek to see if his brother was still awake. Ace groaned, turning onto his side. His grey eyes blinked open, focusing on Luffy and then the stars beyond him.
"What's it?" he slurred, rubbing tired eyes. "Want to go back in?"
Luffy shook his head. "When you die, do you go up there?" he asked. "To be a dot."
Ace muttered back. "Those aren't dots, their stars- not people stupid."
"I know," he said. "But where do you go when you die?"
"How should I know?"
"Where do you think S-"
"DON'T," Ace snapped and Luffy trailed off. Ace always yelled at him every time he tried to bring him up.
Silence passed between them before Luffy started up again, his voice low. "Do you think your parents are up there?"
"Since when do you care what happens to dead people?"
It wasn't Luffy's usual conversations, which were mostly food and adventure-themed. He shrugged. "I just wanna know."
-Because maybe one day he would see his brother again. And he didn't like to think that the Ace right here, lying beside him, could be gone one day. In the blink of an eye, to the one place, Luffy couldn't follow. But if they were dots, maybe they could be dots together. Along with all the people he loved. And he would never have to be cold again because all their lights would keep each other warm. He smiled, raising his hands to the sky, trying to touch one of them. It was too far away right now, but he would be taller someday.
Ace was silent for a moment before he answered, his voice thick with sleep. "They're not in the sky Lu, there in the ground. Their bodies rot and the worms eat them until there is nothing but bones. That's just how life works."
Luffy thought about that. About all the people down there. "If I die," he said. "Don't leave me down there, okay? I'll be cold, and I'll get lonely."
Ace was staring at him now, his expression unreadable. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you," he said.
Luff knew this. But something had happened to Sabo- even though Ace hadn't wanted anything to…
"Just in case," he said. "Don't let Dadan, and Gramps and everyone put me down there alone okay.
"Lu," Ace said- pausing for a moment. "You're right about the stars okay…"
"Promise-," Luffy pushed him, annoyed by his reductants.
"You're not going to have to be alone." Ace said. "I promise." He held out his pinky, and Luffy took it with his own. "I'm not going to let anyone put you down there- not alone."
XXX
There was so much noise. It felt like all the oxygen had vanished from the world, and there wasn't enough left for him. Luffy tried to breathe but he ended up coughing instead, and something wet bubbled up from his mouth. He was choking. This was what it felt like.
Above him, he saw the dark outlines of shapes moving. Someone was holding his temples, talking softly to him. He didn't understand what they were saying but their tone was gentle. Then a more urgent voice stood out above the rest. Why was everyone being so loud? Didn't they notice the air was gone?
One of the dark shapes came closer until all Luffy could see was them.
"Luffy," a voice said. "It's okay- calm down." Something heavy rested over his chest, and the area felt warm. Not overwhelmingly so, but rather in a comforting sort of way.
"You're going to be okay," it continued, and he felt the warmness spread out across his body, chasing back the coldness of before. "I know it hurts," the voice continued. "But you're not going to stop fighting now, are you? Not after all of this…"
Luffy wanted to tell the voice that he hadn't- and wasn't planning on it. But when he tried to talk no words came out. Instead, he felt something wet spill from his mouth, running down his cheek.
He felt the hands pull him to sit up, so they could feel down his back, moving his shirt up as they did. The voices didn't stop the entire time and Luffy didn't understand how they were still talking, without any air.
"Keep him still," the voice commanded, and no matter how hard Luffy tried to twist to chase the air, his body was held in place.
"What's wrong?" Another voice said, sounding so- so far away. "He's choking!"
"Luffy, try to breathe in for me."
-Now they were just being stupid. If he could do that he would have. Luffy closed his eyes, feeling himself sink further down. Even as the chatter above the surface became more frantic.
"He must have swallowed some water," the voice continued, drifting in and out of clarity as if Luffy was listening from underwater. "His lungs have too much fluid buildup. They're already infected, but they can't keep up. He's going into total respiratory failure.
"Can We Get It Out?"
Someone squeezed his hand, and he tightened his own in response.
"We have to." The voice said, no longer comforting. Now it was clinical and detached. Luffy hated that voice. It sounded like a true doctor. He tried to push the hands away again, but he still couldn't move. Irritated now, both his lack of air and whatever was holding him down he tried to thrash against it. He had been in this situation too many times, completely helpless under the glint of a doctor's knife. Luffy screamed or tried to as he felt himself be flipped to his back and held there.
"What the hell is that for!" Someone above him said and Luffy struggled harder.
"Thoracentesis- I'm going to take it out. Don't let him move at all or this might kill him."
The weight redoubled, and Luffy felt like they were trying to crush him against the ground. He didn't understand why they were doing this to him, especially now when he was already struggling with the air. He felt the hand tighten around his once more and he focused on that.
Something sharp stabbed into his back, puncturing his lung. Luffy tried to struggle harder, the pain now doubled as he felt the immense pressure in his lungs snap.
"Stay still Luffy."
"Stay still, kid." The man's condescending voice reached him before the pain did. "I know this hurts," he said, fake sympathy in every word. "It's okay. I'm going to help you."
Luffy's struggles grew at that. He didn't need help from that man or any of them. He just wanted to be free of them. Why couldn't they just let him go? Why did they have to keep hurting him? He screamed, feeling his terror well up in his chest until it was too much for his small body and it burst forth, radiating outwards.
The pirates all felt it as they scrambled to keep their hold on him despite Luffy's panicked display of fear-fueled power.
"Shit!" he swore. "Guys!"
"We're trying!"
The hands-on his temples were back now, rubbing at the wetness on his cheek. "Luffy-," the voice said, sounding nothing like his usual tormentors. There was only sympathy and sadness in their tone as they continued. The words were whispered straight into his ear, and Luffy latched his attention onto them, trying not to focus on the burning in his lungs. "Luffy- you just told me you were coming with me? Don't you want to leave with us?"
Luffy stilled at the words, even as the pressure in his lung became unbearable.
"Lu," the voice tried again. "Once we get out of here, I won't go anywhere without you- for the rest of your life if that's what you want. You won't be unhappy, I promise. I'll do whatever you want. But you have to stay with us right now." The hand on his cheek was back, and Luffy tried to tilt his head up at his brother, but nothing moved. He felt the sting move to the other side and he hissed but lay still all the same. Closing his eyes again when the pressure resumed.
He remembered saying that, and he meant it. But it wasn't like he planned for all the air to leave, or for gravity to crush his lungs. Luffy hadn't meant for any of this to happen, and he didn't understand why Ace was saying that. Where did he think Luffy was going?
"Lu," his brother continued softer this time though. Like he was getting further away and out of focus. "-I've never asked you for anything before. Just do this for me okay. Stay here."
The background noise muddled together until it became mirky water overhead. The voices sounded upset about something.
Luffy tried to move again but this time he felt too heavy. He wanted to tell his brother that it was okay. Of course, he would do that for him. He would do anything for him. But there was no sound in his throat. So Luffy smiled instead, hoping his brother understood.
"No – no- come on," the doctor was saying. It wasn't the mean CP guy, it was just Marco. The guy who had tried to make Luffy feel better.
Luffy would tell him thanks later, and maybe sorry for how much he had bitten him. But right now, he was really sleepy, and everything seemed to be drifting too far away. He closed his eyes again, content now that the pain was slipping away.
Everyone seemed to be talking at once, far above him on the surface.
"Shit!"
"He's not breathing!"
"What happened?"
Luffy could feel the hand holding his tighten, anchoring him to the mess of words and sounds around him.
"Okay kid, hang on!"
Luffy felt the hand in his, tear away as he was picked up off the cold ground. The warm feeling was back, all-encompassing this time as it overwhelmed him. It was a little too insistent- burning too hot on his cold skin. Chasing the sleepiness away only to give way for the sharp sting of reality.
"Come on Luffy," Marco was saying, drowning out all the other noise. "Don't do this! Not now."
The intensity of the warmth grew at his words until it was all he could focus on. It was so much power, all around him. Forcing its way into his body from every direction until it felt like every part of him was vibrating with the energy. It kinda hurt- alot. Although it was nothing compared to what Luffy had survived.
As everything came into focus around him, Luffy was awed by the man's power. If he was this strong then maybe it wasn't a good idea to kick him as much as he had. He felt the man's hands start to shake with the effort. With a great deal of pain, Luffy opened his eyes again, meeting the unnaturally blue eyes of the doctor, which seemed to be glowing with the power emanating from the man. The second their eyes connected something like relief crossed the man's face.
Then his grip slipped away, and they were both falling.
Luffy passed out gratefully.
XXX
"Boss!" Burgess practically skidded into Teach's office, the large man uncharacteristically out of breath. "You'll want to see this."
Teach scowled as he looked up. "What now?"
"They're here!" The man said.
"I'm aware of that," he snapped.
Burgess shook his head. "Not just the Whitebeards. Everyone."
Teach cursed as he stood up, following his underling through the twisted corridors of a base to the outside.
There were already several battleships docked in the harbor of the tiny island. Every one sported a military logo on the side. He knew the Admiral was down there, coordinating with the other officials.
"Boss, did you find them yet?"
"What do you think?" Teach seethed. "It wasn't his fault the marines were the most incompetent swine he had ever met. How hard was it to find a group of bumbling pirates and a half-dead kid in their own base? He refused to accept that his choice of headquarters was the problem. If any of them, including the cipher-pol's best, were competent, then the group of them would be back in their clutches now. But instead, they were going to face the government, the Whitebeards, and the Revolutionaries with no leverage. This was turning into a real mess.
Even more so as he took note of the behemoth of a ship, encroaching upon them. He would recognize the Moby anywhere. After all, it was Teach's old home.
Teach had no desire to play with Whitebeard as he was right now. He had seen the old man pissed, and he knew how dangerous he could be. If he squinted, he could make out the figure of the huge captain standing at the bow of his massive ship. Waiting for war.
"He's outmatched," Teach said. "That much is obvious."
"What about those," Burgess pointed to the dots, that flecked the horizon like an invasion of mites. Ships, all headed here. Whitebeards allies no doubt, and more Marine backup. Which was which would probably going to decide the war.
Teach clenched his fists in anger. This was the first he was hearing about Whitebeard's reinforcements. That shifty old bastard- how had he managed that. The government was not going to be pleased.
"Go down to the tunnels," Teach spat. "Find them! And if you can't manage that- I want you to collapse every single one. I would rather crush my bargaining chips than have them slip through my fingers."
He would show all of them that he was not someone to be crossed. Or disrespected.
Because Teach wasn't finished yet. In fact, he was just getting started. Soon the whole world would understand that. Including that senile old man.
XXX
When he woke up the room was dead silent. Luffy shifted a little, relieved to see he was leaning against Ace, his cheek resting on his brother's shoulder. Ace looked over at him as he moved. The older boy's expression seemed relieved, if not a bit pale. Flecks of blood dotted his left cheek. He offered Luffy a weak smile, letting him know it was all right. Other than that, he didn't have much else to say.
Luffy looked around the tiny room again, wondering if one of the pirates had disappeared or something. But no, they were all here.
He turned to look at Sabo next, who sat beside them. He looked pale as well, with fresh blood spattering the side of his face. He gave Luffy his own smile, although it was as weak and fake as Ace's had been. Luffy frowned.
"Did someone die?" He whispered, unsure of the tone of the room. That seemed like the wrong thing to say because Sabo winced.
"Luffy!" Thatch's voice cut the silence of the room. He sounded genuinely relieved, and his smile was much warmer than anyone else seemed to be capable of right now. "Are you okay?"
Luffy nodded, giving in to a big yawn, which made him wince. His lungs protested the movement.
The doctor or- pirate guy, was fast asleep on Thatch's shoulder, dead to the world for now. Luffy had never seen him sleep up until now. Weird.
"We were just worried about you," Thatch said.
"Nobody was expecting you to just die like that," the short pirate said, only to get elbowed in the ribs by Izou. "What!" he defended, "tell me I'm wrong. No one knows how to handle seeing that."
Luffy's frown grew, "I wasn't going to die?"
"So, you said," the pirate argued back. "Seriously kid, that was a close call."
"I wasn't dying," he argued.
"You were just what then?"
"I ran out of air… just a little bit."
"Just a little," the pirate echoed in disbelief. "How do you run out of air just a little?"
"Maybe you did too, and you didn't notice."
"Luffy," Sabo's voice was soft, but it drew his attention. He sounded… weird. Like far too soft-spoken. "You managed to get some water in your lungs. They were already damaged, and your body couldn't cope. You stopped breathing so Marco had to take it out."
"How'd he do that?"
"With a hypodermic needle," Sabo continued, looking as pale as Luffy had ever seen. "But by the time he managed to get all of it out, your body was already going into shock. So he had to use his powers to save you."
"Like all of them," Haruta told him. "It was kind of insane."
"Oh," Luffy looked back at the sleeping man. That was really nice of him. "Why did he do that?" He asked. "He's a doctor?"
He received only blank stares.
"Why did he save you?" Thatch repeated and Luffy nodded. "One day I am going to introduce you to some real doctors okay Luffy, I think you are going off too small a sample size right now. Just because one of them liked to hurt you, that doesn't mean everyone is that fucked up."
Luffy guessed that was fair. He tried to sit up, and Ace reluctantly let him go.
"Did you fall into the water earlier?" Izou asked him. "You were all wet when I found you, and Marco thinks that you must have nearly drowned to get that much in your lungs.
Luffy shook his head. "I didn't fall," he told them, and they looked relieved. Although it was short-lived. "A giant water lizard pulled me under." He looked down at his shirt, someone had ripped out most of the buttons. That was kind of mean.
"He's kidding… right?" The big, sparkly pirate said.
Thatch's smile fell a bit. "I honestly don't know."
Ace shook his head, "he's not."
"What-?" Sabo asked.
"I definitely did not see that when I found him," Izou said. "But he was next to the ocean, soaking wet and I swear to god when he got mad at me, I thought the ocean was about to come after me."
"It was just my friend," Luffy told them. "He's nice." He tugged Ace's arm. "You would like him." Ace didn't respond, only shifting to rest his cheek on Luffy's head. Luffy let him, patiently sitting beside him. Ace seemed upset to Luffy, actually- they all did. But no one was downright mad at him, or angry at anyone in general, so he guessed it was still okay.
They stayed like that for some time, most of them stunned into silence. Luffy thought it was more peaceful this way- when everyone stopped asking him questions or yelling at his brothers for stuff that wasn't their fault. Luffy's eyes started to slip closed again, leaning harder against Ace as he fell asleep.
He was almost gone when he felt it again.
All thoughts of sleep vanished from his mind as he sat up. He settled for his knees, leaning over to pull on Sabo's sleeve.
His brother turned to look at him curiously. His gaze was still mirky like he had a lot on his mind. But Luffy could tell he was listening.
"He's back." He said, watching recognition flicker across Sabo's face.
"You're sure?"
Luffy nodded.
"Okay." Sabo rose to his feet, reaching down to help Luffy.
Setting his jaw in determination Luffy grabbed Sabo's hand with both of his as he hauled himself up. Whatever the doc- whatever Marco had done to him he felt better. His legs still shook underneath him but he could stand again. Sabo grabbed his elbows to steady him.
"Are you scared?" he asked and Luffy shook his head. He was still very scared of That man. He didn't think that was ever going to go away, but he wasn't scared like before. Luffy knew things were going to be okay. No matter what happened next.
"Okay," Sabo said again, as he turned to the small room, raising his voice. "Can you guys manage with Marco?" he asked Jozu and Haruta, getting everyone's attention in the process.
"Is it the marines?"
"Yes," Sabo said. "The Cipher-pol agent is coming back. If he finds us, he's going to bring the whole navy down on us."
"Shit," Izou cussed as Jozu moved to pick up the passed-out doctor. "This is terrible timing."
The small room had three possible exits. The main one, now boarded up by old crates as a security measure, another small vent off to the side which only Luffy could manage to fit through, and finally a partially collapsed tunnel leading off from the corner. It was anyone's guess if it was still passible, but it was their best chance.
"How long do we have?" Jozu asked.
Sabo looked at Luffy who shook his head. "Not long," he interpreted.
Ace helped them, holding one of the collapsed beams off the pillar to make enough room for the pirates to crawl through, into the tunnel on the other side. Jozu and Haruta went firstwith the sleeping Marco, careful of their brother in the small space. When they made it through, they temporarily put him down to find the right tunnel out of the flooded sections. Thatch and Izou crawled through next, immediately checking on their downed brother.
"You guys go," Ace told them, but Sabo shook his head, letting go of Luffy to come to hold the rotten wood for Ace. "You first," he said. Ace was unusually slow to comply.
When Sabo motioned for Luffy to follow Ace, he hesitated, his bare feet rooted against the stone. Sabo sighed, letting go of the beam to hug Luffy.
"We're going to come back Lu," Sabo told him. "We are always going to come back for you."
"You don't know what he's like," Luffy said.
"Guys!" Ace warned from the other side of the opening. "We have to hurry."
Sabo leaned down, pressing his lips against the crown of his little brother's head. "You have to trust us," he whispered.
When Luffy didn't move, Sabo sighed. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
The next second Luffy yelled as he felt his brother pick him up, carrying to the spot where the others had disappeared. He handed Luffy to Ace through the small opening despite the younger boys' protests which were quickly becoming screams.
The second Luffy's feet touched the cold stone floor on the other side of the broken pillar Ace had to grab him to stop from running back. "Luffy what's wrong?"
"He's going to kill him!"
"What?" Ace looked up at Sabo- but it was already too late. In that moment he watched his brother lash out at the pillar. The already splintered stone cracked, breaking boulder-sized pieces from the top. The support beam broke and within seconds the small opening disappeared to nothing but a rubble-sealed entryway.
Ace let go of Luffy, pounding against the wall furiously.
"SABO!" he screamed, feeling Luffy at his side, still yelling for their brother. "DAMMIT! SABO!"
It didn't take long for the Whitebeards to catch up.
Ace felt himself be torn away from the wall of rubble by a surprisingly strong Thatch.
"Hey! Hey!" His friend said, his hands on either side of his head. "Ace calm down!"
"NO!" Ace fought his hold. Turning to look back at the wall.
"ACE!" Thatch said again and when the other refused to look at him the man rested his forehead against the younger boy's in a display of total and complete world-weariness. "Ace," Thatch said for the hundredth time. "It's okay. He has a plan, right? Otherwise, he wouldn't have done that."
"I'm not leaving him!"
"I don't want to either," Thatch promised. "I mean dammit, not to say age means anything- but you guys are little kids to me. But if we keep hitting this beam it's going to come down and bring the whole tunnel down with it. We don't have a choice."
Ace set his jaw, looking at the wall with determination. He still very much had a choice.
"No offense," Thatch said. "But I'm not leaving you behind right now. I don't like where your head is at."
"And Sabo's fine?"
"No! But we don't have time to excavate the wall with a spoon right now!" Thatch rubbed his face. "Sorry- just. He's a smart kid, and sneaky when he wants to be. If anyone has a chance against a cipher-pol agent, it's Sabo."
"No!" Luffy was still at the wall. Banging his bandaged fists against it with such intensity his bandages were beginning to stain. "You don't know what he's going to do to him! You don't understand!"
Luffy understood all too well apparently.
"Ace," Thatch said again, softly. "I can't make you come with us like I can with Luffy and- fuck me for asking you this, but I think one of your brothers wanted to protect you, and one of them needs you."
Ace turned to look at Thatch, really look at him. And in that moment, he looked so young. Way too young for this.
Turning on his heels, Ace grabbed Luffy, who yelled in protest, dragging the younger boy away from the wall- towards the hallway beyond.
But nothing about it was a victory for Thatch. Rather he just felt sick as he followed them. The other three Whitebeards had nothing to say to them- there was nothing they could say. So they kept going- Izo, Haruta, and Jozu alternating in carrying Marco and going on ahead to scout out the partially flooded section of tunnels.
Thatch fell into step alongside Ace once more. The sick feeling in his stomach not going away.
"I'm sorry."
Ace looked at him, shifting his grip on Luffy. The kid struggled so much his brother had put him over his shoulder. "Why are you apologizing?"
"I know what it's like," Thatch told him honestly. "To feel like you're going to lose your sibling. It feels like you're dying." He had felt it countless times for countless siblings. He felt it for Ace all those times he had rushed off, only to disappear in the dust of a fight. And he felt it for Luffy, basically all the time now. Just a constant aching pain.
Ace looked back at the dark hallway in front of them. "No," he said. "We've already lost Sabo once before. It feels like someone ripped your heart out of your chest."
And you just had to go around- with a hole where something should be. Partway between living and dead.
"I know," Thatch said softly. He knew what that was like too. Part of him wanted to offer to take the weight off Ace's shoulders, hold Luffy back while he went back for his other brother. But he was worried that would get them both killed. And then Luffy would die of a broken heart- and probably Thatch too at the rate this was going. He really wished Marco would wake the hell up already. His brother was better at this- or at least better at hiding his very own bleeding heart.
He reached over to ruffle Luffy's hair. He felt the kid quite a little. "We're not leaving anyone behind," he told them. "Pops is here. We're not alone anymore. We just have to hang on a little longer. Sabo can handle things for a bit. It will be okay- you guys will see."
Thatch seriously hoped it would be. Because he just lied to his two littlest brothers.
XXX
Someone take the song As the World Caves In- away from me. I think I'm abusing its sad power.
So the war is about to start. Everyone is lining up. Once the fighting starts things are going to get a bit better for everyone. But the very end part of the war is going to be rough- no lies. After that though I promise nothing but cuddles/ medical attention/ therapy/ and cute family chapters for the rest of the fic.
In the scene at the beginning where Luffy was dying, Ace was obviously the one talking to him, Sabo was the one holding his hand, and Thatch was the one being totally useless standing in the middle of the room staring at all of them in shock. He is still traumatized from the first time Luffy died so he kind of freaked out when it happened again. That's why he is trying to be a good big brother at the end to make up for it.
I know you guys were all hoping for the happy train to continue- not the sad to come back. But I promise epic fluff to come to make up for this. The back luck is temporary, especially when Whitebeard is so close and more than happy to destroy everything in his path for his lil kids.
Anyway! I'll try to update soon! I hope you guys had a good Christmas and a happy new Year!
XXX
Mel72000: Of course! Thank you. Yes! I think so too. The sea kings in Fishermen island seemed much kinder.
xXxWolvesInTheNightxXx: Yes! WB is here to help! And thank you! I have been waiting forever to play out Luffy's imaginary friends haha. This won't be the last of them.
Skyla579: Haha, I also stan the one good hearted sea king. And thank you. I have been meaning to do that for a while. They got so annoying to write, I had to proof each chapter since like 39, to make sure I didn't forget. I'm glad you liked it! I think I got you!
A6r6o6k: Yes! And everyone else! Backup time. And yes! Luffy is good at making friends where ever he goes lol. Luffy is all about the truth- lil blunt boy. In this case he was doing both, being nice to Izou and also dropping some truth. Thank you! Hope you like this one. And of course! Thanks for the reviews!
Vick1006: Yes! And all the reinforcements. Luffy backslid a little bit in this one. But he has weirdly good healthcare coverage lol. Don't worry. They are protected by MC powers.
cI3L: Haha, sorry something did happen to them. But they will be with Whitebeard soon enough/ under his protection. You can't get much safer than that guy. And of course! Thank you for the nice review and putting up with my shenanigans.
Starlightjuice: Haha, in that case I am sorry about this one. It got a little rough again. Seriously. I hate Teach so much/ but not as much as Akainu. I am still thinking about a satisfying death for them and CP dude. I take suggestions haha. One of them can die in the war probably. I was thinking of having Sabo take CP dude. It seems fitting for his revolutionary heart/ his promise to Luffy. I think we will see haha. Good suggestion.
And thank you! Luffy making WB friends gives me life during the sad parts. Soon enough he will collect them all like Pokémon. (no one wouldn't lov lil fluff boi)
Kitsune Foxfire: Haha, thank you. Luffy speaks of giant lizard sooner than I thought. And thank you for the nice review!
Zahadacem: So I have no idea how close the ending is actually. I'm not sure how long the war is going to be. I think I'll play it by ear depending on how fun it is to write/ how painstaking a ton of fighting is. But I can promise action and a Shanks at the end. After that I think just chapters of fluff.
Summer Nickels: Why thank you! Six years strong so so far so good!
Drayukken: Haha, not to be conceited but ME TO! Luffy working his Luffy magic on the WB's while he is actively trying not to engage with them is bringing me so much joy haha. Thxs.
Sakihinata: A friendly sea lizard for Luffy to chat with!
yukino76: Haha, sort of.
Aquarica: Luffy took a bit of a stumble. But he is still in good hands. Just less of them. They will be with the WB's soon. Yes! The intensity will be for real.
Rose Narcissus: Yes! Luffy's free because writing them got so annoying haha. I kept forgetting and would have to beta each chapter again to make sure I remembered until I said screw it and freed him. Sorry about Luffy's lil backstep. But be safe too!
Special02: Oh my gosh! You probably need sleep haha. I wrote this thing and not even I'm willing to reread it. I'm glad you liked it though! I try to update it frequently (with mixed results over the last few years). But no major hiatuses. And thank you again. That's so nice to hear!
Masofi: Another update is here! Don't worry. I promise not to kill Luffy. He has gone through enough. I still don't know about Dragon. I think the general census was people wanted Garp to stay out of it. Shanks will make a cameo though! Thank you! I will talk more about the voice of all things a little bit later!
Wishfull-star: Haha- I am so sorry about this chapter then. If it means anything the separation will be temporary. Good lil seaking. He will be back. I hope this wasn't too sad for you! Stay safe too!
RainbowFatCat: Thanks!
SarcasmRocks: No problem! And thank you. The giant lizard was a surprising hit. The ASL cuddles were a lil desperate in this one. But I promise to make up for it after the war! But everyone is about the reunite if that gets me off the hook for the sad end haha. And thank you! So nice of a review. Stay safe!
JulieAnnaMai: Ah, Luffy was getting better until now (I really am sorry). He took a bit of a backslide but he is Luffy so he will work his way back up again. Everyone does deserve so much! They will get it and more- once the war is over (including Thatch of course).
ThePansexualFish: Aw, thank you. You always say the nicest things you. I hope you liked the new update and weren't that disappointed by the depressing turn things took once again.
AzraelMairsile: A short lived reunion, but I promise a short-lived separation as well! Whitebeard is going to rbeak the house and then just keep breaking stuff. And of course! Thanks for the nice words.