Crack.

Kira jolted as a new blaze of pain shot through her body. Panting, she dodged Kizaru and punched Aokiji in the face while blocking Akainu with her leg. He grinned, catching it in his hand. It was oozing magma. Kira bit back a scream as it burned through her pants and sizzled on her haki-covered leg.

Snap.

Gritting her teeth, Kira flipped sideways, away from the admirals. She needed a break, if even for a moment. She meant to land in a crouch, on her feet, but she misjudged her distance and landed on her ankle.

Crunch.

She groaned, rolling onto her side. No, Kira, get up. Get. Up. She crawled to her feet, spitting blood as she stood. Keen eyes searched her opponents, assessing their weaknesses and strengths for what felt to be the millionth time.

Nothing had changed, except Kizaru had a bloody nose, Aokiji had a large gash above his eye and Akainu had a split lip. Oh, and a broken rib. She grinned; giving Akainu a broken rib, seeing the shock on his face, made it all worth it. If only she could-

CRACK!

Kira gasped as Kizaru's foot connected with her face. Akainu was behind her, waiting. If she continued on her course she would run right into his waiting fist, already boiling with magma. She didn't have the strength to cover her entire back with haki; she was already exhausted to the point where throwing even a regular punch hurt.

Glancing to her left, she saw Luffy, along with her fellow division commanders, nearing the execution platform. She smirked; her plan had worked beautifully. Raising her arm, she shoved Akainu back with the help of the Mani-Mani fruit, summoning its power through her fingertips. Akainu sputtered as her power slammed him in the gut, shifting his broken rib. Kira allowed herself a moments satisfaction before Aokiji and Kizaru claimed her attention once more.

On the execution platform, Portgas D. Ace was crying. Sobs racked his body as Kira and the three admirals fought, their blows nothing more than blurs to the untrained eye, but Ace could see where they landed. Most of them were on Kira. Not to mention across the battlefield was his stupid little brother, still charging for him. If only they would leave! All Ace wanted was to pay for his mistakes peacefully, so that no one else had to die. Was that so much to ask? Why did everyone go to such lengths to save him? He shouldn't have been born in the first place, much less lived for this long.

"Let's just hurry and execute him now." Ace's head snapped up as Sengoku's voice sliced through his thoughts. He met his eyes and Sengoku looked away, almost as if he felt guilty. Ace flinched as the two men beside him, the executioners, raised their swords, the blades glinting.

Finally. If they kill me now, all of this will be over and Kira and Luffy and Pops can leave. Just forget about me, guys, and live on. This was my fate anyway, thanks to my useless dad.

"Do it, now!" Sengoku's order rang throughout Marineford. Both Luffy and Kira looked up from their fights to watch in horror as the blades swung through the air, pining for Ace's neck.

"WAIT-" Kira began, but Kizaru took advantage of her hesitation, piercing through her shoulder with a lazerbeam. Kira sunk to her knees, gripping her bloody shoulder in agony. She attempted to use her power to stop the blades but pain racked through her entire body and she slumped to the ground, numb. She couldn't do anything but watch as the blades drew hauntingly near to Ace's neck, ready to end his life.

...Shit. Kira groaned and shut her eyes, drawing up the last of her power. She ignored the bones snapping throughout her body and prepared to use her devil fruit one last time.

She didn't need to. Before Kira could do anything, a scream rattled across the battlefield, followed by an extremely strong wave of Conquerors Haki.

"STOP ITTTTT!" Luffy's cry blasted through Kira's numbness, shaking her awake. She forced her body to cooperate, stumbling to her feet as she watched the executioners fall, knocked out by Luffy's massive display of haki. Ace's surprise was etched across his face as he beheld his little brother, who was still running toward him. A small, hesitant smile appeared on Ace's face. He turned to make eye contact with Kira, but she was watching Luffy, awe apparent on her features.

Ace took the moment to observe her, and he concluded that she looked more dead than alive. Her left arm was bent funny while her right arm oozed blood. Blood was pouring out of the hole in her shoulder, her left eye was swollen, her lip was cut and her nose was bleeding. Her right leg had a massive burn across her calf where Akainu grabbed it. Her hair was a mess and her clothes were torn; she was exhausted and, in Ace's opinion, should have passed out a long time ago.

But she kept fighting. Now that the execution had been stopped momentarily, the three admirals were back on her, taking every opportunity to wear her down a little more.

Just a little longer. You only have to hold on a little longer. Luffy's almost at the Platform and you saw him get the key to Ace's shackles from Boa Hancock. He'll free Ace and then all you have to do is protect them until you get to the Moby Dick. Then everything will be fine. The pain you're feeling right now is irrelevant. Just a little longer.

Kira repeated this to herself every time she felt her resolve wavering. It hurt; it hurt so much she had considered allowing herself to pass out in order to make it stop.

But she couldn't. Ace, Luffy, Pops, her crew, they all needed her to keep the admirals busy, because she was the only one who could.

Luffy had 20 feet to go before he reached Ace when his Grandpa showed up. He was racing across the cement bridge that connected to the execution platform made by the crab guy when Garp slammed down in front of him, declaring that he viewed Luffy as an enemy to the navy and himself.

"Gramps! Get out of the way!" Luffy yelled. He raised his fist, already resolving to punch his grandpa out of the way. He had to if he wanted to save his brother. Garp watched him approach, his steely nerves wavering as he beheld his grandson. To allow Luffy willingly past him was to betray the navy; he was a vice admiral, it was his job to stop pirates. But Garp knew, somewhere deep inside, that he would regret it more if he stopped Luffy here. After all, Ace was like a grandson to him too.

So as Luffy neared, fist back, Garp sighed. And as Luffy's fist connected with his face, knocking him off the bridge, Garp internally smiled.

That's my grandson.

Never had Kira been happier than when Ace and Luffy appeared out of those flames. After Luffy had punched Garp, he had reached the execution platform and stood before Ace, grinning. Sengoku, who was next to Ace, activated his devil fruit powers in order to turn into a giant golden buddha. Luffy, along with Mr. 3 (Luffy introduced him to Kira after she saved them) shielded Ace from Sengoku, which resulted in the entire execution platform breaking. The navy men surrounding it began shooting at Ace and Luffy, who were free falling through the air. The cannonballs exploded around them, and for a harsh, horrible moment Kira thought they were dead. Ace was still shackled with sea prism stone and Luffy had just used Gear 3, which meant that at the moment he was tiny and defenseless.

Then, out of the smoke and flame, appeared the symbol of Whitebeard, made of fire. A tunnel in the smoke and flames formed in the middle, and through the hole Kira could see the silhouettes of Ace, Luffy and Mr. 3. Luffy had unlocked Ace's shackles just in time and Ace had saved them using his Mera-Mera no Mi powers.

Tears formed in Kira's eyes as she realized that they did it. All the pain, all the death and suffering was worth it.

Ace was free.