A/N: Hello everyone! I'm back from my break and I've loved all your wonderful reviews and comments.

I have been hard at work on this story and have been writing quite a bit. And as this is my birthday weekend (YAY!)

I can promise two chapters this weekend as a nice welcome back to this world.😁

This is the first of the two. hopefully you will enjoy it!

Chapter 29 - Vanishing Point

In the Jungle, Closer to the Rocky Bay

Jinbe couldn't believe he was doing this. How in Poseidon's Cradle had he gotten himself into this?!

They were so going to kill him for sure.

Trafalgar was going to kill him.

That human lady Doctor Lily? She was going to kill him too.

Rayleigh? Dead.

Marco? Dead.

Ace? 10 day-old chum would be more alive than he was going to be, once Ace got his hands (and if he couldn't move, his flames) on him.

He was a mature adult Fishman for goodness sake! How did he end up taking orders from a 17-year-old pup? An insane one at that, who seemed to have little proclivity for self-preservation?

The coming hassle was practically enough for him to turn right back around, march right back to the Heart Pirates ship, and lock the kid in his room until someone else came back that could deal with this!

And yet…

Why didn't he?

He glanced back to the bandaged hand that was holding tightly onto his back, and the pained but determined dark eyes that were desperately searching the jungle ahead of them.

It was that look on his face that drew him…that kept his feet on the path despite the lunacy of it.

He had been a commander in the Fishman army, was captain of the bravest crew to sail the seas, had been a warlord that had no problem with facing down the entire World Government for what he thought was right. And yet, when this unassuming human boy had asked a request of him, he found that he couldn't refuse…

Twenty Minutes Earlier

Jinbe, First Son of the Sea, looked through the paper as he sat in the operating room, waiting for Rayleigh or Ace's return. The paper was still talking about the aftermath of Paramount War as well as the fallout of Whitebeard's death. The loss of the emperor had caused chaos all over the New World and he worried about what this would mean for Fishman Island and its people. Other emperors would be vying for it, and while he had yet to get in contact with King Neptune, he had a feeling that Big Mom would probably put on the most pressure.

He had no idea what Marco's plan was as the new captain of the Whitebeard pirates. There would be a funeral of course, it had probably been delayed because of Ace's recovery. The pyromancer would probably also reveal himself back to the world, which would put a gigantic target on his back. He would be a good second hand to Marco though as the new first mate. But all eyes would be on them now. People would wait and see how the crew fared without the leader that had been a titan of the seas for so long.

This included him.

While Jinbe's first instinct was to automatically vie for Marco and the remaining Whitebeards, and he knew all of Pops' sons were strong enough to stand on their own. But if they could handle the empire he had left behind, remained to be seen. He had his people and their safety to think about first and foremost.

He thought about appealing to Shanks as an option as well, though the man might not want to, considering it would be extending his reach quite a bit, and while his fleet was large, it was well-known that they weren't the best when it came to—

It was in the middle of that thought that Jinbe began to feel the weight of a pair of eyes watching him.

Looking up from his seat, he was both surprised and not to see a set of large round brown orbs staring back at him from the medical bed.

StrawHat Luffy looked rather small and a bit pale compared to when he had first met the pup some days ago, but it was definitely a huge improvement from when he had carried him in yesterday, beaten and bloody. There was also some recognition in those eyes this time, which had seemed to be a bit shaky the last time he had woken up.

None of the doctors were around, but Jinbe was sure that he probably could find one of the Heart crew to get some help now that StrawHat was awake. Putting the paper down, he got up and addressed the pirate with a smile. "Good morning, Luffy. How are you doin—"

"Where's Ace?"

The sudden question nearly made him start. It was the first thing that came out of the kid's mouth and it wasn't like Jinbe wasn't expecting it, but the intensity of his eyes seemed to bore into the very core of him as if searching and uncovering every secret he had ever had with his gaze alone. However, rather than giving into the shudder, he sighed before smiling and continuing to the boy's bedside. The last time they had talked, he had been about to crush the young pirate's entire world, but only one day later and he was more than happy to be given a much easier, much more pleasant task.

"You're brother's out for a walk, he'll be back soon though. He wanted someone to stay with you in the meantime."

The moment he said that, StrawHat began to relax cautiously, like a deer who was feeling out its surroundings to make sure it was safe before venturing further. His voice was still rough from the surgery, "A-Ace is alive…right?"

Jinbe nodded gently with a smile, "Yes, he is. He only went out for a little while. He'll be back. He's going to be relieved that you're awake."

Luffy looked around the room, seeming to take it all in, looking back and forth between the equipment, the door, Jinbe, and the empty bed by his side, he still seemed a bit disorientated and cautious. If the ex-warlord had to guess, he was still getting a feel for the situation, trying to get an idea of reality around him. Mentally the young pirate had been through the ringer ever since he'd awakened after recovering from surgery—the first time. It was no wonder he was more than a bit out-of-sorts.

Deciding that maybe he needed a little more reassurance, Jinbe came over to the young pirate's side. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Jinbe put a hand to the seventeen year-old's shoulder, adding that bit of contact to let him know that what he was seeing was indeed real. The pup flinched a bit but looked up at him with a bit more clarity.

"Look at your hand, Luffy."

The boy blinked blankly before slowly raising a hand, turning it back and forth in puzzlement.

"The other hand."

Blink. Lu switched hands, and this time saw that in this one, he was holding something clenched tightly in his fist.

Slowly undoing his tired fingers, he could see the remains of what resembled…a shirt? Yeah, the remains of a torn shirt was balled up in his hand.

Huh, what was that doing there?

Right now, I'm just glad to be with you. To see my crewmates again. To be doing anything again. I can get another hat. But getting another chance? Because of that, I'm happy. Truly happy.

Ba-dum. Luffy's eyes widened as he remembered where he'd seen this shirt, who it had come from.

All those voices in your head? Whispering that you're not good enough? If only you had been better, stronger, whatever? Tell them to Get. Lost. Tell them I said so. And if they have a problem with that, they can take it up with me.

Luffy's eyes filled with tears as precious relief began to wash over him.

Y-yeah I'm alive. I'm real, and I'm really here…you little crybaby…

The older male's larger hand patted at Luffy's shoulder in comfort. "It wasn't a dream, Luffy. It was all real. Everything that you remember really happened."

The tears continued to fall as reality sunk in. It was real. This was real.

Jinbe watched patiently as Luffy processed everything, giving the young pirate time to gather his swirling emotions. Though Luffy's body was healing, the Fishman knew the psychological wounds would take longer to mend. The fact that Luffy was clutching Ace's shirt like a lifeline was evidence enough of that.

"A-Ace is alive…"

The sea knight calmly nodded once again in confirmation.

"I'll let Ace know you're awake when he returns. For now, just focus on resting. You've been through a great ordeal. I'll find the doctor and we can see about even getting you some food. I don't think you've eaten solid food in quite a while."

Luffy sniffled, looking over to the bed by his side and the cloth in his hand before wiping at his eyes before glancing up at him, "Can you take me to him, please?"

Jinbe stared back at him in confusion for a moment before realizing what he was asking. He patted his shoulder with a laugh before getting up. "Don't worry Luffy, your brother will be back very soon. You're still recovering. You tore your stitches after being too reckless yesterday when you reunited with Ace. You nearly died again if it wasn't for Captain Trafalgar and Dr. Lily saving your life at the last minute. Make sure to show your gratitude to them. For right now, you need to just stay there, I'll be right back."

Luffy stared after him as he closed the door behind him. The Fishman looked around the halls trying to find someone to ask….only to find no one about.

Where was everyone?

It was strange that this part of the ship was so empty, but perhaps Trafalgar had asked for his crew to give his guests space?

Either that or all the partygoers from last night were still abed nursing splitting headaches and groggy dispositions…

Realizing he might need to search around the ship a bit more, Jinbe returned to the OR to inform its recovering patient.

Opening the door, Jinbe began,"Okay, I can't seem to find anyone yet but…I…will—what are you doing?"

Luffy looked up at him blankly as he was in the midst of getting out of bed, only in his medical gown, one foot already on the floor looking for his sandal.

When the kid didn't answer, he rushed alarmingly over to his side. "Get back in bed. You're not strong enough to be walking around right now. Do you want a repeat of yesterday?"

Even as Jinbe pushed him back into bed, Luffy answered plainly, "I have to go find Ace."

"You just need to stay in bed and be patient. Your brother wouldn't be happy to see you potentially hurting yourself for no reason, now would he?" He placed the covers back onto the kid.

The young pirate looked at him expressionlessly for a moment before shaking his head.

The whale shark male sighed in relief. "Good, stay put. I'll be back as soon as I can. Stay. Put."

He moved hesitantly away, watching with a bit more concern this time. Luffy didn't move and only continued to silently watch him, every second of his blank stare only filling him with even less confidence.

Jinbe sighed as he left the room, only to pause just outside the door.

Aaaannnd…..he could hear the sounds of Luffy moving around again already. Shaking his head, Jinbe turned back and entered once more.

Luffy had already managed to get out of bed again and was once again attempting to put on his sandals, though he was so weak he could barely stand. He froze in place when he saw Jinbe standing there with his arms folded, as if somehow if he didn't move, the male couldn't see him.

"Luffy, get back into bed," Jinbe commanded, this time taking a much more stern approach. "You are in no state to go wandering the ship looking for Ace. You must rest and recover your strength."

Luffy looked up at Jinbe forlornly, but this time he at least spoke up. "But...I have to see Ace first..."

Kneeling down, the male picked Luffy up and physically placed him back into bed and tucked him in snugly. "I know you want to see Ace more than anything. But you must be patient and heal first. How about this? You stay in bed while I go get him, can you do that Luffy?"

The boy nodded, but before he had even done it for more than a couple of seconds, he began to shake his head instead.

Jinbe sighed. Well at least he was a pretty lousy liar. And his stubbornness was still as prevalent as ever.

Well, he could solve the whole problem by just locking and barring the door, and letting Marco, Rayleigh, Ace, whoever —deal with the kid when one of them inevitably returns. However, he also knew that part of Luffy's stubborn desire was born out of a psychological vulnerability. He believed that everything was real, but he needed his brother to really hammer the point home. It was like when he had watched him nearly shatter yesterday and he had been waiting for Jinbe to deliver the final blow that would destroy the last sliver left of his world—it was all that except in reverse.

Rubber could bounce back quite easily. Emotions? Not so much.

The emotional trauma he had endured was nothing to sneeze at. It was going to take a while before Luffy would be able to fully separate from Ace without a bit of anxiety. It was something Ace had already known, which was why he had insisted on being by his little brother's side for the time being. And Jinbe knew that if he had tried to keep StrawHat Luffy in that room, it would not only exacerbate the situation, but the stubborn pup would probably injure himself even more trying to escape than he would going about his search.

And honestly, he was a bit concerned himself, considering the way Rayleigh had left in such a hurry.

If…perhaps he were to go and take a look, and they went slow, and he kept a vigilant eye on the boy the entire time? It shouldn't be too big an issue…right?

No! This was stupid, he shouldn't even be considering this.

His eye caught onto Luffy, and it almost seemed that the boy was aware of his dilemma. His eyes seemed to stare into him even more deeply, becoming more shiny and pleading like that of a puppy dogfish.

Well…maybe…

No! You have to just put your foot down, you spineless jellyfish!

He was about to turn to leave when those puppy dogfish eyes intensified.

Ya know what? Fine. Besides, once he found FireFist, he'd dump the little Monkey off on him and let him be his responsibility. It would take care of two birds with one stone.

Placing his hands on his waist, he looked down at the kid pointedly. "Alright, if…just if…I were to take you to go find Ace, would that satisfy you?"

The change that came over StrawHat was nearly instantaneous. He sat up quickly and his face erupted into a smile that was brighter than the sun. "Thank you! That'd be great, Jinbe!"

"You'll stay with me and we're just going to find Ace and that's it. And then you're going to return here and get some rest and eat. Do you understand me?"

He nodded rapidly, smile never fading.

Jinbe really hoped he wouldn't regret this, as he helped the boy up, took out his IV, and got him dressed in some loose pants and shoes to go over his many, many bandages. "We can't risk you getting reckless again and bleeding all over the place. Dr. Trafalgar and Dr. Lily, Ace's doctor, worked really hard to heal you. And both Trafalgar and your brother gave you some of their blood so you could live. It would be a shame for you to waste their efforts."

He pulled Luffy onto his back, allowing him to grasp onto his shoulders but keeping a supporting hand on him at all times.

"Ace and Tra…Traffa…Traffy did that? For me?"

"It's Trafalgar, Trafalgar Law, Captain of the Heart Pirates. And yes, he's the one who helped you, both after the war and yesterday."

Luffy hummed thoughtfully as Jinbe tied a blanket around him to keep him secure as well as to keep him warm. He understood Ace Ace was alive, he was!, the fact that his brother gave him blood wasn't surprising, but it made him really, really happy to know that he had a bit of his brother now with him always. The other person though was a bit more confusing, though the name sounded familiar.

"Does Traffy have a giant bear friend that goes around with him?"

The ex-warlord opened the door, trying and hoping that this wasn't going to be a bad idea. "Hmm? Yes, I'm pretty sure he has a bear mink on his crew."

It clicked for Luffy and the image came in his head of the lanky smug rival with the spotted fur hat that he had met on Sabaody. He also kinda remembered seeing him vaguely one other time after that, but that was a lot more hazy. As Jinbe moved through the ship, he recognized the Jolly Roger as well, emblazoned about the place. Huh..he wondered why that guy had saved his life of all people? Why had he given him his blood too? Him, a stranger and a rival?

Luffy was too tired to dwell on it any longer. He was also quite hungry. But food could wait. He clutched onto Ace's shirt tightly as he tried to shake off the feeling of being in a dream, constantly reminding himself that this was all real.

However, reality and illusion had crossed paths on the same street for him before, and he still didn't quite trust his ability to differentiate. So for now, he would rely on his brother's presence to confirm the truth for him.

Present Time in the Amazon Jungle

Jinbe was still trying to convince himself that this had been a good idea. They hadn't come upon any of their companions yet, and he could feel flares of haki further in the forest which concerned him. He thought about turning around, but the boy on his shoulders would have probably decided to find some way on his own to go on without him. So Jinbe decided to just keep going, but continue to be vigilant, taking his time.

So far Luffy was staying quietly observant and awake despite the fact that he could already tell the kid was getting fatigued. If nothing else, it continued to prove that he was quite unyielding and had a will that could topple mountains. But that was something the male had already known. This boy was going to be a force to be reckoned with someday.

"You know your brother's going to be pissed about this, right?"

"Mm", the raven kid nodded.

He glanced up at him, "And you know he's going to chew us both out over this, right?"

Another nod. "Mm"

"Aaand, you don't really care, do you?"

"Unh-Unh"

To Luffy it didn't matter if Ace got mad at him, as long as it was Ace who was doing it. He would take it easy, he promised. Just as soon as he knew that Ace was (alive) okay.

For some reason he felt that he couldn't just wait for Ace to come to him. His inner fears fed into this feeling and so he refused to turn back and simply stay put.

He needed to be there. He didn't know why, but he didn't really care about that either.

Near the far West Coast of Amazon Lily

Ace was caught off guard as Rayleigh suddenly appeared out of nowhere, swinging a massive long sword with such force that it shattered the tree where Ace had been sitting just moments ago. The sound of splintering wood and the rush of air filled his ears as he was violently pulled out of harm's way by Rayleigh's strong grip on his arm. They quickly retreated back into the cover of the dense jungle, leaving his heart rate racing from the unexpected attack.

His first thought was to Sabo and if he was alright, but of course Sabo was an incorporeal spirit so he should be fine.

But then why did Rayleigh feel so solid?

What was this? What kind of turn was his dream taking?!

"Grab on." the Dark King commanded, his voice calm but no-nonsense, expecting instant compliance. The twenty year-old pirate was used to the man's nuances in tone and even though he was completely bewildered by the situation, he knew this wasn't the time to argue. He quickly placed his arms around the man's neck and Ray was able to maneuver him onto his back with one arm, always keeping his left sword arm at the ready.

The moment he was settled, the two were already on the move, Ray moving swiftly through the woods away from where the yew tree had stood. However it wasn't long before Ace could feel something was actively pursuing them, also moving at rapid speeds. And this something had a pretty strong haki presence that was completely muddling his brain.

Okay, that's it. He needed some answers now.

He leaned as close as he could so that he could speak without having to yell extra loud despite the wind resistance.

"Rayleigh! What's going on? Why are we running? What are you doing in my dream?"

The man's dark eyes briefly looked back at him, before returning back ahead. "'Dream'?"

"Yeah, I fell asleep after I finished training! I don't understand, where are we going?"

Even with as fast as they were going, he felt Ray's hand move to his leg before giving it a nasty pinch.

"OUCH! What was that for?!" He yelped before frowning. He instantly wanted to let go and rub at it, but the moment he even thought to let go to do so, had him losing his balance! So instead he just increased his grip.

"You're not dreaming, Wildfire. You just let your guard down in front of a total stranger that was hiding his haki,when you happen to be the biggest target the world doesn't know about yet."

Ace blinked for a moment, the pain and words registering into a conclusion. This wasn't a dream? Then…he had been awake the whole time? But then what—?

Ash-colored eyes grew as big as dinner plates before flashing silver as realizations began to settle in.

"Rayleigh, wait!"

The older man glanced back at him once again. "Can you give me a good reason why?"

There was a pause for a moment before the raven bit into his lip while clenching his fists, "I-I need to find out something. Please!"

The retired pirate was hesitant, but he was himself looking for answers as well. Normally, he wouldn't engage in this kind of cat-and-mouse chase, but his first priority had been getting Ace to safety. The boy had such low self-preservation skills it seemed…though that was tempered by the fact that he seemed to be under the mistaken idea that he had fallen prey to his narcolepsy somewhere along the way. (His response indicated this was a common occurrence, which was troubling.)

What was perplexing about the whole situation was that while he had felt a malevolent presence that had alerted him to the situation in the first place, the invader that he had found didn't feel like the right fit.

Also, if their current pursuer meant Wildfire harm, then either Dragon had had a severe change in his modus operandi, or else there had been a huge upheaval in the Revolutionary Army ranks and one of his kids had gone rogue. Because as far as he could tell, the person doing a fairly good job at keeping up with him was none other than the RA's Chief of Staff and second-in-command, the "Revolutionary Aristocrat" Sabo.

Lily had mentioned getting in contact with her higher-ups and he had assumed that she would be meeting up with her people eventually. But why not just go meet with her outright? He knew that it was likely that she had informed Dragon of Ace's survival and the part she had played in it. But what interest could the man have in Ace directly? Did it have to do with Luffy? Or was it something else?

And what was with that murderous impression he had gotten earlier? While indeed the incendiary following them was quite pissed off currently, that hadn't been what he'd felt. So what was going on?

It was all of these questions that led him to make the decision to comply with Ace's request, and he slowed down to a stop before turning around and waiting for the rebel to catch up. He did make sure to give instruction though, "Listen carefully, be vigilant, and if something happens, do what I tell you. Ya got that?"

The kid nodded, though his eyes were intently watching the clearing up ahead.

Their pursuer slowed down, his breathing heavy as he finally made his way into the glade.

As he was trying to catch his breath, Sabo finally laid eyes on his quarry.

His eyes widened in shock, "Dark King Silvers Rayleigh? W-What are you doing here?"

The silver-haired Right Hand of the Pirate King wasn't the last person he expected to be his attacker, but he was pretty close.

He took an even more cautious step back. The man was a legend as well as a recluse, having disappeared from the public stage for many years. And yet…

Those years hadn't decreased any of the man's affluence. He would be an idiot to think that age would in any way decrease the man's strength, ability or skill, at least not in any way that it would matter to him.

The blond was no fool, even with all his ability and skill he was currently no match for the pirate legend. He should disengage. It was obvious that Silvers, if it had been him, hadn't been meaning to kill him, at least not upfront. If he had wanted to, he would be dead right now. He touched a cut on his neck that was too clean to have been made by anything other than a blade; one that was now obviously a warning.

The Dark King stood stoically, silently observing him without responding to his inquiry. He was dressed modestly, holding a naked nodachi sword in a relaxed manner. Sabo made sure to keep a safe distance from the weapon, although he wasn't certain it would make much difference against someone as skilled as Silvers.

Facing him fully, the veteran always kept his back completely turned away from him, and Sabo could see that this was because the man had another person hidden astride his back with their arms around his neck. Sabo narrowed his eyes as he tried to get a glimpse of the mysterious person Rayleigh was protecting. Who could be so important that the Dark King himself would act as their bodyguard? And what did it have to do with the attack on his life? What had called the ex-vice captain out of retirement anyway? It wasn't like the Roger Pirates had been prevalent on the world stage in more than a decade.

Why had he revealed himself here, rather than say—at Marineford where his captain's son was put to death for his father's sins?

Rayleigh observed the top-hatted blond, getting a read on him.

The kid was young, about Wildfire's age, but he could tell from the way that he held his body that he was both strong and skilled, and from the caution he employed that he was also patient, shrewd, and deliberate. His weapon of choice was a pipe of all things, and not something that he had picked up on a whim, but looked to be specially designed for combat, basically a modified quarterstaff, and while he was sure there were other weapons hidden on his person, he had the air of a melee fighter. All in all, he showed commendable traits as an ideal heir for the most wanted man in the world.

However, what he found even more interesting, was Wildfire's reaction to the Revolutionary's presence.

The moment the Rebel had entered the glade he could actually feel Ace's attention zeroing in on him. And then, he could feel the fingers clutching onto him begin to tremble and his breathing was becoming hurried and labored. It was hard to tell what was causing such an emotional response, but he reasoned it was related to why the brat had asked him to stop.

The blond suddenly scowling at him drew his attention again. He then followed it up with another question, "For what reason did you attack me?"

This time, Ray decided to indulge him while he continued to feel out the situation, "Considering you're the invader on sovereign land, you should be relieved that it was me that found you, rather than the Kuja, Revolutionary."

He felt Ace move up slightly to whisper in his ear, "D-Do you know him, Rayleigh?"

He never took his eyes off the Rev, but he murmured back, "I know of him. He's the second-in-command of the Revolutionary Army."

"T-The Rev?! Like with Ange, Scha, and Lu's old man?"

"Yes, he's Dragon's 2nd. They call him the 'Revolutionary Aristocrat'. His real name is—"

Said "Aristocrat" coldly interjected, "Don't you know it's rude to talk about a person as if he's not right in front of you?"

The rebel had been injured on one side of his face and it seemed to have affected one of his eyes, giving it a milky blue quality. This set it apart from the crystal clear blue eye sitting next to it, though both were currently staring daggers at him at the moment.

He continued flippantly, obviously beginning to lose patience. "So this is where the Roger Pirates were hiding all these years? On the Island of Women? Comfortable enough I guess. What kind of deal did you strike Dark King? And is there a reason you decided to take action now, of all times?"

There were a ton of insinuations surrounding each of the boy's words and it just made the older man smile all the more.

"Hmm, I had thought you a little more astute, but you really are just a brat aren't you?" He commented amused.

The Rebel only glared harder at that.

Rayleigh had no intention of explaining himself to anyone currently, so he simply followed up the statement with, "Is there a reason you're here, Revolutionary Sabo? If it's to find your missing agents, you're a bit out of your way."

Ace let out a sharp gasp from behind him and this time he did take a moment to glance back at him.

He was met with a pair of fully dilated silver eyes and skin that was paling by the second. His entire body was trembling now and Ray couldn't tell if it was from fear, excitement, or anger…or a combination of all three.

He heard the kid whisper one word…a name. It was so soft that even he could barely hear him. But the amount of emotion and familiarity surrounding that name was palatable.

It was then that he remembered what Ace had told him yesterday on their way back to the Tang…about another brother that he had lost many years ago. One that had a name that even then, he had absently connected it to a certain Revolutionary agent.

My, my…

There was never a dull moment when it came to this family…

Anger began to flare within him as Sabo demanded, "Where are my agents? What has been done to them? And who are you hiding back there?"

Silvers responded plainly, "I'm not so sure what you mean? Your agents are fine. Myself and my companion have been traveling with them for days. As for your last question, that's none of your business."

"Bullshit."

Nothing like that had been mentioned to him!

True, he hadn't gotten much of a briefing, but he would have remembered something like: Lily and Schaden are currently traveling in the company of freaking Silvers Rayleigh!

Ugh, he was getting nowhere like this. The old pirate wasn't giving up his secrets, and he still had no idea why an attack had been made on him in the first place? Was he acting as a mercenary to someone else? Why was he here right now of all places?

He should retreat and regroup with Reinhard and Kircheis.

He had no chance against Silvers Rayleigh on his own, which meant that he couldn't make him tell him what he wanted to know.

He wouldn't do Lily or Schaden any good by getting himself killed.

All logical reason told him to back off and leave well enough alone.

So…why couldn't he?

A mix of stubbornness, recklessness, and fury coursed along with the alcohol through Sabo's veins, pushing him to stand his ground in spite of the voice of reason whispering in his ear.

Why?

Because he was tired. He was so fed up with all this!

He had had one moment of peace, the first he'd had in a very long while, and this man and his machinations had ruined even that. Everyone respected Silvers Rayleigh; a legend spoken of in whispers among pirates and marines alike. He was second only to his partner and captain in terms of notoriety. Even Dragon had respect for the both of them despite his general pococurante attitude towards pirates. Sabo hadn't really cared all that much either way…at least before.

When his memories were gone, he had been as in awe as all the rest. But now with them back and Ace gone…

Suddenly seeing the Dark King in front of him, giving him a hard time, was beginning to rub him the wrong way.

All these years neither Silvers, nor any of the Roger Pirates had made a single move, cowardly hiding from the world.

Ace had been ostracized and hated all his life, and not a single one of them had ever shown up or cared.

Not a single one of them had even attempted to help him while he was imprisoned in Impel Down.

Not one had joined in on the Paramount War.

NOT ONE had even attempted to save Ace's life!

But then again, they hadn't tried to save their Captain's life either, so what could be expected? Some pirates didn't really give a crap about loyalty.'

And sure he blamed himself for not being there as well, (he blamed everyone who had failed Ace— including Ace—all except Lu, who couldn't be blamed for not being able to do what wasn't his job in the first place. Luffy had given it his all, but it wasn't Lu's job to watch Ace's back—it'd been his…) but what excuse did Silvers Rayleigh have?

So while he would be an idiot not to be mindful of the man's power, any respect for him had vanished.

His heart felt like stone and his fists clenched as he coldly asked, "Tell me what I need to know or—"

"It's okay, Rayleigh. I'll talk to him." A quiet voice cut him off, "Let me down."

The voice didn't yell, but spoke with indomitable command.

The tone was all too familiar to Sabo, as was the cadence accompanying it. He had only heard it not too long ago. However, hearing it now, coming from behind Silvers' back, made him nearly drop his weapon and forget about the Dark King entirely.

Rayleigh didn't bother to look back at his brat, he had been expecting the request, but he did murmur back quietly, "You sure? I thought you couldn't walk?"

Ace had already loosened his grip and moved to stand on the ground on his own as he helped lower him down. His voice was clipped as he responded back, "Had a second wind."

Mismatched cerulean eyes widened with shock and a dull thud could be heard as the Revolutionary's pipe escaped his lax grasp and fell to the ground. Ice seemed to freeze Sabo's heart as a figure appeared from behind the pirate veteran's back. He couldn't even think of any words to say, thought had even been stolen from him.

Dark locks hung in loose waves, contrasting against skin that was paler than he remembered, but the dusting of freckles against sharp cheekbones was more than familiar. And even though his stride was a bit stiff, that stance he knew in a heartbeat. And those silver eyes that finally met his…

Those eyes were alight with molten steel and flame, rebellion and cold rage in a single glance.

Sabo couldn't say anything as his brother's figure emerged from behind Silvers, every thought and every word stolen from him in a single moment.

Rayleigh watched Ace carefully as he wobbled a bit but it seemed like a mixture of adrenaline, a torrent of emotional feelings, and a whole lot of stubbornness had replenished Ace's haki—at least for a little while.

It wouldn't last long. After whatever this was, was over? He was pretty sure that he would be completely done for the next couple of days, but he would let Wildfire make the choice on this one. His commanding tone had no effect on him—if he thought Blondie was going to be an actual problem, he would have just ended it right there and then and the boy would've just had to deal with it—but he was no stranger to D. independence…or D. rage for that matter.

Ace had his father's fire—one that burned fiercely but never forgot to give off warmth and light to those around it. Though interestingly enough, it was burning quite cold at the moment. His face could've been cut from marble for all the emotion he showed on it, his features in shadow and his bearing that of a stalking predator. His eyes though, gave away his feelings.

He was pissed alright, but it was an amalgamation of not simply anger…but also hurt, apprehension, sorrow, fright, and delight, all rolled into one steely, tumultuous maelstrom peeking out from his soul. And while he didn't know him nearly as well, Commander Sabo didn't seem to be much better, though the fact that he was staggered, overrode any previous anger.

Oh well, he'd have to let these two hash that out.

His concern had already diverted towards other things.

He was pretty sure at this point that whatever danger he had felt around Ace hadn't come from the Revolutionary. The kid was angry, irritated, belligerent, and dealing with some issues, but he wasn't maleficent. Which meant that there was something else out there that was the actual danger. Whatever it was, was long gone by now, but he didn't doubt that it would make a return. While Shanks had been dealing with things on his end, that didn't mean they could take it easy on their end. He'd keep watch and perhaps do a bit of reconnaissance while the two brats settled whatever was going on between them.

He whispered to Ace as he released him fully, "I'll let the two of you work this out. I'll only intervene if it gets out of hand. Remember your limits. Don't do anything that would make the Missy and your brothers worry. Understood?"

Wildfire seemed to start a bit at his wording, glancing over to him in surprise. He gave him a small knowing smile before nodding in acknowledgement and understanding of the situation.

He murmured "Got it."

Ace watched briefly as Rayleigh took a step back, before vanishing once again into the jungle. He'd left the two of them alone, but he was sure that if anything went wrong, the guy would somehow show up out of nowhere. He'd never get over how fast that old man could be when he felt like it. However, he put all of that out of his mind as he turned his attention fully on the only other person left in the clearing.

His heart once again began to tremble as he fully took in the tall, lithe blond figure in front of him.

Cornflower eyes and hair—now a lot longer—falling in golden waves…

Dressed in black breeches, boots, a white shirt and sapphire vest, cravat as his throat, top hat on his head, even still adorned with goggles (though these were of better quality), it was like time had both stood still and rushed forward all at the same time. The voice that he had spoken to by the yew tree, as he had unknowingly conversed with a man of flesh and blood rather than a ghost, matched the image he saw before him perfectly. It was exactly as he had imagined his twin would look if he had been allowed to live past childhood, minus perhaps the scars on his face and the blinded eye.

Those new additions made him wince and added even more questions to the flurry of them flooding his brain.

Even as he had wanted to deny it, to reject and quash every bit of evidence in front of him, to ignore the heartfelt words that had been spoken between them inadvertently—Ace's heart just won't let him.

This was his brother.

He knew it before Rayleigh had even confirmed his name.

Sabo…his twin…the Cas to his Pol…back from the dead.

After all this time…

Ten long years, thinking he had been killed.

Not a visit…not a call…not a letter…

And now he stood before him, a hotshot rebel…freeing the world from tyranny…

Yet, ignoring the cries that came from his own family…

An image appeared in his mind's eye of Luffy, shuddering in tears and crying out in pain after having had a nightmare from losing their sibling.

He briefly touched the belt buckle at his waist that held a letter that had simultaneously torn his heart to pieces, and yet given him his life's purpose.

His hand came away clenched tight enough that blood began to drip from his palms.

Sabo watched dumbfounded as the man who wore his brother's face and spoke with his brother's voice closed the gap between them.

"A-Ace?!"

But it couldn't be! That was impossible, Ace was dead. He'd accepted that. He'd tortured himself enough watching it to know!

So who the hell was this?!

No, this was a trick. Someone in cahoots with the Dark King in some scheme to exploit his brother's likeness for some nefarious purpose. Someone who had invaded his mind, someone who had entered places and knew things that no one else should!

A shapeshifter done up to get him to let his guard down—

The punch moved so fast he couldn't even track it.

A blackened fist collided with his jaw with such force that it knocked him clear off his feet!

Sabo flew several yards before crashing to a roll on the ground. He lifted a hand to his jaw, wincing at the throbbing pain. That punch had been no joke. (In the very back of his head his brain reminded him of how strong Ace's uppercut could be. But of course he ignored that.) Slowly, he picked himself up off the ground, eyes fixed warily on the man before him.

Those freckles, that unruly hair—he was indeed a perfect facsimile. But Sabo knew it couldn't possibly be his brother.

"Who are you?" Sabo demanded while wiping the blood from the corner of his lip.

The man stared back stonily, fists clenched at his sides. "Take a wild guess," he bit out. His voice was a perfect mimicry of Ace's as well.

But it wasn't him.

There was no shot.

With one foot, not-Ace kicked at his pipe on the ground, sending it clattering in front of him, within easy reach.

He sneered, "Pick it up."

Sabo ground his teeth as his own rage rose to meet the taunt as he picked himself up, ignoring the weapon and shifting into a fighting stance. "I don't need that to beat someone like you. I'll make you wish you were never born for even thinking of stealing his face."

Not-Ace stood there for a moment, the rage on his face blanking to confusion, before returning tenfold, a wide depreciating grin revealing itself.

"My, my…I never thought I'd hear that from you. But it seems both of my brothers have the same issue."

He raised his fists in a familiar stance, but this time, Sabo was taken aback as dancing flames spontaneously ignited and flickered dangerously around his body. Despite the vicious delight on his face, it was clear that he was hiding immense pain.

"But don't expect me to be as gentle with you as I was with Lu."

A/N: I know, I know, another cliffhanger.😅

But stick with me here, it's going to all go together nicely in the end! (I hope!)

Some were asking last chapter about what Rayleigh was feeling, and I'll say that there WAS a danger out there. He was not imagining things. But no, that danger wasn't Sabo.

Someone else was there with Sabo and Ace, someone that neither felt in their respective conditions.