Silence fell over the Keep as sandaled feet stepped ashore. Whispers replaced the fighting, as the newcomer's arrival was finally noticed.
"If you keep fighting, both sides will suffer needless casualties."
When he spoke, it was to the exhausted soldiers, with blood and sweat dripping down their faces. It was to the injured pirates, barely able to stay upright on their feet, to the revolutionaries whose anger at the injustice was only just outweighed by the sorrows of war.
"If anyone wants to keep fighting, then come, we will be your opponents."
No one rose up to challenge him, all sides staying rooted to the stop."
"What do you say Teach."
A smile spread across the man's face, showing off broken and blackened teeth. "That scar suits you." The pirate called across the silent field. "….Shanks, what could it be I wonder? Surely something important, to make a big mighty emperor come all the way out here?" The wicked smile grew. "Now, whatever could you be doing here?"
XXX
Thatch flopped back onto the deck with a carelessness Marco envied. Although, there was an uncoordinated quality to his fall that made Marco think that Thatch was most likely collapsing rather than kicking back.
"Are you okay?" Marco's own voice was rough. His hands, braced against the deck to steady himself were still wet with fresh blood.
Thatch barked a laugh, a strange mix of coldness and genuine delight, "No," he breathed. "I am the furthest thing from it you can get…."
Marco had meant 'alright' in the terms of inquiring if Thatch needed immediate medical attention, not if his six-month-long bout as a prisoner under their sadistic backstabbing, child stealing, murderer of an ex-brother had left psychological scars on him. Although yes, both had been dumb, of course, Thatch needed medical attention. Although at the moment he looked content to just lie on the deck.
"I know," Marco said, his lungs still burned as if he had just run a yearlong marathon. "I-…"
"I will be though…." Thatch cut him off. "Sometime in the future… sometime far away." He tilted his head back, locking eyes with Marco. And he smiled. Small and tired, but it was a real smile. "We all will."
Ace's face flashed through Marco's mind, holding Luffy's hand, lighting up the world, taking Akainu's punch without so much as flinching.
"I don't think so."
"Hmm," Thatch closed his eyes, relaxing back into the rain-soaked, bloody deck of the Moby. "You'll see," he promised. Like Thatch could somehow see the future, or at least something Marco couldn't.
It was that certainty that made something unpleasant twist in Marco's chest. It was the same definite authority he had moments ago when he was begging Marco to save Luffy, to bring him back. As if he somehow already knew it would work.
But the thing was… he couldn't have. Thatch couldn't possibly have known that would work. He was just desperate and acting irrationally. As he was now.
"Just because he's breathing, doesn't mean he is going to wake up," Marco said, his voice low. He took no pleasure in saying it, but Thatch needed to hear it. "Any of them. We could still be too late."
Thatch's eyes slid open, and he huffed, rolling onto his stomach to fix Marco with a stare. "Must you always be so you, let me enjoy this. It's good to be home." He flexed his fingers against the deck beneath him. "It'll be okay now."
"How could you know that?"
Thatch shrugged. "It just will. We have fate, or maybe luck, or I don't know… a god or something like that watching over us now. I don't pretend to know what's going on. And I certainly can't explain it. But I know we should all be dead, and yet here we are."
Some god this was. If they really were blessed by celestial beings or luck, or fate, or anything, then none of this would have ever happened. The last few months were a landslide of misfortune and pain, enough for the entire crew. It certainly didn't feel like good fortune.
He remembered the red eyes. "Maybe it's the opposite."
Thatch frowned. "Well, whatever it is, I don't really care. I'll take it." He glanced back at Marco, taking in his appearance once more, the paleness of his face, and shallow breaths.
"Are you okay?"
"I…" Marco struggled to find the words. "I- I think I died?"
Thatch snorted. Sitting up. "Join the club, my brother. It doesn't feel too good, does it?"
It felt like…it felt like Marco had been struck by electricity, like a damn lightning bolt or something.
"Do you think demons exist?"
"They definitely do. Their name is Teach, and there are nine rings of hell with his name on it."
And despite everything Marco huffed in amusement, letting out the breath he hadn't realized he had been holding at his brother's crappy joke. He was being stupid. Understandable, as Marco was pretty sure he was in shock- they both were most likely. He had overused his powers again. Although it had been well worth it. There was time enough in the future to worry about the details. Right now, he fought to his feet, feeling feint and unsteady even as he offered his hand to Thatch.
"Come on," he said hauling the man to his feet. "Let's get you to a doctor… one that has a bit more wits than me right now."
"Lead the way oh great savior."
He stumbled as Thatch's weight fell against him. They were both exhausted. But Thatch had been right about something.
"Hey, Thatch?"
"Yeah?"
"Welcome home."
XXX
"Dammit," Marco swore to himself, braced on his hands and knees beside the corner bed.
Ana, the nurse, kept getting up, searching the room as if she was going to find something useful amongst the medical equipment and bandages, in the urgent care room.
"ACE!" Marco tried again to call to him, but the teen had either passed out or was ignoring him, laid out under the bed, Luffy tucked tightly against his chest.
"Is he dead?" Ana asked.
"Ace?"
"No, the other one."
"Luffy," Marco told her.
"No, I know that." His name was written at the top of the thick stack of medical notes they had compiled over the last two weeks. Although there was always a disconnect between a person; with their lives, their ambitions, their wants, their loved ones, while they slept versus when they woke up.
It was probably easier on the rest of the medical staff not to call him by his name. Particularly when it didn't matter either way. But that was before the kid had woken up, unexpectantly, and quite impossibly. Now, all of a sudden, the situation had shifted, and the two of them were scrambling to both process and react to it.
"Why would you say that?"
"Well," she looked quickly down at the ground. "You guys… you and the other doctors I mean, you told us to make sure he stayed on oxygen, cause of the lung damage and everything."
Marco sighed, feeling his shoulders slump forward ever so slightly. He was tired of fielding this question. Although it wasn't as if Ana could possibly know that.
Here was where this… disconnect came in. It was easier to make life-and-death decisions for somebody before they woke up. Maybe it was a human thing. Maybe it was a survival thing like empathy came more easily if you could see yourself reflected back through their eyes.
"He's not dead," Marco said. "He's just scared."
"Of what? Us?"
"Among other things."
"What'd we do?"
But Marco was already crawling forward on his hands and knees, reaching out for the closest thing, which would be Ace's shoulder.
They had managed to wedge themselves pretty far underneath the bed, way back in the corner. Marco had absolutely no clue how Ace had known to come here, especially since they hadn't even known themselves despite a heart rate monitor designed specifically to report any changes. Although that was far from the most pressure concern right now.
Extended out awkwardly in the small space, it was hard to get much leverage. He grabbed Ace's bare shoulder, trying to pull him towards them, being careful of the thick layer of bandages over Ace's back. Marco had only managed to move them a couple of inches when Ace shrugged, rolling his shoulder out of his grip, mumbling sleepily.
Gritting his teeth Marco tried again, only to feel the skin beneath his hand grow uncomfortably hot, in the beginnings of fire as Ace rolled away. "Stop," he mumbled, his words nearly indecipherable.
Marco crawled deeper, bracing himself on his forearms as he leaned over the two of them. He took Ace's pulse first, calculating his heart rate and breaths per minute. It was alright, not much different from this morning. Although his heart was beating a bit faster.
Luffy's was the more concerning one, as his heart was beating much too fast, and his breaths were coming too slow. Marco had more or less expected that. He tried once again to pull them out from under the bed, managing to burn his hand instead.
With a swear he pushed backward, sitting up beside the bed to look at Ana. "See if you can get some help," he told her. "Or oven mitts or something."
She stared at him as if trying to figure out if he was joking or not.
So much for keeping this area isolated…. So much for trying to keep Ace away as well. Although that was a problem for later, right now they had to get them out of there and stabilize Luffy's breathing.
"See if you can find Jozu," he told her.
Marco heard the door shut behind her, and he leaned his back against the opposite bed wearily. It had been a long two weeks. Well, actually it had been a long few months. And despite being reunited with his family, it wasn't exactly a 'happily ever after' for any of them.
"What are you doing here?" he asked Ace's back. "We thought a tsunami couldn't even wake you up."
Ace had driven Sabo crazy with worry about what could be wrong with him. Anyone who knew him understood that it was near impossible to keep Ace down for that long. Plus he wasn't causing any kind of trouble which was scarier than any injury.
At the very least, it had spared Ace the heartache that came along with seeing his littlest brother so sick. Although alarmed, Marco had figured it might be a blessing in disguise, considering Ace's last response to Luffy getting hurt.
Marco would love nothing more than to ask Ace what the hell he had been thinking pulling a stunt like that. Maybe grab him and shake him. Although, that would have to wait, possibly forever, until they could get this sorted. As would the encyclopedia's worth of questions they had for Luffy. Marco had all but given up on getting any answers out of the kid.
"What's wrong, whose dead?"
A couple of months of nothing but misfortune, had them all bracing for the next disaster. Marco tilted his head back, smiling at Jozu as he entered.
"Ana told me someone was dead."
"No one's dead," Marco said, repeating himself. "Luffy woke up, and Ace came to find him." He gestured under the bed, "I can't reach them, and the bed is bolted to the floor. Can you try? Ace's playing hot potato."
Jozu just stared at him, not so much as moving towards the bed despite the urgency. "Ace woke up?"
"Yes, and so did Luffy?"
"The kid's alive!"
"He's been alive this whole time."
"Yeah but… I mean, only sort of, right? Nobody thought he was actually going to…"
Some people had…
"Well, now he's all the way alive. And up, and hiding under the bed, and struggling to breathe so…"
"Right, sorry," the big man moved towards Marco, his hands already crystalizing. It was a tight fit, especially for the big man. His shoulders barely fit under the bed, he got stuck at one point, and Marco had to help pull the three of them out, bracing himself against his knees.
Jozu let go of Ace, his gem exterior falling away. "Ace?"
Ace, long since passed out, didn't answer. Luffy was in his arms, held tightly against his chest, making it hard for Marco to get proper vitals on him. Although, Marco figured that he must be alright enough to hold on that tightly even in sleep.
"Is… are they okay?"
"I don't think so," Marco said.
Jozu opened his mouth to say something else, his gaze still fixed on Ace, but Ana returned, having found another doctor, and the other nurses. And in the chaos Jozu excused himself to make more room for them to work.
"That's impossible," the doctor said, as she stared down at the boys.
"Kid's a medical anomaly, can we get them apart?"
Together the group of them managed to pull them away from each other. Marco had half hoped that the movement would wake them up, but neither boy so much as stirred, meaning they were passed out, and in need of attention.
They were able to finally unwind Luffy's arms from Ace, and yank him away. As they did small sparks ran up Ace's arms, and the lamp burst into flames, making Ana yelp, running to find the fire extinguisher.
"Jesus," the doctor swore, looking at Marco. "Reflex?"
Marco knelt down, putting his hand on Ace's bare shoulder. "Ace?" He shook him gently. "Ace, can you hear me?" Nothing. "Maybe," he told the doctor. "I don't know what's going on with them."
"Maybe they're psychic?" Ana was kidding. Trying to break the tension. But she might be onto something.
Maybe Ace was psychic. At least when it came to his little brothers being in trouble. That would be one of the least surprising things Marco learned about him.
XXX
The stars were bright over them. It looked like the sky could go on forever, curving above their heads and dipping into the trees.
"It's not your fault… you know that right?"
Luffy's knees were tucked against his chest, held in place with bruised arms. He rubbed his cheek against his wrist, sticky with drying tears.
He rolled his head to look at Ace. They were home, sitting on the roof to stare up at the stars. His skin was damp where he had pressed his cheek against it. He had been crying… again. But Ace was pretending not to notice. Or maybe he was just tired of teasing Luffy about it.
It wasn't his fault?
If it wasn't his fault, then why had he ruined everything? Why were they using him to hurt Ace? Why was he so incredibly weak? Why couldn't he seem to do anything right?
Sitting here and crying about it wasn't helping anything. Not him, certainly not Ace. Anybody could tell him that. There was no point in blubbering. He knew that. But at the same time, he didn't care anymore. So, what if it meant he was pathetic and useless, he knew that already.
"You wanted this."
No, Luffy had never wanted this.
"You wanted to stay," Ace clarified, looking back up at the sky. "You could have been done. Most people would have been… but not you. I wonder why that is?"
Ace would have stayed. Luffy knew that. He wouldn't have quit. In fact, he would have never allowed himself to get stuck in the situation in the first place. He was too strong, too fast, too clever, too brave. They would have never been able to do to Ace, what they had done to Luffy.
When he was little, Luffy had dreamed of kicking Ace's ass. Of getting bigger, and stronger, and somehow magically older than Ace, and then he would push his face into the dirt until Ace admitted that Luffy was the stronger, better, more awesome brother, and definitely the best possible choice for pirate king. The thought used to make him smile as a kid. But, at the same time, he hadn't really wanted Ace to be mad at him, or annoyed about it. A little angry was probably fine. Ace probably had that coming. But more than anything he had wanted his brother to be proud of him. He had wanted to grow into a person who was brave enough to take the title with his own two hands. And he wanted Ace to see that.
As a general rule, Luffy didn't care what others thought of him. Be it weak, or evil, or a monster, or just a dumb crybaby kid. But there was a time when he cared. And the part of him that was still just a snot-nosed little boy, had been biding his time all along waiting for the day when his brother would finally realize that he didn't have to look after Luffy anymore. Or what's more, that protecting him all this time had been worth it.
But that was never going to happen now was it? No, it was never going to. Luffy just wasn't cut out for it. It had taken all of this for him to realize it.
"You think too highly of me," Ace said as if somehow reading his expression. "I'm not a superhero."
Luffy had never said he was a superhero, but he was Luffy's hero… one of them. The one who always showed up when Luffy needed him. The one that stuck around. The one that was here now, the one that was never going to leave him.
Lifting his head from his knees he looked at Ace, feeling a fresh set of tears bubble up.
"I can't do it."
Ace frowned, looking over Luffy once, seeing all the cracks in him, the bruises and bandages. Probably seeing the weakness, and failure in him.
"Of course you can."
Luffy shook his head, reaching up to push the brim of his hat over his eyes. No… he couldn't. "I'm not like you… I'm not strong."
Ace was patient, more patient than Luffy ever remembered him being. No hint of exasperation in his voice as he answered. "You're plenty strong Lu, that's why you're still here.
Luffy shook his head again. No… no he really wasn't. Maybe he was when this whole thing started. But that felt like a lifetime ago now. When every day was full of sunshine and adventure. Now his days were dark, and they hurt. And…
…. Everyone was dead...
"I can't do it."
"You already have," Ace told him.
"Make it stop."
"This is what you wanted," he reminded him gently. "This is what you asked for."
Luffy sat back, tilting his head up at the sky, watching the stars brighten overhead.
…
The man was laughing, the marine guards were scared, he heard them talking to each other
"…loosing blood…"
"Slipping away,"
"Needs help… doctor."
They were talking about him.
He could see the stars overhead. He was deep underground. He would never see the stars again. But he saw them now, growing brighter and brighter and….
He smiled in relief, feeling his breathing slow.
….
Luffy had a strange dream, of darkened hallways, and closing doors, and of missing his brother.
…
But when he woke up the world was hell. He was dead and in hell. He knew it. Everything hurt, and the world around him was blurry. But he felt cold, and the shapes that moved around him scared him. Like being surrounded by demons.
He was scared. There was no point in denying it. He was so scared. He had been this whole time. Maybe not noticeably at first. But… the longer he was here the more his fear grew.
It wasn't so much the people that scared him, lowly as they were. It was what they did to him. What they could still do to him. It was what they could take from him, like they took the sky. Forever. For always. Ever after.
He had slammed the door to the outside world, and this was what he was left with. Darkness, and monsters, and hell.
He couldn't handle it. He couldn't do it! He was far too weak. He needed Ace to come and get him. Right now. He needed Ace to come and help him.
…
He couldn't handle it.
ACE!
When the dark blurs… the monsters… weren't looking, he pulled himself free, crashing to the floor.
He was scared of the things overhearing him. But the world was silent. Kind of like he was underwater. Maybe there was no sound in hell. He didn't know which option was scarier.
Feeling trembles wrack his body he forced himself to move, pulling himself into the corner and circling up on himself.
…
They always found him. No matter how still he was or how quiet he tried to be. He hugged himself tighter, trying to pretend he was back home.
It was dark because it was nighttime, and he was lost in the jungle again… no, not lost, just exploring. Back before he could get 'lost', he had wandered too far, and now he was sleeping in some dry nook he found, trying not to be too loud or else some creature with sharp claws would get him.
A hand closed around his ankle, yanking him out from under the bed. He tried to scream but his throat was broken, and no sound escaped his lips other than a pathetic breath of air.
"You gave us quite the scare there kid."
One of the demons sounded like chess teeth.
"Don't think you can get away that easily."
He wound his arms around the leg of the bed, determined to stay put, even as he felt himself being wrenched back.
…
Luffy felt himself tremble harder as the hands worked up him, digging into his skin, hurting him, trying to drag him along with them. He tucked tighter against the leg of the bed, rapidly losing control of his breathing as he shut his eyes.
No more. Enough already.
He had had weird dreams….
No more doors, or dark hallways. These were… bright, and explosive, and entirely too much. He saw the neon red of blood, the velvet dark of the sky, the fathomless blue of the angry ocean as it shook, the amber eyes of his friend.
He dreamed of being back home, of sitting on the roof with Ace, watching the stars.
He dreamed that he was underground with Thatch, feeling the walls shake around him.
He dreamed of eating a lot of yummy food.
And of sitting against a wall laughing with Ace- of being abandoned again.
He dreamed of being a dragon, flying high in the sky.
And he dreamed of everyone he loved dying. And of hell on earth, with fire and brimstone.
His life was bleeding into his nightmares, and he couldn't tell them apart. Not as he was, hugging himself in some dark cold corner, infinitely far from the sky.
"Get back here."
Someone was trying to pull him out, and he kicked at them desperately trembling as their hands worked up him, ready to hurt him, to kill him. He felt their hands on his hair, hitting him without pain.
They were warm against him. An alien sensation in this freezing, dark, and cold place.
Something familiar.
Without knowing what he was doing he risked letting go with one of his hands, reaching blindly out, somehow managing to connect with him. He was expecting something cold under his hands. Maybe fanged teeth, some kind of monstrous face, but instead he felt smooth skin, and bandages.
Luffy had no idea what Ace's face felt like. But he knew Ace. And he knew it was Ace. Having come all the way to hell to save him. Just like he always did.
Luffy let go of the bedpost altogether, launching himself at his brother, feeling a tidal wave of relief rise up in his chest he couldn't begin to put into words.
They were in hell, it was dark, and cold, and scary, and they were trapped in this small little corner. But it was going to be alright. Ace was going to make it alright, that's what he did.
He heard the monsters move around just out of sight, waiting to grab them. Luffy tucked his head against Ace, willing them to go away. They didn't matter.
He heard Ace whisper something into his ear, but his voice was underwater, felt the other's hand through his hair. It didn't matter, he knew what Ace was trying to tell him.
Your safe. I won't let them get you. I will keep you safe.
XXX
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The tropical sun was bright over their heads, beating down around them, reflecting off the sand on the beach in a blinding mirror that was quite annoying to those still battling a hangover. The gods were laughing at him… as usual.
The birds were beautiful here, tropical and of a variety of colors. They seemed to like the afternoon the most, squabbling with each other over in the jungle.
They were currently… pretty far off he grid. Somewhere in the new world. Making peace and playing nice with the world government was not the same thing as having peace from the government, especially under the… volatile new circumstances as the entire organization shifted around like a sandcastle, revealing the jagged rocks that had previously been at the bottom.
Shanks figured it was smartest to make themselves scarce for a second. Times were changing, and every sailor worth their salt knew when to raise their sails to the storm, and when to hunker down. At least for a little while.
He looked out at the coast, pleased to see it deserted as usual, not that the chances that someone would care enough to follow them his far off the map. There were plenty of deserted treasures between here. Part of the joys of the ocean. And even after a lifetime at sea, he had never quite gotten used to how breathtaking the sight was. God damn. Some things in this world were beautiful… and unexpected.
"Boss?"
Shanks glanced over his shoulder at where Ben stood, about to light up a cigar, his face paused in a frown.
Shanks waived his concern away. "All good."
The man grunted in reply, turning to stare at the open seas before them. "So, what do you think happens now?"
That was the question, wasn't it? What happened now. But then again, what fun was playing if you had all the answers?
He reached up to tug at his hat, tilting the brim over his eyes to block out the harsh glare of the sun. The straw material was rough under his thumb. It was heavier than he remembered it being. Smaller as well. When his captain used to wear it, it always seemed too big.
"Boss?" Ben said again.
He turned around, smiling at his first mate. "I haven't the faintest idea." Although he was sure the ideas would come, perhaps they were at the bottom of their liquor barrel. There was a thought. A tempting one.
"But I think the tides are turning."
"For better or for worse?"
"Yes."
XXX
I'm sorry it's been a second you guys. I will try to update quickly.
I can't believe how many of you guys tuned in recently. I am so glad you are all still enjoying the story. I know I am so excited to write the next part.
Hopefully, this chapter wasn't too confusing. Luffy himself is incredibly confused and disoriented with everything he has gone through, so he is skipping around a lot in his head, unsure of where he is. His section started off where he was in his safe place back at home talking to 'Ace', and he remembered dying, and waking up still trapped with Teach, only this time separated from Thatch.
So that experience was bleeding into his present, waking up from having been dead, confused, not quite there, and scared. But unlike before, where he kept trying to call Ace for help, this time his brother comes and 'saves' him. So -so much more of the two of them next time. And many Ace hugs ahead of him.
Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about Sabo. I know he was glued to Luffy's side and suddenly now that he's up Sabo is MIA. But it's all Marco's fault. He leveraged his card game-winning to blackmail Sabo into actually taking his pain killers, which is why Sabo is actually sleeping for once. But I will get into that story next chapter.
You guys need to stop being so darn supportive. I promised no more metaphorical-vague-confusing- poem-ish chapters, but you were all so darn nice about them that we got this one. And I've been worried about not being able to write a trauma-laden Luffy while staying true to his character, but nobody complained about him being out of character, so we are going a step weirder, with Luffy being the most 'unlike himself' for the few chapters or so. Hopefully not too different, just apathetic, and uninterested in the outside world. At least until everyone can reignite his enthusiasm. A lot like they did when they first saved him in chapter 39, with him being withdrawn, and cold, and gradually becoming more like himself the more care and attention he received (only this time it's not going to blow up in his face).
Thanks you guys, see you next time.
XXX
Aimforthedogstar: I will do my best! I have a lot of ideas, but any requests are welcome if there are any characters, or situations that were missed that you want to see. I promise we will get more of Sabo next time. He is not quite awake nor aware, but he will snap back into being the rock for the three of them, while Ace continues to be a space cadet.
I am excited for WB meets Luffy interactions. Especially since he was hurt child immunity, and can get away with anything. I think we still have a ways to go before Luffy reaches peak brat stage again, but we will get there. Thanks for your nice review!
Hiraya1998: All the fluff! All the time. Ace is peak protective brother, without even knowing why until Luffy feels better. I promise I have plans for training shenanigans. I think we are still a little ways off from Luffy terrorizing the crew with stealing food, but that is the goal! And of course stargazing! I have to remember to include the telescope, that is a really lovely idea, thank you. I love the idea of watching the northern lights : ) especially now that I live north enough to see them, and I stuck them all up in the middle of the artic. You have some wonderful ideas, thanks. Happy birthday our dear Ace.
Nancy2239: Why thank you, I am so happy about how enthusiastic people were about the AO3 update, it was very definitely worth it. Haha, read double to double the emotions. Lots more Ace hugs (and Sabo hugs) just general big brother hugs.
Marco didn't actually see anything, as Thatch was right there, and Luffy never actually woke up. But he hallucinated Nika smiling at him, I intended it to be his observation haki skills, and devil fruit powers picking up on Nika's powers as it brought Luffy back. Marco sensed something very powerful, and reality-altering that scared the phoenix in him.
Wishfull-star: Poor Ace. But otherwise, he would have been too worried about Luffy. At least this way he gets to skip all the heartache. I am so glad you like it! Sbo will be back next chapter! Happy New Year as well!
Ppleater: Why thank you. That one is dear to my heart. I was planning it for a while. I'm glad you liked it.
Shandar1: Thatch has such a special place in my heart. What a nice lil pirate dad. There will be plenty of him in the next few chapters. Of course! I am glad you liked it!
eri1325: Yes! About time!
Miqila: Sabo was fine haha, then he got blackmailed by Marco into taking his pain meds. Little did Marco know it was poor timing. Now they are all too high on morphine.
Dragonalw: Slowly but surely it was bound to happen eventually. Thank you, I am glad you liked it : )
Kitsune Foxfire: Aw shucks, thanks. That is so fair, has been quite spotty. Luffy will finally catch a break on the world (me) being mean to him.
Hakona: More of Ace and Luffy next chapter! Still kind of spacey but less zombie like, and of course more fluff. Luffy is going to be Marco's worst nightmare, someone who really needs his help, but who does not want his help. I like the suggestion, I think it has to wait a bit for Luffy to calm down from all the fear/ trauma, but then he will give them an earful about leaving him. And as always, Luffy mouthing off to people much stronger and older than him.
Pause143: Aw, thanks. Luffy's pov is kind of off in this chapter, as he is really confused, but he will start to be more and more himself soon. Marco being low-key scared of Luffy is on the back burner for him, as he is more concerned about Luffy's health, but it's not something one can easily let go off. That's nice to hear. I am really glad, hopefully, I am doing him justice (who isn't just a lil bit traumatized as being a person can be scary). A lot of comfort on he way, as I have maxed out the hurt.
Rem17: Thank you. Sabo will be back next chapter and very relieved to have the two of them back. Marco deserved the world haha.
Firefiststrawhat: More fluff on the way. Thank you!
Guest (1): Sort of! Luffy has a little ways to go still, but he is in good hands. I'm glad you liked it!
Kiki: Thanks! I am really glad you liked that. I know I am biased, but that was one of my favorite lines in the entire story. What a sweet boy he is. Thank you for the nice compliment.
Guest (2): Thank you… I think. More fluff on the horizon.
Guest (3): Everything will be okay in the end, I promise. They deserve it. Yes, the story is ongoing. I am forever inspired, just short on free time unfortunately. But I do have a special place in my heart for this story.
Polars: Why hello! I know the last few chapters got a bit rough. Hopefully these next ones will be less stressful.
Poor Ace, he can not escape his bad luck, nor the world being mean to him. I'm not quite sure what he is going to do about his tattoo. I'm not sure there is anything to do. Things will get better! Not right away but soon. You were spot on with the nikaization. Marco sensed something otherworldly while trying to save Luffy and it freaked him out. Although I am sure the lizard thing dd not help.
You guessed it! It's Nika's influence, bringing Luffy back from the grave that Marco sensed. Of course I do! I always remember nice comments : )
Oh my goodness, what a compliment. You'll make me blush.
And thank you. Hopefully one day soon, my real stories will start gaining some traction and I can start to move forward as a writer. But until then I have no complaints. It's our off season at work so I havn't gotten run over by anything lately. But I did get to do an ATV course, where I learned how to ride an ATV through the woods with my coworkers, and I also crashed it into a tree. But up until then I was doing very well haha.
Sorry, I am not quite following? Did I promise to summarize the story in chapter 73? Did I say I would turn this story into a book? Haha, I would love that but I am sure I would get sued if I started to sell my fanfiction as a book. But I appreciate the support!
Hapy new years as well!
Orion26600: Aww, thank you. I am glad you like it.
LavaLilly: Like cliff hanger? Or the actual cliff they fell off? I'm glad you liked it! (And thank you!)
Aquarica: Luffy has definitely earned his break, everyone else as well. Thanks!
Eternal She-Wolf: I'm not quite sure what Shanks is going to be doing, but we have not seen the last of him. I am glad Nika was well received, I have been waiting since the manga reveal to use that one! Marco is a lil traumatized from the expirience.
Poor zombie Ace. At least he isn't over thinking anything. I think cause the beds are bolted down they just had to roll with it.
A metaphor for Aces life, helping at his own expense. The three of them deserve each other. But thank you! Ace& Luffy are such a sweet pair, I will never recover from them. Luffy does have a bit of a rocky road ahead of him, but there will be plenty of hugs to come.
Rose Narcissus: I was so much less stressed back then haha, oh man- I need to go cry in a corner. Hopefully next chapter I will be quicker. Ace didn't know Luffy was still alive… mostly because he wasn't really. It was thanks to Nika who saved him yet again.
That is a really good question, the answers a bit long. Luffy only called Ace, because he was imitating his behavior while captured by Teach. For the majority of it, he believed Sabo was dead, and couldn't come for him. So he has grown used to relying on Ace as his 'surviving brother'. So in this chapter Luffy is lost in his head and confused about what is going on, so he is falling into old habits and calling upon Ace, as he did throughout the story. It's also a bit of a parallel where at the beginning of the story Ace set out to save Luffy, and finally Ace is able to come rescue him when he calls. (But when he wakes up more he will start calling for the both of them).
Poor Marco deserves the world. Of courses, thanks.
Mel72000: You too!
Guest (4): Luffy will be okay! More of WB on the way. Cheers.
Tortuga Wan: That is so nice. I know the fluff has been a long time coming. Ace and Luffy have a very special place in my heart. They deserve each other in the best possible way.
I promise to be nice to Sabo. He is not in this one but he will be back soon. He lost the card game with Marco and was forced to take his meds, which is why he has been MIA. He definitely got the short stick these last two weeks. But soon he will be back with them. And Thatch and Marco will get all the hugs.
XXX
See you guys next time!