Chapter 8: Death Island

Deuce was absolutely terrified. They had decided to check out the island. The area they had landed on had a soft pebble beach, so it had been a good place to bring in their row boat. The island was deceptive, very much so. By the outside it looked quiet with no predators and barely a population to speak of, but once they'd begun to explore the inner area of the island they had instantly regretted their decision.

Huge unspeakably deadly beasts resided on the inside of the jungles. Snakes that were a hundred times the size of normal ones. Boars that were freakishly huge with giant tusks. Crocodiles, tigers and bears that were the size of the beasts in the New World! Poisonous snakes, plants and even sulfur pits!

Deuce felt like his heart was going to burst from his chest as a gigantic tiger chased him and Banshee down from the mountain as they were the only two who made it up the mountain. This was Ace's home island? What the fuck!? He mentally screamed. My former captain grew up here? Who the fuck in their right mind would settle on this damn island!?

"This explains so much about Ace!" Banshee screamed as they both jumped onto the bridge and crossed the ravine separating the mountain.

"It does!" Deuce agreed. "Ace is crazy but this island is even more so!"

"How the fuck did he survive this island?" Banshee questioned all the while questioning Ace's sanity.

As the two finished crossing the bridge a giant ape dropped from the nearby trees. "ROAR!" The beast screamed at them loudly forcing the two pirates to freeze in the steps. Looking behind them, Deuce saw the other beast snarling at them. The tiger was looking increasingly hungry.

Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place. He thought feeling his anxiety hitting him. This isn't good.

"Gomu Gomu no punch!"

Suddenly a stretchy fist went past the two adults punched the large ape in the face before being pulled back to where it had come from. Watching the fist disappear into the jungle the two shocked adults looked to where it had vanished. Confusion only lasted a second between the two when suddenly a kid came jumping through the foliage and landed in front of them. "Hey! You okay?"

Am I? Deuce questioned as he looked at Banshee whose jaw had dropped at the sudden appearance of the young teen. "Y-Yeah?"

The kid cocked his head at them before giving them the biggest grin. "Shishishi." The kid laughed before pulling his straw hat onto his head. "You must be new to this mountain." He commented. ""You never cross both the Tiger Kings and King Apes territories. They hate each other!" He laughed. "That's a newbie move!"

"Hey kid, is there a village nearby called Foosha?" Banshee inquired as she eyed the tiger behind them that was keeping its distance.

The cocked his head at the question. "Why?" He asked curiously.

"Our captain wanted us to check on his little brother who lives near there." Deuce answered thinking perhaps this teen knew Ace's brother.

The boy's smile became blindingly bright as a wide D formed on his face. "Are you friends of Ace's!?" He asked excitedly as he leaned into Deuces personal space his neck stretching out towards him.

"Y-Yeah." Deuce stated as the kids excitement and sudden use of an obvious devil fruit startled him.

"Shishishi…" the boy laughed. "Big brother is a captain!?" He laughed even more.

"Big brother!?" Both yelled in unison.

"Wait, you're Luffy?" Deuce inquired with shock evident in his voice.

"Yup!" Luffy yelled excitedly when suddenly the ape behind him roared. "Give me a second." He held up a finger towards the two before turning towards the beast. "Gomu Gomu no Pistols!" He yelled as he pulled his fist back before releasing them upon the beast. His arms stretching to the impossible causing the two former Spade Pirates jaws to drop. Yeah, Ace forgot to mention his brother was as crazy as he was.

The fists flew so fast that you would've thought there were more than two as first the Ape king then the Tiger king were defeated by a mere teenager. "Shishishi." Luffy laughed lightly before turning back towards the two pirates. "That was fun. So where is Ace?" He asked this even as he looked around the two pirates.

Good question. Deuce thought. "He's off on a mission." He looked the boy over. Now that he wasn't running in fear for his life, he could observe the boy more closely. He was lanky, shorter than himself, a bit too skinny, though he still had the baby fat around his face that could make any granny want to squeeze it. "Ace has talked about you since the first day I met him." His words caused the boy to smile.

"That's good to know." Luffy stated with joy in his voice. "I've sure missed my big brother. Always wondered what he's been up to." He took the straw hat off of his head and spun it on the tip of his finger. "Gramps never tells me what's going on with Ace and I don't think the Coco News tells the truth because they make it sound like he's a bad guy. I know my brother!" He said vehemently. "He wouldn't attack people without cause! And he wouldn't attack civilians! Makino taught him Breyer and Dadan would pound his head in with her club if he ever hurt innocent people!" He stopped playing with his hat before grinning again. "So if you tell me what Ace has been up to I'll take you safely down the mountain to Foosha."

Deuce chuckled. "And if we don't?"

Luffy thought about it for a moment. "You'll have to do it yourself." He giggled lightly once again. "You most likely end up in the Grey Terminal."

That sounded ominous. "What's the Grey Terminal?" Banshee inquired. Knowing full well that they really did need this kids help.

Luffy looked confused for a second. "It's not a what. It's a where." He scratched his head before seeming to start picking his nose. "The terminal is a town of criminals and misfits. It's right next to the noble city." He flicked his booger at the unconscious Ape king. "Both are bad places and neither would welcome you."

Both felt sweat drop down their necks. So why was there a place like that here? They both wondered. "That's an easy decision then." Deuce said as he walked up to the boy wrapped an arm around his neck and continued. "You help us and I'll gladly tell you everything about your dear ole brother." Luffy's grin broadened. "But first we need to find the missing members of our group. We kind of got separated."

"Shishishi." Luffy laughed. "I know. I already found them and left them near the waterfall next to the crocodile river." Deuce looked at the kid with shock. "I've been following you guys around since you first got here!" He laughed even louder as both pirates fell over from shock. This kid had been tailing them for hours! And didn't help them out until now!? Deuce felt annoyance tick at his forehead. If this guy wasn't Ace's kid brother I would kicked his ass right here and right now. Luffy continued to laugh without knowing how close the former first mate was to attacking the young man. All the while Banshee was left feeling a big gobsmacked. The island, the brother, it explained SO much.

M-Angel: I mean it kind of would explain a few things about Ace. lmbo!

Monkey Prince - I don's know why you ate having problems with viewing my story on ff but if you still cannot read them I've sent you a PM about this being posted on archiveofourown as well.

Ovleer - Thank-you