Chapter Text
Luffy knew once he woke up things were different, he was back in Impel Down. His haki rolled and boiled under his skin. He refused to believe this was true, and yet he could touch the stone, he could hear Iva talking as he stood up. And yet he didn’t care. He caught a haki he had never felt but automatically knew. Ace, Ace was here. Ace was alive. Ace’s haki felt like standing near a bonfire, nice and calm unless you make a mistake and piss off the flames.
He breathed in sharply, feeling armament coat his arms and legs. He felt the same as he did a moment ago. Strong and rested. Nothing like when he first was here.
He breathed out slowly, his voice, once high pitched and happy, now low and deep with the grief of Law, Kidd, and Koby’s deaths, still fresh in his mind. He remembered when they sailed onto Raftel, the excitement in all fours faces despite the death of their crews.
He shook his head as he repeated breathing in and out, slow and steady. He kept his haki pinned on Ace’s. The moment he felt the haki ping in terror he jolted forward. “I appreciate all your help Iva-chan. But I have to go.”
He ignored all protests at that, haki coating every inch of his body as he let his conquerors haki roll out lazily to all in his path. Few didn’t drop to it, and the ones that didn’t he dealt with by punching them.
He smirked ferally, knowing this time, he would save his brother. He would have both brothers this time.
He would have nothing less.
As he slammed down, he felt his rage building with each person in his path. He ignored Jinbei, screaming as he darted out to where he felt Ace.
He saw his brother fighting, a pole in his hand.
Luffy pulled his fist back, before slamming it forward, hitting Magellan dead in his jaw.
He felt the poison coat his fist, and shook it off as he continued his screaming assault. He knew Nika would never let another man suffer but Luffy was not Nika, and he would willing let others suffer if they hurt his family.
“I’ll kill you!” He heard a deep voice scream out; he didn’t know who’s it was but he understood that sentiment. He was going to kill Magellan. Painfully, and slowly.
Suddenly a pole hit Magellan in the throat, and a crack could be heard as he heard the man made of poison gargle his death.
He looked up, seeing the tired, but alive, Ace. Who was staring at him in awe. The moment his arms wrapped around Ace and pulled his big brother into his arms he realized why. He was wearing his official captains' jacket and shorts. His shirt having been destroyed by the creature that had killed his friends. The tatters of his shirt flowed behind him, and that’s when he realized he was still wearing the clothes he died in. He didn’t know how the shirt had, just barely, survived the blows he took from the creature on Raftel but it did.
He was grateful the shirt just barely covered his scar.
“Luffy who knew you owned a proper jacket?”
“Yeah.” He rasped out, his voice hoarse from screaming. “Zoro got it for me before he left.”
“Zoro left?!” Ace grabbed Luffy’s shoulders.
“Yeah, of course he did.” He looked into Ace’s eyes, “He became the best. He fulfilled his promise.”
Luffy didn’t wait for a response from Ace, simply pulling the man closer. “Sabo’s going to be so happy.” He whispered.
“Sabo’s dead dumbass.” Ace tangled a hand in Luffy’s hair, pulling his face into his shoulder. “But yeah, he’d be happy wouldn’t he?”
Luffy chuckled weakly, remembering that Ace didn’t know Sabo was alive. “Let’s go save Mustache man.”
“Huh?” Ace looked confused, letting Luffy lift his head.
“Your pops. He’s gonna die here.”
Ace’s eyes widened in panic, and while he didn’t understand it, his haki was screaming for him to trust the words of Luffy, and so he did.
“We need a ship then.” Ace shrugged.
“How about that one?” Luffy pointed to the ship that was prepared to transfer Ace.
“That works.”
“We’re going with you Straw-boy!” Iva called out, having gathered all the prisoners and yet not needing them at all to help the escape.
“Then let’s go.” He murmured, and they all loaded onto the ship.
Luffy didn’t let go of Ace, not talking just touching him in some way. He refused to let Ace go, especially since the last time he actually touched his brother, Ace had died in his arms.
“Don’t leave my side.” Luffy whispered, getting a glance but no words.
Luffy knew his brother, Ace wouldn’t understand all these changes but he didn’t care really, he was just happy to have Ace back. Even if he was going to steal him from Mustache man.
Ace knew Luffy, and he knew when Luffy was acting weird. Which was now, in this moment. Luffy was being weird, but Ace would say that that was due him almost dying to Magallon’s poison. He remembered Luffy shouting that he’d kill Magallan, and well, he knew he’d have to have a talk with the younger man about that. He thought he had broken Luffy of that habit that final winter, but apparently he didn’t.
Ace observed Luffy silently, hearing his soft plea. He knew he couldn’t say anything in response because then Luffy would take that as a promise to never leave his side. But if his pops was truly in trouble he’d leave in a heart beat. He loved Luffy but Whitebeard... was old and dying.
Ace breathed in softly, before releasing his breath. He knew Luffy could handle himself. Even if he didn’t like the thought of Luffy being by himself.
He let the thought fall from his head as he pressed on. When they docked the ship he had some idea of what they would be facing.
Luffy stared forward, before suddenly he let his haki roll and stretch and grow over the entirety of the ship. “Most of them die.” He murmured softly. And after that offered no explanation.
When they got closer to the execution stand and he could see all the marines waiting, he let his haki roll and boil over. He didn’t want to hear any voice’s stop, no matter what side they were on.
He knew Koby would be here and he decided he didn’t want to go through that, so he focused on his friend’s haki signature and knocked him out especially. His conquerors dropped majority of the forces, and he decided in that moment to grab ahold of Ace and rocket the two of them off the boat.
Ace screamed as they landed on a few unconscious marines.
“Don’t do that!” He turned to scold Luffy, but Luffy was actually smiling so he let it be with a sigh.
He saw as the Mini Moby rock up on shore. His pops come ashore, and he knew then that he would never want to see the man die.
Luffy grabbed Ace again. Ace only let out a resigned sigh as he felt the wind rush past him, and they landed in his fathers arms.
“Yo Mustache man.” Luffy spoke before turning his head to Ace. “You’re coming with me!” Luffy beamed, although the smile wasn’t as large as he was used too.
Ace sighed, “No I need to go back with pops.”
Luffy suddenly got out of Pop’s arms and faced the crowd of captains and vice-captain marines. Admirals were making their way over as well.
Luffy knew what he had to do, and so he released a breath and felt the transformation happen.
He would let Nika handle them, Nika would make it quick and then he could go back to Ace.
“Stay the-re Ace.” His voice changed as he spoke, Nika’s higher inflection coming through more instead of Luffy’s low tone.
Luffy breathed in, and suddenly he was watching through his windows as Nika wreaked havoc on Marineford. He lifted the ground, he caved in skulls, generally, he gave all the marines really horrible, no good bad days.
Luffy saw Akainu close in, and he screamed inside his mind for Nika to watch out. But he had already been seen by Nika, and Nika was not going to let the lava man hurt another person.
He remembered the creature that tore him apart, he would be stronger next time they met. And if this cycle continued every time he failed well, he would end up as the true pirate king in strength.
He grabbed the lava’s man ankles, believing that Lava couldn’t hurt him, and so, it couldn’t. It was still incredibly hot to touch the man, but he did anyways.
He had a plan, one entirely the same as the last time he had dealt with this man. He spun him around for a few seconds, his lava dripping everywhere as he did so, before he let go, and threw him into the water of the ocean.
He sent a quick thank you to his mother, she had bore him and so, he would return his siblings to her as he could.
He turned back, to his host’s brother and brothers father. “We should board.” He smiled widely, “I had fun but they’ll break out of their stupor soon.”
And he was right, when they had finally gotten onto the Mini Moby, the marines were moving again.
Kizaru even made an appearance aboard but, Marco had promptly grabbed and tossed the man overboard. Then they were all sent under.
Luffy returned to control the body, and he looked at Ace with a soft smile. “Let’s go find Sabo.”