Chapter Text
He groaned. Everything hurt. Someone cried out in pain. Explosions were going off everywhere. There was a war going on around him.
“Straw Hat-boy! “ Iva-chan was running towards him. Right, the hormones were running out. “Iva-…chan.” He grabbed the revolutionary by the clothes. “Please, whatever you did before, do it again…” Ivankov was looking shocked at the boy laying at his feet.
“I can’t do that! You’re already way past your limit. If I inject more hormones into your exhausted body, you could die!” Tears were gathering in the ravens eyes. “Ace isn’t safe yet! I have to keep going. I can’t lose him!” He felt weak, powerless. He couldn’t do anything, if Iva-chan wouldn’t listen to him.
Defeated the older one looked away. Luffys eyes widened. No… Even before the revolutionary said anything, he already knew the answer.
“I’m sorry Straw Hat-boy, there isn’t anything I can do. I couldn’t return to your father knowing, that I am responsible for your death. From now on, everything is in Whitebeards hands.”
Tears gathered in the eyes of the captain, while listening to his words. “Don’t underestimate him. He is a strong pirate. He won’t let Ace die so easily.”
Ivankov turned around and looked for a way, to bring the boy to safety. I’m really sorry, Straw Hat-boy…
Defeated Luffy slammed his fist on the ground. Ivankov was his only hope. His body was used way over his limits. He hated to admit it, he was tired. Every muscle in his body screamed at him to just give up and succumb to the sleep. But he couldn’t, he wouldn’t let that happen. He already lost a brother. He couldn’t lose Ace too.
Time. I just need a bit more time. Why couldn’t I have been stronger…? Please, just a little more. Just a little longer. Please, just let me bring my brother to safety!
He couldn’t describe the feeling that was filling his body. Something was happening. It was as if another mind was entering his body. His instincts told him, he was safe. Therefore, he finally closed his eyes and let the darkness win.
Nobody on the battlefield was noticing anything out of the ordinary. They were fighting to survive. They were fighting for their beliefs. They were fighting to protect their family and friends. Thousands of people already dead or severely injured. Nobody knew what the outcome of this war would be…
Slowly the body of the straw hat captain started to change. He got a bit taller, gained muscle… The yellow west and red shorts were changed into an open red cardigan, orange shorts with a purple sash and a dark coat thrown over his shoulders.
There on the ground, in the middle of the greatest war of all time, suddenly laid emperor of the sea, bounty 3.000.000.000 berry 19-year-old Monkey D. Luffy, who a minute ago was resting in Wano Kuni after his fight with Kaido.
Something was off. Luffy didn’t even needed to open his eyes, to know that something wasn’t right. They won the war, they defeated Kaido, but everywhere around him where people fighting. This place felt familiar, but it couldn’t be.
He opened his eyes and looked around. Marine…ford? Was he dreaming again? He didn’t dream about the worst day in his life for quite some time. Usually, it didn’t start amid the fight. The nightmares were short. It started every time with the same scene. He was standing facing Akainu. He tried to fight agains him, but to no avail.
He lost every time. And every night this nightmare ended with Ace being pierced by Akainus fist and dying.
This felt different. If he focused, he could feel the presence of every person on this battlefield. I shouldn’t be able to know that. I didn’t awaken my haki for real till I was training with Rayleigh…
Suddenly a thought was coming to his mind. If this wasn’t a dream or a hallucination… Time…travel…? Had he travelled back in time? Was something like this even possible? Of course, he knew that Momonosukes mother could travel to the future, but travelling to the past? An explosion was going of right next to him.
I don’t have time for this!
Somewhat wobbly he stood up and looked around. Before him stood Iva-chan with his back turned to the raven. Everyone was there. Whitebeard, Marco, Gramps…
His gaze stopped. There, on the other side of the battlefield… Ace… This wasn’t a dream, it couldn’t be a dream. Everything was to detailed, everything felt way to real. I can’t lose him again.
He took a few steps forward, as if he was in a trance. It looks like Ivankov heard him. He turned around. His eyes widened when he so Luffy standing nevertheless walking forward. He was so stunned, he missed the slightly different appearance. Where is he taking the energy from to stand up, let alone walk around?
Luffy was slowly gaining speed, when Ivankov blocked his way. “Where are you going? You just laid there, completely exhausted. You’ve done enough. It’s time for you to rest!” He yelled. Dragon, I swear, I’m not going to let him die on my watch!
Luffy just looked at the trans man in front of him. “Iva-Chan.” He said calmly, surprising the older one.
“I need to safe Ace. As long as I can still walk, I’m going to fight, till he is safe. We promised each other a life without regrets. There is nothing in the world I would regret more than to let my brother die, when I could’ve done more.” With that, he just ran past Ivankov.
Marines where everywhere. He fought his way through, bit by bit. They aren’t strong, but there are so many. I need to hurry! He defeated the marines without activating his gears. He shouldn’t play with open cards and safe as much energy as he could. I’m coming Ace!
Sengoku was watching the marines and pirates falling. It’s time, to end this. There shouldn’t be more sacrifices than necessary. “If it’s the future, you want to see, I can give it to you right now Whitebeard!”
He turned towards the executioners. “Do it.” They were raising their swords.
“Ace!” Everyone was shouting around Luffy. He turned towards the platform. His eyes widened. No… Ace looked like he has long since accepted his fate. Suddenly he heard Whitebeards voice. His head turned towards the emperor.
“Don’t bother. You think I can’t stop you!?” His voice echoed across his battlefield. All of a sudden, his body failed him. He fell to his knees. Out of his mouth blood was dropping on the floor. Luffy didn’t know that he was weakened to this extend.
“Watch, Whitebeard.” Slowly his head turned back towards the execution platform. The executioners were starting to lower their blades. As if I would let this happen.
“Stop it!” Before the swords were even near Aces neck, a strong wave of power took over the battlefield.
Conqueror’s Haki… Sengoku was shocked. Whitebeard definitely wasn’t strong enough to use such a power right now. Before his eyes fell thousands of marines. Just the marines. The pirates seemed unaffected. Not only was this a burst of conqueror’s haki strong enough, to knock out even some of the marine captains, but it was also controlled.
It didn’t take long before the fleet admiral could spot the culprit.
There he was. Straw Hat Luffy. His eyes were hidden in the shadow of his straw hat. He raised his hands in the air. “I’m coming, Ace!” Sengoku stood there. Speechless. Like everyone else. Luffy made his way towards the platform. “Wait, was that!?”
Luffy didn’t seem to notice the sudden tension in all the marines. Questioning he turned his head. “That was conqueror’s haki, Iva-chan. I thought, you knew, that it exists.”
“Of course I know that it exists!” Ivankov yelled back. He said it so nonchalantly. Like it was the most normal thing in the world. Where did he obtain this kind of power? Dragons son was a mystery Ivankov couldn’t solve. *Well, I guess he’s just like his father…*
Everyone was looking shocked into Luffys direction. “The Haki of the Kings!”
“Wait a second, you’re kidding me, right!?”
“That was quite surprising…”
“That brat…”
Ace looked flabbergasted at his brother. Luffy has… conqueror’s haki!? Just like pops… He’s running to the execution platform like nothing even happened!
Ace looked around and noticed something. Guess I’m not the only one surprised… All the pirates are still up. They were to effected at all. At lighting speed his head turned back towards the rubber man running in his direction.
A controlled blast of conqueror’s haki! When did Luffy obtain this kind of power!? What happened since I last so him at Alabasta?
With no one in his way, he reached the bottom of the execution platform in no time. Inazuma cut the ground and created a way for him to climb up. Just like last time… “Thank you!” he shouted while running past him. In the middle of the way, Luffy encountered Garp.
“Please grandpa, just let me go by” “Like I said, if you wanna pass through here, you have to kill me first!” Luffy clenched his teeth. He had hoped, that he didn’t have to do this a second time.
I’m sorry gramps, but I have to save Ace. I know, you want him safe, as much as I do…
“Things don’t always go as you want! I’m not gonna have mercy on you!” Garp got ready to take a swing. *I don’t have a choice.”
He activated gear second. He had to take out Garp on the first try. Luffy coated his fist in armament haki and reinforced it with a bit of conqueror’s coating. Their fists clashed. Garp wasn’t able to punch Luffy with his whole strength. He was blown away by Luffys punch.
With clenched teeth Luffy watched Garp falling down on the ground. Tears gathered in his eyes, but he didn’t stop.
I know, you always wanted our best grandpa. I’m sorry, we couldn’t live the way you wanted… Stunned Ace watched this whole exchange of blows. Never in his life did he think that one time Luffy would punch Garp.
With a last step he landed on the execution platform. Relieved he looked his brother in the Ace. “I made it Ace. I’m going to safe you!”