The ambient noise in Shakky's Rip-Off Bar seemed to vanish entirely, sucked into the black-and-white photograph printed on the crumpled newspaper.
PORTGAS D. ACE TO BE EXECUTED AT MARINEFORD IN 6 DAYS.
Luffy stared at the face of his older brother. The goofy, carefree light that usually danced in his dark eyes instantly shattered, replaced by a hollow, terrifying disbelief. His fingers hovered over the image, trembling slightly.
"Ace...?" Luffy whispered. His voice cracked.
Nami leaned over his shoulder, her eyes frantically scanning the dense text of the article. The color completely drained from her face.
"Monkey D. Luffy's older brother, the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates..." Nami read aloud, her voice shaking as she processed the sheer scale of the words. "He is scheduled for public execution at Marineford. To ensure absolute security, all Admirals, Vice Admirals, and the Seven Warlords of the Sea have been summoned to defend the plaza from Whitebeard's expected retaliation."
"A war," Zoro muttered.
The swordsman's hand instinctively tightened around the hilt of Wado Ichimonji. He closed his lone eye, a memory from the scorching deserts of Alabasta flashing through his mind. He remembered the polite, powerful pirate who had effortlessly held off Captain Smoker to let them escape. A man who had bowed to a crew of rookies, asking them to take care of his reckless little brother.
"A full-scale war between the Navy and the strongest man in the world," Sanji added, taking a slow, deep drag of his cigarette. He exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, his visible eye narrowing with dangerous intent. "They're baiting the Emperor."
The gravity of the situation crashed into the Straw Hats, but instead of fear, a fierce, undeniable resolve ignited within the tavern.
"If it's a war they want," Zoro said, a dark, bloodthirsty grin slowly pulling at the corner of his mouth, "then Marineford sounds like the perfect place to test my blades. I've been wanting to see how this invisible armor works on a Vice Admiral."
"We're going to need a lot of food for a war," Sanji agreed, cracking his knuckles. "I'll raid the Sunny's pantry. We set sail immediately."
There was no need to say anything.
That was Luffy's brother.
It was time for war.
"SUUUPERRR!" Franky struck a pose, though thick, metallic tears were already streaming down his face. "Brotherly love! How could I call myself a man if I didn't help our captain save his big bro?! I'll load the Coup de Burst to max capacity!"
"I... I have my 8,000 men ready!" Usopp yelled, his knees visibly knocking together in pure terror, but he stepped forward anyway, gripping his slingshot. "The Marines won't know what hit them!"
Chopper transformed into his Heavy Point, pounding his furry fists together, while Brook drew his cane sword with a solemn hum. Even Nico Robin crossed her arms, a rare, deadly serious look in her blue eyes. Ace was family to Luffy, which meant Ace was family to them.
Rayleigh and Shakky watched the crew rally together. The Dark King took a silent sip from his flask, a profound, melancholic warmth in his chest. They didn't hesitate. They didn't care about the odds. They were marching straight into Hell for their captain.
Shakky smiled softly, tapping her cigarette ash into a glass tray.
"Hold on a minute, kids," Shakky spoke up, her calm, mature voice cutting through their battle cries. "Marineford is an impenetrable fortress right now. If you sail the Sunny Go into that bay, you'll be blown to splinters before you even see the execution scaffold."
Luffy spun around, his eyes wide and frantic. "But we have to go! We have to save him!"
"And you might be able to," Shakky reasoned, leaning across the mahogany bar. "But not by going to Marineford, monkey-chan... Ace is currently being held in Impel Down, the great underwater prison you see. I can tell you they won't transport him to the execution site until the very last day so... if you want to rescue him, that's your best chance."
Shakky took a drag of her cigarette, her eyes glinting with the thrill of a good scheme.
"The Navy has summoned all the Warlords to fight in this war," the information broker explained. "I happen to have a very close friend who is a Warlord. Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress. She is currently anchored off the coast of Amazon Lily, responding to the summons. She won't say no to me, if I make a call... I could request that she hide Monkey-chan on her Marine escort ship."
Shakky looked Luffy up and down, a mischievous, highly amused chuckle escaping her lips.
"Well... looking at your small frame and Hancock's... assets... Monkey-chan might have to hide inside her clothes, though... hehe..."
Luffy's eyes instantly lit up with desperate, reckless hope. He didn't care about the logistics or the embarrassment. He only saw a path to his brother.
"I'll do it!" Luffy yelled, slamming his fists onto the bar. "I'll hide in her clothes! I'll do whatever it takes!"
"Hold on!" Nami instantly protested, stepping forward and grabbing Luffy's arm. "You can't go alone, Luffy! It's a maximum-security prison! If you get caught, we won't be there to back you up!"
"Nami is right," Robin agreed, her brow furrowed in deep concern. "Impel Down is a labyrinth of torture. A solitary infiltration is tactical suicide."
"We go together, Captain," Zoro said firmly, crossing his arms.
No way. They couldn't let Luffy go in such a dangerous situation alone. Not even a question!
They were his crew!
"Oi, oi, oi..."
A lazy, irritated voice drifted from the corner of the bar.
"... Did I just hear you wanna ruin my plans?"
.
.
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A/N: I don't wanna be in Straw Hats' shoes rn. F.