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They had known that this was coming, Luffy had reached Laugh Tale and with it came the notion that his crew were jeopardising everything the World Government had made their truth. They were scared, and sadly with an attack dog like Sakazuki at their beck and call, it made sense that became for them with the full backing of the World Government.
Luffy had been prepared for it, they all had been. Informing allies, calling in favours, making sure that their side would come out on top.
Sakazuki wouldn’t rest until his ultimate justice prevailed, regardless of how that came to be. If it were up to him he’d just bombard their fleet with lava and be done with it. But the Elders and especially Imu, didn’t want Nika to survive this.
In between everything they had found out about the Void Century and Nika, it became clear that Luffy was his reincarnation. His dream to be the freest of them all only made it more obvious. He wasn’t a hero, never would be one in his own eyes, but in the eyes of others he was just that. He breathed freedom, revolution and chaos. Which was everything Imu wanted to suppress.
“This is going to be a hard one,” he had told his crew.
All of them had smiled, nodded and promised to be there at the end.
He told his allies the same thing, with people like Marco and Shanks and Katakuri knowing what was at stake here. There were always losses in a war, this would be no different, but they would do their best to still be standing at the end of it.
I can help, Little Sun. The Ocean whispered into his ears, telling Luffy they had an ace up their sleeve. Especially as Pirates often did a burial at sea and those ashes were carried within. Between that spark she would always carry and Nika’s power of imagination they would have hope, and help that wasn’t so easily struck down.
Nodding to himself, Luffy whispered back he’d think about it. Once it became clear that they wouldn’t win this. That too much was at stake, he would use it. He and Calypso made a deal there and he knew what that meant if he didn’t hold onto it. Luffy had every intention of holding onto it. He came here to win, he came here to set the world free.
Nika was buzzing in the back of his mind, getting cleared each time he used gear 5 and not shy in whispering things that could help Luffy in the long run. Luffy hadn’t been too keen to listen to the God he shared his soul with, at first, but eventually he did as someone ages older than him did know more. He just didn’t want his adventure to be spoiled, hadn’t wanted to know what lay in wait on Laugh Tale or which secrets the world still held.
This wasn’t that, this was more Nika explaining the powers Luffy could use now. Little tips and tricks in getting used to all of it. Ideas on what to do with the rubber properties and how the sun was not just light, but also fire and life. It was as if he had someone whispering what he could do to become stronger and with everything happening now, Luffy was glad he did give in and listened in the end.
—
The war was brutal, Sakazuki was brutal in his approach. To the point that Sabo and Luffy got to take him on early in the battle. The brothers of the late Portgas D. Ace who wanted to make sure the world remembered that while they couldn’t bring him back, they could make sure no one doubted that they would rage for him.
And rage they did, which is when it appeared that despite the large number of Marines, the God Knights, Elder Stars and Imu lay in wait for when Luffy and his alliance were too worn out to fight.
Luffy’s haki pinged as soon as he noticed, no one had fallen yet, but they were all making sure that those dangerous to their victory were overwhelmed. He couldn’t see Marco or Law, both Doctors who would keep on standing despite the wounds they got as well as able to perform literal miracles on others if they got wounded.
“You won’t win, Nika”, Imu gloated.
Biting his lip, Luffy took one step back to allow Shanks, Zoro and Sanji to take his place as he ran towards the shoreline. He had to be quick and he had to make sure that his friends, his family and his Nakama wouldn’t fall here now.
Calypso came out to greet him, and despite having a devil fruit, Luffy didn’t hesitate to jump into her waves.
He could hear Sabo, his dad and grandpa screaming his name, but he needed to do this. He would need to do this, or none of them would survive this in the end. There would be someone out there to fish him out, Calypso was on their side after all and she had no intention of leaving those she favoured to the likes of Imu and his deranged following.
The moment he is under, he can feel the tell-tale pull on his energy. The sea is draining him, but he doesn’t really care. Calypso promised and he trusts her to come to his aid when he needs it. He can sense others surrounding him, but not really anyone he recognizes on haki signature alone. Until one of the last ones, a bright flame. Opening his eyes, he’s not even surprised to see Ace floating in front of him, holding onto a man wearing a chef's uniform and shaking his head at the absurdity that is Monkey D. Luffy.
Beaming brightly, he takes a hold of the other hand the chef holds out and allows Calypso to push them all out of her waves.
—
The world stopped for a moment when Luffy jumped into the waves at the shore.
None of them knew what he was up to, and while his fleet and his crew trusted that he would come back to them; his family freaked out.
Imu gloating to them, and stating that Nika was a coward who took to the waves instead of fighting him didn’t land well. Sabo let him influence him, and with that the next part of the battle started. One where they needed to give way for the forces of the World Government.
They were losing.
Sabo hissed as another one of those arrows stuck the same side he already had a scar. Pressing his hand against it, and fearing that if he couldn’t move now he wouldn’t be moving anymore. But he couldn’t, he was frozen for one reason or another, until someone slammed into him to take him out of the direction of the attack. Wincing as he landed on his bad side, but blinking as he looked at the man who had pushed him aside. His brother, Ace, was staring back at him and Sabo was certain that he died.
Marco had tried to get to Law’s side the moment he realized they were planning on taking the both of them out. Between their knowledge as doctors and their devil fruits, they would bring the alliance several steps back if they were taken out. But he wasn’t able to shake his attackers. In fact, they kept on multiplying. He couldn’t get out, occupied as he was, he knew that the next shot would be seastone and would take him out. Closing his eyes as he heard it, and only opening them when he never felt the bite of a bullet in his chest. A blade was angled in front of him, a very familiar blade. Attached to Pops, who was guarding his back and grinning as he looked at Marco, “It’s good to see you, son.”
Law was on edge because they kept on driving him away from his crew and his allies. He wasn’t able to get any support right now and he was getting overwhelmed by the Marines and that one God Knight that kept coming at him. Especially the latter as they had a voice based devil fruit that made whatever they said appear, or be done to their victim. It just didn’t cover death, or he would have been toast a long time ago. He had seen Luffy jump into the ocean and his heart froze in his chest. An attack from the God Knight had him on his knees and he knew the next attack would hit him in the head. Only, it never came, he could see the God Knight talk, but no sound came out. A voice next to him sounded, “calm, you don’t need your voice here anymore.” The black feather coat was a dead giveaway and he couldn’t help but look on in awe as Doquixote Rosinante crouched next to him, a gun in his hand and shooting everyone who came too close.
Garp had known he had chosen wrong all those years ago. He hated that he never got onto the Oro Jackson when Roger offered. That he didn’t help Ace when his oldest brat was slated for execution, as he had been told he could choose between his home-island that had harbored his brats, or the oldest brat himself. He hated how long it took him to see that Dragon had been right all along. And he hated that now, he had to fight kids he had trained because he left the Marines shortly after retrieving Koby and asking his two surviving grandsons for their forgiveness when he didn’t deserve it. Saint Garling was gunning for his throat and he wouldn’t be able to keep avoiding the man for much longer. Even less so once Luffy jumped into the waves, he fell to his knees. Looking on as a blade came for his neck, only to be stopped by another and a familiar voice sneered at the Elder Start in front of them, “You’re not getting him, Garling.” Seeing Rocks at his side didn’t seem real, the man had been dead for well over 30 years. Glancing around, he could see that Rocks wasn’t the only one here and he knew Luffy had something to do with it.
Shanks hissed at the hit he was dealt, skidding back and keeping an eye on Anchor’s second and third seat. They didn’t seem too bothered that their Captain had jumped into the ocean, but that didn’t help him in not fearing for Luffy’s life. Especially as he had enough to deal with, with Imu gunning for his head. Going so far as to take over his twin and making sure that they would kill each other in the end. He wanted to call out, but his companions were too busy with Imu and he couldn’t let them die. But he was running out of stamina as he held back in trying not to hurt his brother. Shamrock didn’t want this either, but he couldn’t control himself right now. “Shit,” he uttered when he failed to catch a strike and almost closed his eyes. Except he didn’t as Shamrock’s blade was caught on another, a familiar one, before haki he had believed he’d never feel again crackled around the First Pirate King, as Roger threw everything he had onto Shamrock to break him out of the spell Imu had him in.
Luffy giggled before landing in front of Zoro and Sanji to take over the battle with Imu. Nika and he were one, and the help Calypso offered would be more than enough to get them through this. His Nakama’s joy at seeing their loved ones helped too. He knew he would have to explain it later, and he would, but for now he would make sure the rest of the world gained their freedom.
“This is the end of the line, Imu,” He grinned, “Even Calypso agreed with me, you’re not walking away from here.”
Taking note of what Nika told him, Luffy realized he would need to kill this enemy. He wouldn’t allow Imu to live, as that had been Nika’s mistake the first time and they couldn’t take away someone else’s Freedom to deal with the pest in another couple generations.
—
During the party after their victory, he shared what he had done and how Calypso had been able to help. Their loved ones couldn’t stay, but at least they had a moment longer to say goodbye.
He knew he did so, hugging Ace so tightly he didn’t quite know how he could ever forget how hugging his brother felt. Dedicating himself to burning it in his mind. Sabo was doing the same thing, and they would cherish this moment for a long time to come.
It is never a true goodbye, Little Sun, Calypso cronned, but rather a see you later.
Nodding, Luffy knew as much, sharing that too before he let go of gear 5 and allowed everyone to become a part of the sea once more. The hugs he got after, from those left behind were almost as good. All of them thanked him, before another party began to celebrate the crowning of a new king.