Review Responses:
Rose7anne101- Let me begin by saying "I like your review, yoi." ;) Thank you! Aw you make me blush! :D Hope you enjoy the chapter, I promise your questions will all be answered in due time…. *Evily laughs*
MysticWaterWolf- Thanks! Here you are!
Black' Victor Cachat- Yeah same dude! Erm.. I-I mean I totally have a plan what are you talking about… *Laughs awkwardly* Enjoy the chapter!
Poemado- Thanks for the review! And I have to say I was planning on it. I feel like while grown Ace handled Impel's down tortue like no shits, his younger self may be a bit different… He has a lot of shit to go through this chapter so grab a napkin. And don't worry I'm still writing the others.
StarliteOracle- Thx
Yuzukikuran476- He'll be fine… After I destroy him first. Thx for the review.
Seth42- Maybe… ;). Firstly thank you for the review! I love long reviews! Also I love to hear it was worth the wait, especially since updates can be a bit stretched apart. The bandits were trying to help him in their own way, although I don't approve either. Ace will get his happy ending… But he has a lot of shit to go through first. Dont worry, I have a plan. Maybe. Possibly. Somewhat. I'll figure that out later. Anyways thanks again for the review! And don't worry, your review was actually really well written! Conjugation sucks I agree! I'm trying to learn french and I'm like y so many Conjugations?! HALP.
UnicornsThatGamble- Aw Thank you! No prob dude! When I read a good story, I try my best to share it! :D
Gabrielangel23- Thank you! Here you are!
AnyMoreBrightIdeasGenius- Thanks!
XxAceLawxX- Relatable mate. I have the memory of a squirrel. True xD Sabo's as stubborn as his brother. *Lowered into grave* "IM FIIIIIIIIINEEEEE" Same. I like to call him Luff or Lu, and it followed me into the story if you've noticed. xD I can't say anything since I'm the same way. *Reads a great story* "MUST REVIEW" *Gets distracted* *75 years later I'm in my grave, hand pops out, "SHIT I FORGOT!"
~READ ME~
-Warning This Is Kinda dark- (Child Abuse, Ace goes through a lot of shit)
(Also recommend listening to Hopium-Cut while reading Ace's part.)
"Where are we going?"
Ace looked around, uneasiness increasing. The dull, cement walls made him feel trapped. Well… I guess that wasn't to far fetched. He clenched his teeth as he looked down. He was trapped. His freedom was gone. Ace flinched as he was forcefully shoved forward.
"Shut up and keep moving brat."
Ace's eyes glared at the back of the warden. His ears focused on the jingling of his cuffs, and the symmetric footsteps of the matching soldiers on either side of his eyes widened as he began to shake. A noise was filling his ears and he knew damn well what the sound was. Screams. Ace's breath quickened as he began to dread the future. Suddenly the warden stopped.
"I trust you can take it from here Sadi-chan?"
Ace tilted his head, trying to get a glimpse of who the other was speaking to. His eyes landed on a woman. She was dressed rather provocatively in hot pink. Similarly colored horns lay a top of a head of long, golden hair. Her eyes were covered by her hair, but a rather sinister grin was planted on her face. Ace felt a chill as her head tilted towards him. His eyes widened as she licked her lips.
"Absolutely Warden-kun."
Without much care, the warden walked away.
"Don't go overboard. We need him alive."
Ace backed away as she got closer, but that didn't get him far. Two large hands held him in place, one from each soldier. Trying to control his quickening breath, Ace forced a glare, trying to appear strong. His eyes widened as the woman chuckled, bending down to delicately place a hand on his cheek.
"What a cutie!...Such a shame you've been a bad boy."
She trailed her fingers down to his chin, lifting his head up. She leaned in closer, tilting her head. Ace's froze as he saw a glimpse of her eyes, fear beginning to overwhelm him. Licking her lips again, her sadism filled eyes were burnt into the raven's mind.
"Do you know what we do with bad boys?"
She leant in closer, her lipstick stained mouth right beside Ace's ear. Ace began to shake as she whispered into his ear.
"We punish them."
Ace paled as the woman pulled away, grin never leading her face.
"Now."
She licked her lips again.
"Let's cleanse you of your sins."
She nodded to the soldiers, and Ace felt himself once again forcefully pulled along. He was dragged to another room, where he was thrown on the floor. He landed with a grunt as his body made contact with the hard, cement floor. The woman stood in front of him with her arms crossed. She appeared to be looking him over.
"Strip him."
Ace's eyes widened as the two soldiers got closer to him. He screamed as their hands touched his shirt, automatically going into defensive mode. He kicked, punched, everything he could manage to keep their hands off him.
"Damnit brat! Stay still!"
"HELL NO! Get off me!"
Suddenly Ace felt his feet making contact with skin, and he looked up. He had managed to kick one of the soldiers in the face. He scoffed. 'Serves them right.' His triumph didn't last long, as said soldier took his head and bashed it into the floor, quickly moving to keep him down as the other began removing Ace's clothes. Ace could only grit his teeth as his head pounded, he felt liquid trickling down his face. He could only clench his eyes shut and wait for it to be over.
"Alright, get him to the pot."
Ace's eyes snapped open as he realized the weight was off him. He felt relief, until he realized he was only in his boxers. He mentally cursed, his vision was blurred, his head was pounding, and his ears were ringing. Everything was a blur. He could barely registered being moved until he found himself attached to some type of device. His vision was impacted from earlier, and kept fading in and out from clear to blurry dots. Ace gritted his teeth, clenching his bound fists. For some reason, a picture of his two brothers smiling appeared in his mind. He sadly smiled remembering them, as he was lowered.
It was only a second before he felt it. Burning. Boiling. Within a minute Ace was completely submerged in the water. He thrashed around. Throat filling with water as his mouth ripped open in screams. Everything seemed to be a big blur, and he found himself wondering. How could something so hot, feel so cold? He could feel the water surrounding him, burning him. It felt so long. A torture that lasted for only a matter of minutes, felt like a lifetime.
By the time Ace was taken out, he was shaking. Panting, with a throat raw from so much screaming, his skin was bright red. He didn't even realize he was out, his skin still burning, aching, reminding him of the hell he just endured. He didn't even realize as he was once again clothed. The dull black and white clothing only further reminded him of what he was.
A prisoner.
~Meanwhile...~
"But Saaaaaaboo!"
"No Luffy, you saw what happened last time. I'll be right back, okay?"
"...Fine. But be back soon."
"I promise."
As much as the raven didn't want to admit it, he knew his brother was right. Pouting, he watched as he brother tied the shit to the docks, then disappeared into the town. Sighing, he headed back into the cabin, flopping down on the bed.
~Flashback~
"Alrighty."
The two of them had just restocked supplies, and had also found themselves with more directions to Impel Down. Both carrying large packs on their backs, they stopped to look at the same thing; a map. Sabo had bought it a little while ago, and little by little the brothers were getting closer. Pointing down to a spot on the parchment, Sabo looked at Luffy.
"Here. This is where we need to get to."
Luffy tilted his head as he read the label.
"Calm belt?"
Lightly tapping the spot, the blond nodded.
"According to the lady at the bar, Impel down is hidden somewhere there. It'll be tricky finding it, but before that we need to worry about getting there."
Sliding his finger slightly south, it landed on yet another destination.
"The Reverse Mountain. It's the only way to get over there, and we're getting closer."
Luffy grinned.
"And that means we're closer to Ace!"
The grin was infectious.
"It's not gonna be easy. But we've come too far to give up now."
Their two eyes met. Blue and brown. Both with one thing easily distinguished, determination.
"We're getting Ace back."
Quickly folding the map up, he stuffed it back into his pocket.
"Ace?"
Sabo snapped up at the unfamiliar voice, immediately getting in a defensive position slightly in front of his younger brother. His eyes darted around in the darkness, and glared when they reached their targets. It was some pirates. Roughly six or seven if Sabo had to estimate, but he didn't rule of the possibility there could be more he didn't see.
"Who are you? What do you want?"
"What?"
The man scoffed, chuckling humorlessly. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a piece of paper.
"Silly boy. It's not about what I want."
He opened the sheet, allowing Sabo to see just what was on the paper. His eyes widened as he made it out.
-WANTED-
Dead or Alive
Demon Brothers
Ace & Luffy
5 Million Beli
"It's about who I want."
Confusion written on his face, he looked over at his brother, wondering what he and Ace had managed to do to get themselves wanted. Shaking it off for now, he realized he had more... dire circumstances to tend to first. Like the man coming at him with a sword. He reached for his pipe, cursing when he realized he didn't bring it.
Quickly dodging, he turned and aimed a kick at the pirate. Which was unfortunately dodged as well. Clenching his teeth, Sabo peered over to Luffy, who had the right sense to stick close to him. 'Damnit…'Turning his attention back to the man, he dodged another attack, cursing he didn't have his pole on him. Mentally cursing again, he took a better look around. 'There!' His eyes landed on a stick, who was around the same size of his staff. It definitely wasn't as strong as it, but it would have to do for now, he decided as he lunged for it.
Sabo grinned at the familiar feel in his hand. Twirling it around once for the feel of it, he quickly got in a defense position, Luffy right at his side. The man only laughed when he saw Sabo's weapon.
"A twig? You think your gonna defeat me with a twig?"
The pirate laughed, setting his group off as well. Sabo felt a sting at the words, but that only brought determination. Lunging forward, he aimed for the man's head. But he was quickly intercepted, and the stick found itself cleanly cut in half. Quickly saving his head from being the same, Sabo jumped back, grabbing Luffy. Sabo cursed as he realized something. He couldn't win. Looking back at Luffy, he sighed. Grabbing his brother's hand, he began running into the woods, hoping to lose them. Sabo knew he wouldn't have only had to worry about himself if he fought, but Luffy as well. He might've been able to hold his own against them, but that could've also meant moving away from Luffy, and giving them an opening. Something he wasn't willing to risk.
As he ran, he found he missed Ace more than ever. Keeping Luffy safe was a lot easier when there was two of them.
~Back to the Present~
Luffy groaned. He didn't want to cause trouble for his brother, he really didn't. It's just… He was so bored. He wanted to help. Turning over on the bed, he sighed as he faced the wall. He just felt so... useless. He didn't seem to be helping with anything. In fact, it was more like the opposite. He felt like his presence just made things worse. Sabo was attacked because of him, the treasure was lost because of him, and… Ace was gone. Luffy sniffled as he felt moistness arrive at his eyes. No. Luffy shook his head, holding back his tears. He wasn't going to cry until Ace was here to call him out for it. He had to be strong. Crying wasn't gonna get Ace back.
Taking a moment to settle his feelings, Luffy got up. They were going to get Ace back, and Luffy was helping. Nodding to himself, the raven exited the ship, and headed for the forest.
~You know who ;)~
Taking a moment to look up at the sky, he felt the wind dance around him as he listened to the seagulls. He had this feeling inside of him... something was going to happen. Shaking it off, he headed towards the town.
{Alrighty. Next time Marco meets the duo! And I apologize for the shortness of this chap. If u notice I tried making every chapter a little longer than the previous, but this is shorter. I'll try making the next a lot longer if I can, for compensation. Anyways make sure to favorite, follow, review. All that. Bye for now!
-Axx}