Author's Note: After a few extra days, Part 3 is finally done! I'm so sorry for being late, but this turned into one monster of a chapter (pun intended lol). It's over 12,000 words of adventure, fluff, humor, and everything in between. It'll bring The Monster Fair sequel to an end. I hope you all enjoy it!

To VampireApple: Aw thank you so much! I'm so glad you like it! This has been a very fun story to write XD I love mini-Law and poor Ace indeed lol. Thank you for leaving such sweets reviews and I hope you enjoy the last part!

To yukino76: Yes, go Luffy!

WARNINGS:

- Violence/death

- Fluff/humor

- Body possession

- The Nutcracker themes

- Battles

- Emotional turmoil

Merry Christmas and I hope everyone has a Happy New Year!

In the hours after arriving at the large circus tent, Luffy and Ace were ushered around under constant guard. While some monsters worked to "open" the Dreamer's Abyss, others geared up with weapons and armor.

Ace watched in awe as a centaur picked up a massive battle axe and road off towards forest's edge.

"It won't be much longer." Shanks informed them, appearing after a short absence through the back of the tent, "While you're all in the Abyss, we'll hold down the fort here."

"The troll…will he come?"

"Yes…" The red-haired monster affirmed with a slight snarl, "He will come, I guarantee it. Which is why we're all going to make sure he doesn't step foot inside the tent. We will protect your bodies with our own-"

"Wait, wait, wait…what!?" Ace stuttered, "What do you mean our bodies?" Shanks blinked before giving him a sheepish grin.

"Oh, well that's because only your souls can enter the Abyss, not your bodies. Don't worry, they should return to you with no trouble."

Ace felt his face twitch slightly in irritation. There were so many 'ifs' and 'shoulds' about this whole thing. What if something went wrong and they couldn't return to their bodies or if they died in this other world? He'd only just figured out that monsters were real and now he was getting ready to fight for the sake of both their worlds.

…but mostly his brother. He'd do whatever it took to make sure his little Lu was safe.

Currently, the small boy was being skillfully distracted from the grief and danger of their mission by the monster named "Yasopp" who was showing him some interesting gadgets from his bag.

"If you don't mind me asking…" Shanks said quietly, bringing him back to their conversation, "How are you dealing with all this? It must be quite shocking."

"I'm…okay." He affirmed while shifting his weight from one foot to the other, "On one hand, I'm ecstatic Lu hasn't been hallucinating any of this, but also worried that it might be putting him in danger." Shanks nodded and put a hand on his shoulder.

"I understand how you feel, it would be a lot for anyone to take in. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

Ace considered this for a moment, thinking back to the centaur and his axe.

"Actually…there is something."

Luffy gulped at the sight of a deep, dark hole that now floated in the air before them. Shanks and the others had erected an extra room in the tent that he knew for a fact was completely surrounded by armed guards inside and out. There were some blankets and pillows on the ground where their bodies would be laid once they'd entered the dreaming place, which honestly made Luffy feel even more nervous.

Would it hurt to separate from his body?

"Are you all right, Luffy-ya?" Torao questioned from his place on his left shoulder, opposite Bun who occupied his right. He took a deep breath and steadied himself. This was all for his friends and Mr. Kuri who'd been so kind to him.

If it was for his friends, he couldn't be scared! Plus, Ace and Sabo were going with him on this adventure.

"Shishishi, I'm good." Luffy assured the worried mini-zombie, "Just…hungry, that's all." Torao gave him a knowing look but didn't press.

After what felt like forever, Ace arrived with Shanks. The little boy's eyes widened at the sight of a fairly large axe strapped to his big brother's back.

"Wow, that's so cool!" He fawned, reaching up to try and touch it with his fingers. Ace smiled at him but pushed his hands away.

"Easy, Lu, it's sharp."

"Prepared are we, Mr. Portgas?" Sabo commented with a gleam in his eye. The Sandman looked refreshed and had his pole ready to go. Ace smirked.

"Damn right."

"All right, here's how this is going to work." Shanks explained, drawing everyone's attention, "One touch inside the Abyss, and your souls will be drawn inside. Once separated from your bodies, Sabo will tap into Luffy's dreams to create a landscape where you can exist for a time. There isn't necessarily a limit to how long you can be there, but keep in mind we'll be fighting hard on this end, so we'd really appreciate it if you hurried."

Luffy looked up when Ace put a reassuring hand on his hair and tousled it slightly. He was so glad his big brother was here with him.

"This may be a stupid question…but can Teach and his men follow us inside?" Torao asked while fixing some of his bandages.

"Actually…some of them may already be there." Shanks informed them, face grim, "Though I imagine their souls will take whatever form the landscape requires. In addition, because it's a dream based realm, you may come across people you know, or have met in the past. Don't be drawn in, they are NOT real, just figments drawn from your minds. Focus on the mission at hand."

"Though I hate to bring this up," Ace put in, "what happens should our souls be injured or captured by the enemy."

Shanks sighed and crossed his arms, eyes narrowing at the thought.

"Well…it is possible to capture souls and take them out of the Abyss, and I suppose they could use your souls as leverage for your bodies, but hopefully that won't happen. As for injuries, anything that happens to you inside will be reflected on your bodies, so don't be reckless."

Just as Sabo was about to add something, the tent shook from an impact outside, almost knocking Luffy down. The soldiers around them tensed up and held their weapons tighter.

"They're here!" The golden-eyed wolfman hissed through the fabric walls, "I suggest you hurry and begin."

"And that's your cue!" Shanks said, beckoning them forward, "When you find the crystals, don't break them until you have both in your possession, otherwise you'll end up with a soul that has nowhere to go, or a huge body with nothing in it…at least in Katakuri's case. Though we don't know for sure that everyone else was also separated from their bodies, it's more important to be safe than sorry. When he's whole, Katakuri will be expelled from the Abyss, hopefully with all of you in tow."

Luffy trotted forward with the others in their little group, stopping for a moment to hug Shanks' leg.

"Thanks for all your help!" He chirped, making the monster smile fondly and ruffle his hair.

"Anytime, kiddo. Just…be careful, yeah?"

"We will!"

With that, they all lined up next to each other in a semi-circle around the dark hole. After ascertaining that everyone was ready, Sabo began to count down. They were going to touch the darkness all at the same time.

Three.

Two.

One.

Luffy thrust his hand forward and immediately everything went black.

The second the group touched the swirling darkness that was the Dreamer's Abyss, their bodies went completely limp. Shanks quickly ordered the surrounding guards to catch them and put them on the designated bed rolls.

For some reason, the rabbit familiar was just…gone, which was a bit strange, but he didn't have time to think about it.

He cradled Luffy's small body himself, wanting to personally make sure the human was still breathing. Thankfully, the boy only appeared to be asleep. To those who didn't realize what was going on, it would be impossible to tell his soul was missing.

That is, until he didn't wake up.

"Leave them to us, yoi."

Shanks looked up after gently placing Luffy down to meet the determined gaze of Marco. Though he didn't look it on the outside, the veteran Boogey Man was very strong and a genius at generating emotion (or nightmares as his job description required). Thatch followed him into the room, for once not smiling.

The Sandman was in 'serious mode', something rarely seen in the jovial monster.

"You sure?"

"Yeah." Marco replied while making his way over to sit down next to Ace, so he was right next to him, "You need to go command our forces, yoi."

"Don't worry, we won't let anyone lay a hand on them." Thatch added with a mischievous look in his eye. Shanks huffed but nodded.

"Very well, but the guards stay."

"Of course."

"May I ask…why'd you wait? Didn't the two of you want to meet Ace, ya know, officially?" The pair glanced at each other before replying.

"We…haven't decided if we want to meet him face-to-face yet…" Thatch admitted sheepishly, "It might complicate things since he's an adult and not a child anymore…but we'll see." Shanks understood and didn't push the subject anymore.

Sometimes, it was difficult when your cute little charge grew into a man.

Leaving the room in their care, Shanks strode through the tent with a hand on his sword. He could feel him…Teach was out there somewhere. So, focused on the auras outside, he almost knocked Hawkins to the ground.

"Ah, are you all right-"

"Please." The Boogey Man interrupted, almost with a hint of emotion that made Shanks stop and really focus on him, "Allow me to protect Luffy."

"You should be resting."

"How can I rest when my human charge is fighting!" Hawkins hissed; frustration evident in his eyes. He'd been bandaged up but was still incredibly pale. It would be foolhardy to allow him out of the tent.

And yet…he knew how protective guardians were of their humans. The monster would fight regardless of his decision.

"Go join Marco and Thatch. I'm sure Luffy would appreciate your presence." The Boogey Man's lip twitched but he bowed nonetheless, humbly acquiescing to the order.

"Thank you. I will protect his body with my life."

Shanks watched the monster limp away, before turning his attention back to the fight already happening outside. Teach would do whatever he could to breach their defenses and take the bodies in their possession…or at least Luffy's, he'd probably kill (or eat) the others, leaving their souls to wander in the Abyss forever.

That could not happen.

They would protect the tent, Cirque Fantasia, until they could no longer lift a sword. They needed only hold out until Katakuri was released…

Then, it would be over in an instant.

When Luffy opened his eyes, everything was dark. He blinked, waiting for his eyes to adjust while he blindly searched for one of his companions. A low thrum alerted him to Bun's presence and a curse to Torao's, both still on his shoulders.

"A-Ace? Sabo?"

"Here, Lu." His big brother groaned, a larger hand finally finding his and squeezing reassuringly, "…I think I'm gonna throw up."

"Please don't." Sabo put in from his right. As they all found each other, Luffy's eyes began to adjust and he quickly noticed they were in a cave of some sort…probably. All he knew was that there was a literal 'light at the end of the tunnel' not too far away.

"Did it work, Sabo-ya?" Torao asked as they all automatically began to move towards the light.

"I believe so…I've been given no indication that it didn't." The group went silent as they cautiously made their way out of the darkness and into the brighter…room? Luffy looked around in awe, trying to take it all in at once.

They appeared to be in a living room of some sort with a large fireplace and even a Christmas tree with many gifts at its base. A look out the window revealed it was snowing outside and also nighttime. The sconces on the wall flickered with a low light and the house (if they truly were in one) was silent except for the crackling of the fire.

The kicker was…the 'cave' they'd exited was actually from underneath a couch as they were all currently only a few inches tall, or less in Bun and Torao's case.

"W-What!?" Ace exclaimed, head darting between them and the massive Christmas tree, "Why are we tiny?"

"I'm…not sure." Sabo answered, lifting his hands up to examine them closely, "How strange…and we're dressed differently too."

At that, Luffy immediately looked down at himself, taking in the comfy white pajamas he was now wearing. They were a bit frilly for his taste, but pretty nice. He wore nothing on his feet. In contrast, Ace and Sabo both wore a fancy uniform like soldiers would wear. The top was bright red with brass buttons down the middle paired with white pants and dark boots.

Ace's axe was thankfully still strapped to his back and a quick glance to the either side revealed that Torao and Bun hadn't changed at all.

"You look like toy soldiers." Luffy observed with a giggle, drawing a huff from Sabo.

"Yes, I suppose we do…the jacket is a bit constricting."

His big brother agreed with Sabo and turned back towards the open space in front of them, eyes narrowing. He examined the tree, gifts, and everything once again, obviously trying to figure out what kind of dream they'd been brought into.

Hopefully not a nightmare.

"Wait a minute…" Ace whispered, looking down at his outfit again, "A huge Christmas tree…toy soldiers…could it be-"

He stopped short when the grandfather clock cooed, startling all of them. Based on the time, it was now midnight. As the bell tolled over and over, Luffy could hear something else…something that sounded a lot like scratching or scurrying.

"Oh no."

"What is it?" Torao hissed, noticing Ace's somewhat panicked expression.

"Luffy, you really enjoyed the movie Mr. Rayleigh showed you, right?"

"Yeah!" He chirped, smiling at the memory. How could he forget the land of sweets and all the magic that went with it? Ace swallowed hard.

"I think we're in a dream world fashioned after The Nutcracker, which means, we're about to meet some rats."

Ace quickly scooped Luffy up into his arms and looked around for somewhere that could be easily defended. Of course, his little brother had to dream up a world with rats of all things. Hopefully they would find the two crystals quickly and get the hell out of there.

At their current size, the trilling of the grandfather clock reverberated through them violently, making their smaller members cover their ears in an attempt to block out the noise.

"P-Portgas-ya, over there!" Law exclaimed; his tiny body contorted over his knees. The tiny zombie was pointing to a table next to a rocking chair that was near the fireplace, where many potential weapons or barricades resided.

"Good eye!" Sabo added, taking the lead as they rushed over. Seconds after they arrived and not long after Luffy was placed on the floor, the clock stopped. Everyone tensed up as silence descended once again.

That is, until thunder sounded from outside, making Luffy jump and cry out in fear. As Bun and Law comforted the shaking kid, Ace and Sabo watched the shadows carefully as they began to move, and a drum started a repetitive rhythm.

The drumming came from behind them while the moving shadows were in front of them.

"Mr. Portgas, if I recall," Sabo whispered, hand closing around his staff, "there was an army that aided the main heroine during the battle with the rats."

"Yeah…one of toy soldiers."

Just as he said that, plastic soldiers began to appear behind them, marching in an organized line with their muskets pointed towards the sky. Around the Christmas tree, boxes burst open as more appeared, all making their way towards them.

Ace immediately pulled Luffy behind him and went back to back with Sabo, so the small boy was smushed between them. Just because the soldiers were on the good side in the ballet, didn't necessarily mean they would help them here.

When the army successfully gathered around them, they suddenly stopped and just…stared. It was honestly a bit creepy.

"Sirs, I'm glad to see you have finally arrived." A deep voice said, bringing the drumming to a stop. Ace's eyes narrowed slightly at the sight of a tall and broad soldier…thing…that was currently walking towards them. It was larger than the others and didn't appear as human as the rest.

When it stepped into the light given off by the fireplace, Luffy gasped, just barely beating Ace to it. There, in all his glory, was Officer Smoker. Though, he looked a bit different from the last time they saw him. The man was dressed in a red uniform, similar to Ace, Sabo, and the toys behind him, but his jacket was slightly different and, most shocking of all, were his white rabbit ears that stood tall on his head of white hair.

"Smokey, you're here!" Luffy chirped, wasting no time in running forward and hugging the man-rabbit's leg. Smoker looked down at the small boy with a neutral expression and simply put a gloved hand on Luffy's hair.

"I'm glad to see the child is safe, but the rats will no doubt start their attack soon. What are your orders, Sirs?"

Ace didn't respond, still shocked to see Smoker in such interesting clothes…and the ears, what was with the ears! The officer he knew would never be caught dead in such attire! He recalled Shanks telling them that some beings in this dream world would appear as people they knew, but bunny-Smoker was truly unexpected.

"…apologies, but we are your commanders?" Sabo interjected smoothly, motioning to himself and Ace. Smoker nodded and took a knee, prompting the entire army to kneel with him.

"Yes, we are at your disposal, my princes…my Nutcrackers."

Luffy watched in awe as Smokey knelt before his brother and Sabo. They were Nutcrackers!? How awesome! On his shoulder, Bun stood up on his hind paws, obviously interested in the rabbit Smokey appeared to be.

"Well that's convenient." Torao mumbled to himself, leaning against Luffy's neck, "Now we have an army made of plastic and a bunny officer…great."

The small boy giggled at the zombie's comment and padded back over to Ace who's jaw had fallen open. Sabo appeared shocked as well and was currently trying to convince Smokey to stand up. Before Luffy could say anything, however, lightning cracked yet again, revealing some beady red eyes on the other side of the room.

He immediately whimpered and pulled himself flush to Ace's leg.

"A-Ace…look." His big brother whipped around and followed his finger, jaw settling back into its proper place.

"They're here." Smokey growled, finally standing up, "The Rat King will be leading them. Your orders, Sirs?" Ace and Sabo glanced to each other and nodded, apparently over their initial shock. After brandishing their own weapons, the Sandman turned to the army and raised his staff high.

"We fight! But know this, your main objective is to protect Luffy at all costs, understand?" The soldiers held their weapons high in agreement, making the little boy feel a bit better. There were so many of them, surely, they'd be safe.

"Aw, how adorable…" A voice sneered from across the room. Luffy turned and tightened his grip on Ace's pants at the large shadow that was now displayed on the wall. It appeared to be a rat…one with a crown. "…and what's this, our target-"

"ABOUT FACE! GET IN FORMATION!" Smokey interrupted, making the shadow scoff in disbelief.

"Oi, don't interrupt-"

"FORWARD MARCH-"

"SHUT IT, RABBIT! You're ruining my flashy entrance!" The shadow exclaimed, stomping his foot in an apparent tantrum. "I can't believe this…the nerve of some people. Cut the lights, Mohji, and get everybody out there!" At his exclamation, the rat army appeared, coming out of the shadows like wraiths…really strange looking wraiths.

Luffy tilted his head confusion at their outfits: bright, colorful, and kind of gaudy.

The army was quite large, and full of interesting rats, both big and small. As they gathered, their soldiers formed a line in front of them and aimed their muskets at the cackling creatures, beady eyes glinting in the firelight.

Lastly, the one Luffy assumed was the King leapt down in a flourish, flanked by his officers. He laughed menacingly, tail swishing behind him.

"Tremble in fear as you witness the greatness of Buggy, kidnapping extraordinaire!"

Nobody said anything as he threw his arms up in the air…a cough from one of his own men breaking the awkward silence.

"Who?" Sabo asked, "I've never heard of you…"

"Maybe he's one of Teach's new lackeys." Torao put in, shrugging. The Rat King trembled in anger and snorted as he looked up, revealing a massive (and kind of funny looking) red nose.

"Y-You've never heard of me? That's ridiculous, I'm infamous throughout the realm!" Luffy pulled on Ace's pants to get his attention.

"Ne…why is his nose so big and red?"

The room went completely silent at that, Buggy's men all taking a step back in horror. The Rat King grit his teeth and clenched a fist, bringing it up to his face.

"What was that brat? Who has a big, red nose!?" He stomped his feet again, "You're lucky you're worth so much or I'd beat you to a pulp myself!" At his furious screech, his men readied their weapons and licked their chops, obviously ready for a fight. "Destroy them! The only one we need alive is the brat, so let loose!"

When they charged, their toy soldiers moved forward systematically, holding the line strong and moving it away from Luffy's group. Just before the two armies clashed, the little boy's eyes that had been stuck on the Rat King's nose, moved just a bit higher to his gilded crown.

There, right in the center of the gold, was a glowing green crystal.

Ace held his axe tightly, the sound of battle echoing in his ear. This was admittedly a very strange battle, but he'd do anything, fight anything, to make sure his baby brother was safe. Sabo quickly joined Smoker on the front lines while he stayed back with a group of toys to protect Lu.

"-ce, Ace!" He jumped as his name was called and he looked down at his brother. Luffy was pulled desperately on his pants and pointing at something. "Look, his crown!"

At his brother's begging, he focused on the Rat King, Buggy's, crown. At first glance, it was just that, a bejeweled headpiece, that is, until he saw the glowing crystal embedded in the front. Based on the way it pulsed, that had to be the first of the two.

If they could take it, they'd be one step closer to getting out of this dream world.

Reading his thoughts, Law stood tall alongside Bun.

"Go, Portgas-ya, we'll protect your brother."

Deciding his baby brother was in good hands (and paws), Ace nodded and gently detached Luffy from his leg. Thankfully, two of the toy soldiers came up and stood on either side of the small boy, weapons at the ready.

Turning back towards the battle, Ace propped his axe against the table leg so he could tie his hair back in a loose ponytail. He would need to be stealthy so he could take the rat by surprise. Luckily, Buggy appeared to be easily provoked and was fighting his way straight towards Sabo.

The Sandman was holding his own fairly easily, knocking rats up the head and even smashing them into the floor. He was a force of nature; one Ace was grateful was on their side.

Steeling himself (and retrieving his axe), he began to push his way through the soldiers towards the rat army. As he skirted around fights, he kept a close eye on Sabo as he was finally approached by the King himself.

Smoker, for his part, had immediately noticed Ace's movements and began to quietly move his troops around to cover for him.

"Sandman…" Buggy growled as he and Sabo began to circle each other, "your kind is so obnoxious, still following the old laws."

"The old laws are there for a reason."

They both darted forward, clashed for a moment, and then leapt nimbly back to continue their odd dance. Buggy cackled darkly.

"You can't protect the brat, especially not in here."

"Watch me." Sabo retorted, leaping up and landing a hit on the rat's face. As Buggy's eyes closed in pain, the Sandman met Ace's gaze for a moment, letting him know that he would assist him in any way he could.

Blocked from sight by toy soldiers, he carefully snuck up on the Rat King, axe held tightly in his hand. He didn't want to kill him…he was a firefighter, someone who protected life, not someone who took it.

So, the second he saw an opening, Ace leapt onto Buggy's back and wrapped the handle of his axe around his neck. As expected, the rat screeched and cursed, scratching at him in an attempt to get him off. He winced as the nails cut into the flesh of his arms, but thankfully Sabo didn't take long.

Using his staff, the Sandman expertly removed the crown.

However, before Ace could celebrate, he was torn off Buggy and thrown painfully to the ground. Sabo, distracted by his sudden removal, was tackled by a nearby rat, causing the crown to fly up into the air before clinking off the ground and rolling towards the fireplace.

"Why you…" Buggy growled, coughing as he caught his breath. He glowered at Ace for a moment but turned his attention back to the crown that had rolled to a stop right in front of the fireplace mantle. "Cabaji, get my crown, NOW!"

"Aye, Boss." A rat on a unicycle replied, swiftly peddling his way over towards the fireplace. Buggy attempted to follow but fell flat on his face when Ace tackled his legs. He huffed, definitely bruised, but not out of the fight yet.

Sabo used the opportunity to sprint after the cycling rat.

"Let go, human!" Buggy demanded, kicking and clawing at him, "That crown is my flashiest piece of jewelry that Teach gave me to guard! You can't have it!"

"All the more reason to take it!" Ace hissed in response, grunting as he was cut on the cheek. That crystal held multiple souls and they wouldn't be leaving without it!

Suddenly, a fearful squeak drew his attention to the fireplace and his eyes widened. There, holding the crown tightly to his chest, was Luffy. Law and Bun were in front of him, snarling at the encroaching rat who was smirking.

"Lu, what're you doing, RUN!" Ace screamed, receiving nothing but a tremble from his brother. He took a step back, only for his back to hit the mantle, effectively trapping him. Why had he come out from the protective circle he'd left him in!?

Though Sabo was rushing towards them, it was obvious he wouldn't make it in time. Underneath him, Buggy laughed out loud.

"That's right, Cabaji, grab the kid! With him as our hostage, they won't be able to do anything!"

Luffy's bottom lip trembled as he shrunk away from the clawed hands that reached for him, until he suddenly straightened with a look of surprise on his face. The little boy looked down at the crown in his hands in confusion before his expression morphed to one of determination.

Just before the rat could grab him, Luffy smashed the large green jewel on the floor, shattering it into multiple pieces.

At that, the whole battle stopped, and everyone watched as mist flowed from the shards. Beside Luffy, the mist formed into several bodies that lay unmoving on the floor while the other half funneled itself into something not far from his brother's foot.

Ace swallowed, unsure of what happened. Shanks had warned them that if they broke a crystal prematurely, the Fair Lord's soul and/or body would have nowhere to go.

As the bodies began to stir, something slammed into Cabaji, sending him flying into the far wall. Ace blinked and tried to get a better look at what it was, eyes widening when he recognized the now larger and more muscular ball of fluff glowering at the rats around it.

Bun's eyes glowed green for a moment before settling into a terrifying red. Had…the rabbit just sent a rat twice its size all the way across the room!? What the hell!?

The rabbit was now about the size of a small dog and had a strange maroon aura around him.

"Thank you for releasing me, little one." Bun said in a deep, rumbling voice that brought Sabo to a dead stop, "I will be borrowing your familiar's body for the time being, but don't worry, I will return it once I have my own back."

Almost immediately after hearing the rabbit speak, Sabo knelt before him.

"Welcome back, Master Katakuri."

Luffy worked to catch his breath as the rats around him backpedaled away from Bun…or Mr. Kuri now.

He knew it had been dangerous to go after the crown, but he couldn't let the bad guys have it! However, before the rat could get him, a voice had called to him from the crystal, telling him to smash it and release him.

It had promised to protect him and his friends.

So, he'd let him out, though he hadn't expected Mr. Kuri to take over Bun's now very muscular body. Luffy didn't move his eyes off Bun even when Ace rushed over and began to check him for injuries.

"Lu, you okay? You're not hurt?" Ace asked despite bleeding from cuts all over his arms and face. Luffy shook his head, watching as the possessed rabbit stood tall not far from them. The rats were terrified and some even fled right then and there, retreating into holes in the wall.

"O-Oi, where are you going!" Buggy cried out, attempting to stop his men, "Don't leave without me!"

"I suggest you follow their lead." Mr. Kuri said firmly, making the former Rat King flinch, "I'm not in a pardoning mood."

With that, the rats scurried away with their tails between their legs, leaving the group and the army of toy soldiers, victorious. Sabo stood up once they were gone and padded over to Luffy, taking a moment to ascertain his condition.

"That was reckless." He chided, "You could've been taken!"

"I know…I'm sorry." Luffy mumbled, "But I found Mr. Kuri!"

"Yes…at least his soul. Just please don't do that again, okay?" Luffy could tell that Ace felt the same way, so he nodded, promising to not run off a second time.

Under the watchful eye of Smokey and Mr. Kuri, Luffy trotted over to the three bodies that were starting to wake up. He recognized them right away.

"Ow, ow, ow…what the hell?"

"W-Where are we?"

Luffy's smile grew wide as Sanji, Usopp, and Miss Robin all sat up. After so long, he could finally see his monster friends again. They hadn't changed much even though over a year had passed and, against his will, tears started to fall.

"G-Guys." He hiccupped, drawing their wide-eyed attention, "I-It's so good to see you again!" Luffy then threw himself at them and pulled them into a messy hug, crying violently. It took them a minute to respond, but soon he found himself surrounded by their warmth, his friends' warmth.

"L-Luffy!? Wow, it's been forever!" Usopp chirped with a smile.

"Yeah…you've changed a bit." Sanji added while ruffling his hair. Miss Robin said nothing and simply touched his cheek gently while looking around the room.

"If I may ask…where are we?"

"You are in the Dreamer's Abyss." Mr. Kuri answered, hopping up so he was in front of them, "Unfortunately, because you are all whole, it will not be long before you are expelled from this realm. A proper reunion will have to wait until after this is all over."

Luffy sniffled at that, unsure of what he meant, until all three of his friends started to float up in the air. He reached for them but was stopped by Sabo.

"B-but why?"

"Don't worry, we'll see them again once we have the other crystal."

His friends looked around as bubbles of some sort surrounded them and began to carry them towards the wall with the couch. Luffy waved just before they disappeared beyond the wallpaper.

Marco frowned as he dabbed at Ace's face, now bleeding from a cut that swept across his jawline. The human was obviously fighting in the Abyss along with Sabo who now sported quite a few bruises. They'd expected that Teach would send men into the Realm to stop them, but it was painful to not be able to do anything to help.

So, for now, he focused on treating any wounds that appeared.

While they fussed over Ace, Hawkins watched over young Luffy like a hawk, never taking his eyes off him. Unfortunately, his relationship with Sabo was a bit complicated and though they worked well enough together, he never got to truly interact with his charge.

Marco knew all to well the inner pain being ostracized could cause.

Outside the tent, the battle raged and from the sound of it, Teach had brought his whole army. Hopefully, Ace's group would complete their mission quickly before things got messy.

Just as he thought that, the portal to the Abyss trembled, its waves of blackness rippling strangely. On the other side of Ace, Thatch stood up.

"Oi, are you seeing this?"

"Yeah, yoi. Are they back already?" Surely not…he'd assumed they would need at least a few hours (or more).

Suddenly, three things were thrown out of the portal. The two smaller ones hit the ground with matching yelps while the larger one (a woman, Marco could now see) landed on her feet and quickly dusted off her knee length skirt.

"Nico Robin?" Hawkins questioned, slowly releasing Luffy's body back onto the bedroll after clutching it protectively at the sudden expulsion.

"What is the situation?" Robin asked, not bothering to respond to Hawkins' inquiry. As Thatch helped the younger vampire and satyr up, Marco explained what was going on. A veteran strategist and strong in her own right, Robin took the information easily. "I see. Please look after my students…I will go give what aid I can until little Luffy returns."

"Wait a minute!" Thatch protested, stopping her before she could leave the fabric room, "How are they in there? If you three were released then-"

"Master Katakuri's soul has been freed." Robin explained with a coy smile, "Though his current body is less than ideal, I believe it will not take too much longer for them to return."

"Body? I thought you couldn't have a body in the Abyss?"

"So did I…but it seems Twinwood Hares have some rather unique qualities."

"It was an honor to serve under you both." Smoker stated loudly as he saluted Ace and Sabo, making the former feel quite uncomfortable. He'd never be able to look at the man the same again.

"Er…yeah, likewise." He managed, before realizing what he'd just said, "-ah, I mean, thanks for your help." Beside him, Sabo chuckled, earning an elbow to the side from Ace. Smoker relaxed at his response and took a moment to kneel and ruffle Luffy's hair.

The poor kid looked a bit shaken after the battle and having to watch his friends fly away.

"Do you have to leave, Smokey?"

"I have done my part and guided you all to the gate." The rabbit soldier responded, eyes darting to the hole in the wall. At first glance, it appeared to be a rat hole, but light radiated from it, indicating otherwise. "We will guard the entrance just in case. It will be a short walk through the Snow Forest, but you should reach the Land of Sweets and its castle in no time."

Luffy's eyes lit up at the mention of 'Land of Sweets' and he began to whisper excitedly to Law who was now reclining on the kid's shoulder. The chibi-zombie had been surprisingly helpful in treating their injuries, go figure. Bun…or apparently a demon of some sort for the time being (which Ace was man enough to admit freaked him out just a bit), sat on his haunches staring into the hole, obviously anxious to get a move on.

He'd always thought of Bun as cute, sometimes annoying, but ultimately harmless. Ace gulped as the rabbit's back muscles twitched. This new Bun looked like he would snap your neck with no hesitation.

AND HE WAS A DAMN BUNNY.

"Let's go." Demon Bun ordered, instantly commanding everyone's attention, "We have no time to lose."

Luffy would've rushed ahead, but thankfully Sabo caught him and swung the small boy into his protective grip. It was nice to have someone else around to help look after Lu. His little brother was a trouble magnet.

With one last wave to Smoker, they walked through the gate and almost immediately emerged into a snowy forest. Ace quickly pulled his hair down to help protect his ears from the chill.

"A-Ace…it's c-cold." Luffy stuttered, nuzzling into Sabo for warmth.

"Yeah, who's up for a jog?"

At that, they all set off through the woods, everyone in agreement that it was in their best interest to get out of the cold as soon as possible. Demon Bun didn't seem to mind the cold, but he had a nice fur coat, unlike the rest of them. Law, for his part, simply burrowed down in between Luffy and Sabo's body, no doubt soaking up the warmth.

The little bastard.

As they rushed through the woods, hopefully in the right direction, something like tiny whispers became audible. Ace wasn't the only one who heard them. Bun's ears went up and Luffy sat back a little bit from Sabo.

"What's that?"

"I…don't know."

Suddenly, a tiny thing whizzed by Ace's face, laughing as it went. He squinted in an attempt to see it better and barely caught a glimpse of a fairy like creature. Was it…a snowflake? Recalling the ballet, that had to be it!

"Shishishi, hello!" Luffy chirped, allowing one to land on his finger, "Ace, Sabo, look!"

"Intriguing…" Sabo mused, leaning in for a better vantage point. Continuing through the snow, the snowflakes laughed harder and all but swarmed them, keeping them from advancing.

"This is becoming irksome." The possessed rabbit growled, snapping at one that got too close to his jaw.

"Agreed…can we get rid of them somehow?" Law put in, batting at a group that dive bombed him. While most of the group contemplated how to scare the snowflakes off, Luffy appeared to be talking with the one still on his finger.

"Ne…guys? She says we're going the wrong way."

"What!?" Sabo exclaimed, "Luffy, you can understand them?" The kid nodded.

"Yeah, can't you?" That made the Sandman go silent. He huffed and looked towards Ace, who shrugged. This was Luffy's dream world, right? In his mind, it made sense.

Thankfully, the snowflake turned out to be friendly and led them confidently through the icy forest. By the time they broke the tree line, everyone was trembling from the cold. The creature flitted around them and, with a signal to her sisters, flew around to clear the mist that obscured their view.

Ace gasped.

In front of them was a grand castle made entirely of candy. Luffy, predictably, began to salivate and nearly jumped out of Sabo's arms.

"Easy now…don't you want to thank your new friends?"

"Oh yeah." Luffy stopped, wriggling down to the ground so he could wave at the fairy, "Thank you, nice lady!" The snowflake curtsied and led her sisters back into the woods, thankfully taking most of the chill with them.

Just before they started the trek towards the gate, Demon Bun spoke.

"I can feel it. My body is there."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, positive." The rabbit rumbled, whiskers twitching, "…but there is something else, something…darker. We must proceed with caution."

Luffy, for his part, heard just about nothing of Mr. Kuri's warning and trotted right up to the candy cane gate. He knew his brother and friends were right behind him, so he didn't bother waiting. Amazingly, right when he arrived, the massive gate opened right up!

However, before he could enter the delicious looking castle, Ace grabbed his hand and held it tightly.

"Stay with me, okay Lu?"

Luffy pouted, but nodded, remembering the rats. There weren't any rats here, right?

The inside of the castle was just as lavish and delectable as the outside, with taffy, candy corn, and every other sweet you could think of. Luffy scanned the room diligently, cataloging every piece and mentally picturing how it would taste.

When his eyes landed on the gilded throne, he was surprised to find it occupied by nothing but a microphone that stood a few feet away.

"Ne, why's that there?" He asked, getting Ace's attention. The second everyone fixed their eyes on the strange piece of technology; the lights went out. Before anyone could panic, flood lights turned on and pointed to the throne like it was a stage. Music started playing and a bunch of weird candy people strutted out and started dancing.

"W-What the hell…" Ace muttered, while Sabo went unusually pale.

"Sabo-ya…what is it?" Torao hissed knowingly, "What's coming?"

"I-I thought this was only supposed to stem from Luffy's dreams and experiences!" He managed, face twitching in frustration…or maybe annoyance? "Of all the people to show up…"

"WELCOME, CANDY-BOYS, TO MY KINGDOM!" A voice boomed as smoke started flowing out from under the throne. Luffy let out a sound of awe as a man with a large head wearing a tutu and a tiara descended from the ceiling. "Though I guess it's also your kingdom, being the princes and all…though I've done all the work, HEE-HAW!"

Ace immediately tried to cover his eyes when he caught sight of the man's strange attire, but Luffy was having none of it. He wanted to watch the funny guy dance!

"Ivankov is the Sugarplum Fairy…" Sabo whispered to himself, somewhat in a daze, "Dear Lord, it's my worst nightmare." Mr. Kuri's ears popped up at the name?

"Ivankov as in the famous Sandman?"

"Yeah…and, unfortunately…" Sabo sighed and wrung a hand down his face, "my teacher."

"Come in, come in, sweet candies!" Iva-something exclaimed, creating a couch from thin air using his bright pink wand (Luffy decided he'd just call him Iva), "Let's get you all warmed up." Luffy grinned as they were all ushered onto the soft couch and bundled up in blankets. The weird candy people even gave them cups of hot chocolate!

This place was a lot more fun than the other room.

"Let us sing, dance, and be merry! HEE-HAW!" Iva proclaimed while throwing his large body up onto the table and posing, drawing a giggle from Luffy (and a groan from Sabo). He was so funny!

"I hate to interrupt," Mr. Kuri said firmly, ignoring his cup and plate of carrots, "but we have an important mission to complete."

"Oh…and what's that, bunny-boy?"

"We seek a crystal, one that contains my body and two others. It is imperative we retrieve it so that we can join the larger conflict at hand." Iva hummed and struck a decisively 'ballet' pose.

"How drab. Why not relax and dance with me-" Mr. Kuri growled and his fur bristled, emitting a deep red aura for a moment. At that, Iva gasped and stumbled backwards, almost falling off the table.

"M-My, how terrifying! I-I'm going to fall, oh no, oh no, oh no-"

"Iva-sama!"

"OR NOT!" The strange man exclaimed at the last minute, catching himself and making everyone either laugh or sigh. Luffy laughed out loud, almost spilling his coco.

"Very well, if that's what you desire, I will take you to the crystal you seek. However," Iva continued in a more serious tone, "You should know that it is guarded by a monster, one that used to rule this very kingdom until she lost herself to the deliciousness of the candy. Though she was contained, by yours truly, it will not be an easy fight."

At that, everyone stood up, looking determined. Luffy rushed to finish his cup before standing up as well, not wanting to be left out. Iva looked over them with big eyes, before twirling his wand and revealing stairs that led down to who knows where.

"Should you realize that you no longer wish to put your lives at risk, you may come back and join me!" Iva said as he twirled around, "Naturally, I have many extra tutus and dresses-"

"No thank you." Sabo interrupted while putting up his hand, "We appreciate your assistance, but please, leave us alone."

Iva appeared offended by that, but Luffy didn't get to see his tantrum (just hear it) as they all rushed down the stairs. The farther down they went, the more it started to look like a dungeon as opposed to the Land of Sweets. Keeping with the mood, everyone became more and more serious with each step.

"We're almost there." Mr. Kuri informed them in a whisper, "I'm not sure what awaits us, but it is likely our last challenge to overcome before we can be free of this place. Stay alert." Luffy swallowed hard, doing his best to keep up with Ace who thankfully helped him down some of the larger more unsteady steps.

They were so close now. If they could break this crystal, Zoro and Nami would be free and Mr. Kuri would beat up the bad guy who kept coming after them.

One last fight, and then he could be with his friends again.

It took more than a few minutes to reach the bottom of the staircase and though the passage was lit by torches, the shadows seemed to darken the lower they went. Finally, they arrived at a large wooden door flanked by large candy soldiers.

"Erm…may we enter?" Sabo asked, addressing the menacing chocolate figures. They looked at each other before removing their spears and pushing the door open.

"Be careful my princes."

Luffy stayed close to Ace, stomach churning at the nasty stench that came from the pitch black room. The second he stepped foot in the room, torches flickered to life, illuminating something in the center. It was huge and…wore pink?

Once everyone was inside, the soldiers closed and locked the door behind them.

"…rude." Torao mumbled, his tiny remark echoing through the chamber and prompting Sabo to violently shush him. However, the damage had been done. Luffy yelped when the massive thing stirred, slowly trying to sit up. Upon closer inspection, it was chained to the walls by its wrists and ankles.

What kind of monster was it?

"CCCcccAAAaaaKKKkkkEEEeee." The bulging monster growled, pulling against its chains. Every movement sent a shock wave towards them, nearly knocking them over.

"What is it!?" Ace asked, kneeling down to cover Luffy and keep him from flying away. The little boy held tight to his big brother and glanced over to the others to see if anyone would respond. Sabo looked at a loss, but Mr. Kuri…his ears were flat against his head and his eyes glowed a dangerous red.

"It seems that I am to blame for this monstrosities appearance." Mr. Kuri hissed, "We all assumed only the boy's memories would appear, but this…can only come from me."

"Who is she?" Sabo yelled, holding his arms up to cover his face.

"Charlotte Linlin, also known as Big Mom. She…was, unfortunately, my mother."

Luffy gaped at Mr. Kuri and looked back and forth between them, not seeing the resemblance. Though, it was hard to tell with him possessing a rabbit and all.

"THE Big Mom!?" Torao exclaimed, barely holding onto Luffy's collar.

"Yes, though all you need to know is that she was insane and is currently in a crazed state, just as Ivankov said." Mr. Kuri explained quickly, "Generally, this only happened when she didn't get the exact food she craved and could be calmed down by presenting her with that desired food."

"CAKE!" The huge monster lady bellowed, smashing her fish into the stone and creating a huge crater.

"…and if we don't have that food?"

"She may try to eat us. RUN!"

At that, everyone split up, doing their best to avoid being crushed by the rampaging sweets monster. Luffy, Ace, and Torao went right, while the other two went left. His group skid to a halt as one of Big Mom's legs smashed down in front of them. Luffy squeaked and covered his head as small rocks fell from the ceiling.

Looking up, he examined the rampaging monster, trying to find the last crystal. If they could get that, they could leave! She didn't wear a crown and not much jewelry…wait-

'…is that it?' Luffy thought, staring at one of many rings on her right hand. Unlike the others, it glowed a brilliant pink, much like the green crystal had.

"-on her hand! It's on her hand!" Sabo yelled across the room, pointing at the pink crystal and beating Luffy to it. So now they'd identified it, but how were they supposed to get to it? The monster lady was screaming and thrashing around in a way that could crush them if they got too close.

"We need a distraction." Torao put in, "If one of us can keep her attention, the others can get to the ring and destroy it!"

Luffy bit his lip thinking about how he could best be useful in this situation. The lady was so big he'd have a hard time getting to the ring. But his brothers and Mr. Kuri could. Mind made up, he broke free from his brother's grip and raced out in front of the monster, earning some yells of shock from everyone and tugs from Torao.

"Luffy-ya, what are you doing!?" Luffy didn't reply and grabbed him firmly around the waist. Taking a moment to wind up his arm, he tossed the tiny zombie over to Sabo and Mr. Kuri, who thankfully caught him.

All of his moving around caught the attention of Big Mom, who turned her crazed gaze towards him. Swallowing his fear, Luffy began to wave his arms around.

"O-Oi, you want cake, right? Well I have some right here!"

"CAKE? Where…where is it!?"

Luffy started to back up slowly, eyes darting to the others who were sneaking around to the side the crystal was on. Meeting the monster's gaze again, he gulped. She was so scary…

"GIVE IT TO ME!" She screeched, slamming her hand (unfortunately not the one they wanted) down next to him, successfully knocking him over with the residual shockwave. Before he could get up, she snatched him in her fist, making him squeal in both pain and terror.

"Luffy, hang on!"

"LU!"

He could hear his companions calling for him, but all he could do was stare up into the swirling vortex that was his captor's eye. She stared at him for a moment before turning him upside down and shaking him, as if that would reveal the cake.

"…no cake…you…DID YOU LIE TO ME!?" She yelled, getting some spit onto Luffy's face. He tried to respond but was honestly too scared to move. The monster continued to growl and brought him closer to her eyes that turned pitch black in her fury.

Suddenly, everything disappeared around him.

Confused, he stood up and looked around, unsure of what just happened. He could see vague outlines of his companions and the monster, but it was like he was in a different space all together. Luffy took a few steps before stopping, his body cold.

W-What was-

Orphan.

He started at the slur, the voice dangerous and low.

Unwanted, useless, waste of space.

Then, three familiar people appeared in front of him. It was Bellamy and his parents, his old tormentors. They sneered down at him, making him tremble.

Do you really think your brother loves you? You're so weak and pathetic…a crybaby. He only took you in out of pity.

Tears formed in Luffy's eyes; his greatest fears being thrown back in his face. Of course, the thought had crossed his mind…that Ace hadn't really wanted him, that he was a burden, but…was it true? The next second he was tumbling down a hill, the very one that had led him to the Monster Fair. But, when he looked up, expecting to see Miss Robin's kind face, all he saw was scorn.

"H-Help me, please!"

She turned her nose up at him and walked away.

No…no, she had to come back!

Voices surrounded him, whispering how he was doomed to always be alone, trapped in the attic, ignored, starved, occasionally beaten. Though he'd hid it from Ace as best he could, Luffy had been having nightmares a lot after leaving Bellamy's house, and now, they were re-appearing, trapping him in their dark embrace.

Luffy found himself curled up in a ball, sobbing, alone in the dark. That's right…he didn't have a family or friends, no one loved him. He was completely and utterly alone.

"Luffy."

Suddenly, a light appeared. It was just a little ball that floated before his eyes, but it lit up the darkness just a bit. Looking up, he saw that it had Ace's face in it, teary as they met for the first time.

"Luffy… I'm your big brother. I didn't even know you existed until Smoker called me! But, I'm here now, and I-I want you to be a part of my life."

Then, another light, this time it was his friends. They all smiled at him and listened carefully as he told his story, completely nonjudgmental.

"That's so wrong, Lu. I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"Yeah! I'll teach them a lesson, the jerks!"

"Thanks, g-guys." He managed to get out, snot running out of his nose. "D-does this mean we're f-friends?" They all pilled in together, their familiars as well, nearby smothering Luffy.

"Of course!"

Slowly, he sat up, wiping his tears as more lights appeared. He saw Torao, Robin, Bun, Sabo, and Mr. Kuri…even Rayleigh, Cindry, Makino, and Shanks. There were so many…more people than he'd ever thought would become part of his life.

With every light, the darkness was dispersed, leaving him smiling in a bright place. That's right, he wasn't alone anymore, he had a family in Ace, and so many friends! When he closed his eyes and opened them, suddenly he was back in the grip of the monster lady who appeared frustrated.

"How dare you…STAY…OR…LIFE!"

Luffy assumed she'd done something to him, trying to make him afraid (and it had nearly worked!), but he wasn't the same kid he was before. Now, he wasn't alone.

Just as he thought that, a battle cry came from below him, drawing both his and the monster lady's attention. There, in all his glory, was Torao, charging into battle atop Mr. Kuri, brandishing a sharpened candy cane like a spear.

Luffy's eyes widened as he speared it right into the lady's eye, causing her to bellow in pain and toss him up into the air. After a few seconds in the air, someone caught him.

"Lu, are you all right?" His lip trembled at Ace's words, now somewhat commonplace, but oh so comforting. He'd stood up to the crazy monster, but now all he wanted to do what cuddle into his brother's chest, safe and sound (he was only eight after all). "I am so proud of you. You hear me, little brother? So proud."

Luffy smiled, tears flowing down his face.

Ace had seen it all. Luffy grabbed by the monster and put under some sort of spell. It had been terrifying to see his eyes go blank and his head lull to the side. They had all worked fast, desperately trying to reach the small boy whose body was slowly turning black, like the plague.

According to Demon Bun, Luffy was seeing all of his greatest fears and ran the risk of losing himself to them, lost in the abyss of hopelessness.

And yet, they didn't end up having to save him because he broke himself free of the spell. A blinding flash of light that emanated from Lu's body stopped the corrosion and brought him back! Which could only mean one thing, his baby brother had faced his fears head on and hadn't given in to sorrow and pain.

He was so proud, and wasted no time telling his exhausted little brother who rewarded him with a precious grin. Ace was so lucky to have the opportunity to raise such an angel.

While he was cuddling with Luffy, the others were working hard to destroy the ring. With her eye injured, she thrashed around like a beached whale, finally slamming the hand they were trying to reach down onto the stone floor. Sabo wasted no time climbing up and, together with Law (still riding the muscular rabbit) they attacked it with staff and candy cane, successfully breaking it into multiple pieces.

Finally, it was like they could all breathe again. They'd done it.

Almost immediately, the mist spewed out of the crystal and formed a massive body (one he could only assume belonged to the demon). Ace watched the body materialize into a winged creature and glanced over to Sabo who was trotting over to them. He held a smaller (and less intimidating) Bun in his hands along with Law who was on his shoulder.

Both of which he deposited onto Luffy.

The demon took a deep breath and began to flap his wings lazily, keeping him up in the air. He had one small body in each hand, who he assumed were Luffy's friends. Ace decided right then and there that he would never cross this guy. He was terrifying.

"Quickly, grab hold of me." Katakuri, now whole, ordered, "We will be expelled just like the young one's friends."

Ace swiftly secured Luffy in his arms and attached himself to the massive monster's boot. Sabo took a flying leap and grabbed the other foot just as the familiar bubble formed around them. They flew up into the air, out of the reach of the wallowing mass of a woman, who was still clutching her eye.

The bubble took them up through the stone like they were ghosts and scared the crap out of Ivankov who'd been about to take a drink of something. When they went over the forest, Ace swore he could hear the tinkling of snowflakes below them. Finally, they went back to the living room where Smoker and his men still stood, guarding the entrance.

The rabbit soldier saluted them just as they hit the wall, making Ace's vision swim and eventually go dark.

Shanks grunted as he blocked yet another of Teach's thrusts. The troll was strong, very strong and they were unfortunately being pushed back.

"Zehahaha, what's wrong? Getting tired, Akagami?" Teach cackled, throwing a dark fireball at his feet to make him leap backwards, "It would be easier if you just surrendered and gave me the child. I might be willing to let you live."

"I highly doubt that." Shanks countered, righting himself, "We will fight to the last man until Katakuri returns-" The troll interrupted him with a dark chuckle.

"Do you really think that mangey little group you sent into the Abyss will succeed? You know nothing about it! No, they will fail, and then I-"

"Then what, Teach?" Everyone froze at the deep voice. Was that-

A bolt of lighting laced across the sky as a storm brewed, indicating their Lord was angry. Shanks smirked as Katakuri himself emerged from the tent, wings out and eyes literally on fire. They'd succeeded, and just in the nick of time!

"K-Katakuri, how-"

"I was rescued." He said bluntly, never stopping his slow approach, "Not only have you destroyed the Fair, but you've threatened innocent children and put the lives of my subjects in peril."

At this point, the troll looked like he was about to pee his pants.

"It seems banishment was too good for you."

"N-Now wait a minute, you can't just kill me!" He pleaded, falling back onto his butt. His army, sensing what was about to happen, began to run away in terror. Katakuri ignored his sniveling and grabbed him by the throat, lifting him up off the ground.

"I can, and I will. Goodbye, Teach." With that, the Fair Lord materialized his infamous trident in his other hand and skewered the troll right through the belly. Teach spit up blood and twitched for a moment, but with a few good twists of the weapon, the troll died, disintegrating into ash right there.

Seeing it was over, Shanks ordered some his men to chase the survivors and make sure they never came out of their dark woods again. Those that were injured were helped back into the tent while others simply collapsed onto the grass, breathing heavily. It had been a long fought battle.

"It's good to have you back."

"It's good to be back." Katakuri replied, de-materializing his trident, "I should've gotten rid of Teach eons ago."

"Don't blame yourself, no one could've predicted this would happen. I'm just glad it's over and the children are all safe…they are safe, right?" Katakuri chuckled and turned back towards the tent where they could hear the sounds of laughter.

"They are all fine. I imagine they are reuniting with their parents and friends as we speak."

Luffy watched with a tired grin as his friends hugged their parents and siblings. Zoro's dad ruffled his ears, which made the green-haired werewolf pup bristle. Sanji accepted a hug from his sister but blushed the whole time. Nami and Usopp were in tears as they reunited with their families, laughing as they were swung around playfully.

He tightened his grip on Ace's hand, barely able to keep himself awake.

"Everyone." A smooth voice interrupted, making all of his friends look up. It was Robin who knelt down to catch her students as they hugged her. "I'm so glad you're all safe."

"We're fine, thanks to Luffy!" Usopp chirped, prompting everyone to look back at him. Luffy squirmed in place until Ace pushed him forward with a wink.

"Go on."

With tears in his eyes, he joined the hug pile, so reminiscent of that day over a year before. All of his friends were free. Bun, not wanting to be left out, hopped onto his hair and bounced happily. Before he could ask where his friend's familiars were, Torao walked in, finally back to his normal size.

He smiled at Luffy with a cigarette between his teeth.

"Luffy, you gotta come over and see Ember!" Nami said excitedly, breaking up the hug, "She's gotten so big!"

"Eh, why's he get to go to your house first?" Zoro argued, "He should come to the castle!"

"You just want to show off Minty Fresh!"

"You mean Shadow! Don't give him such a weird name!"

"I think it fits…matches Marimo." Sanji put in, sparking an additional argument between the two of them. Luffy, unable to hold himself back, laughed out loud. After so long, he was hanging out with his friends again.

But, as he stood up to follow them, he fell back onto his bottom, head spinning.

"Luffy, you okay?" Usopp asked as everyone crowed around him. Ace parted them and scooped him up, touching a hand to his forehead.

"Lu, you're burning up!"

"Let me see." Torao ordered, gently touching his face.

"Is he okay?"

"Perhaps this is a side effect of being the main donator of dreams and energy to the Abyss…he's exhausted and definitely has a fever." Luffy nuzzled into the zombie's cold hand, enjoying the chill on his warm skin. "I may have something in the back-"

"Then it is time for him to return to his own world." Someone interrupted, making Luffy look up weakly. It was Mr. Kuri. The large demon ducked down to enter the tent and sat so he wasn't looming over him and Ace. "He will heal better in his own realm."

"B-But…" Luffy protested, looking at his friends who all appeared worried. He didn't want to leave them yet!

"Don't argue with me, little one." Mr. Kuri chided while tousling his hair gently, "This will not be the last you see of all of us, especially not your friends. Though it was interrupted, they did officially graduate…"

"Indeed." Robin finished, "They will transfer to your school in a few weeks, and now that Teach is no more, we have more freedom to travel between worlds." Luffy blinked and looked around at everyone. They all smiled encouragingly at him.

"This isn't goodbye, Lu." Ace put in, readjusting him onto his hip, "It's…see you later, and with so many friends, I'm gonna have to buy myself a grill." The crowd laughed at that, making Luffy smile. Yeah, this wasn't goodbye. He'd see them all back in his world.

"We will rebuild, and next year, you can come see the Monster Fair again."

With that, Luffy made himself comfortable against his big brother as he was carried through the tent. Ace returned his axe and walked slowly so people could say thanks and he could wave to his friends. Shanks in particular gave him a winning grin and slipped a piece of candy into his arms. On their way out into the woods again, they were met by Sabo, Robin, Hawkins, Torao, and two others who Luffy vaguely recognized.

Bun leapt in excitement and spun in a circle on his shoulder.

"Ne…will you come visit?" Luffy asked his Sandman and Boogey Man, who looked at each other before answering.

"Well…you see, normally we aren't allowed to interact with our charges, but we'll see. Perhaps we can talk to our boss about it." Sabo answered, accepting a hug from the drooping boy, "No matter what, even if we can't come visit, you'll see us in your dreams every night."

Luffy nodded and opened his arms to Hawkins who hesitated but was pushed into the hug by Sabo.

"It was a pleasure to meet you."

"Shishishi…" He giggled in reply. Torao gave them some sort of medicine for Luffy before flashing a smirk and disappearing back into the tent. The last two waved at him and put their hands on Ace's shoulders.

"It was nice to meet ya, squirt! Take good care of your brother, yeah?" The one with the beaver hair chirped.

"S-Squirt?"

"You'll always be little to us, yoi." The other explained with a glint in his eye, "Take care, Ace."

Luffy waved at them over Ace's shoulder until everyone was back into the tent, leaving them in the woods with Robin.

"Well, shall we go home?"

Robin led them straight to the barrier, so it wasn't a difficult hike. Just before they crossed over and Luffy gave in to sleep, a popping sound came from behind them.

Turning around, his eyes lit up.

The monsters were shooting fireworks up into the sky, many of which had Luffy's name in it. Ace let out a sound of surprise and stood watching with him as the show continued, their way of saying thanks.

It was beautiful.

When they arrived home, Luffy was already asleep, snoring away in his arms. Ace was grateful the barrier had let out right behind their house but was also a bit concerned they'd be getting a lot more visitors if that's where it was going to stay.

Oh well, all the better for Lu.

Checking his brother's temperature, he decided sleep was best for him right now and tucked him into bed straight away. Bun hopped to the bathroom to wash his fur or whatever rabbits do before curling up into his normal spot in the crook of Lu's neck.

It was a cute nostalgic sight.

So much had happened, but now things were back to normal. Or at least as normal as they could be with the number of monster friends they now had. He wondered what his day would be like now that he could see them…hopefully the fires would die down now that the troll was gone (Shanks told him what happened, and he was grateful Lu hadn't seen Katakuri kill the bastard, but he was glad he was gone for good).

After leaving a cup of water on Luffy's nightstand, Ace gently closed the door and flopped down onto the couch. What a day. He considered sleeping, but then…wouldn't those two show up in his dreams? Kind of a strange thought, to know who manipulated your dreams.

Just before his eyes closed and he slipped into a hopefully dreamless sleep, something occurred to him.

He had to go to work the following evening, and his car was still parked at a creepy cabin outside of town.

Great, just great.

A few weeks after their adventure, Luffy was back in school and for once, not dreading it. He'd recovered from his fever after three days and things quickly fell back into their normal routine. Ace returned to work (after getting a ride from Mr. Rayleigh to go retrieve his car) and seemed to be getting used to seeing monsters all the time.

Though he tried to get Bun to tell him how he'd done that, the bunny would just thrum since he couldn't really talk.

Most of the crazy and scared monsters crossed the barrier, so there was a lot less panic on their side. What was super fun was that he saw Robin around town, and she told him that many of his friends' parents had decided to move to the human world, to Raftel!

He could see his friends every day!

Now, sitting in class tapping his feet, he waited impatiently for the teacher to introduce the new transfer students. His classmates whispered about what they thought his friends would be like, but most were way off.

"Everyone, please say hello to some new students: Zoro, Nami, Sanji, and Usopp. Let's give them a warm welcome!"

Luffy smiled and waved at his friends, laughing inwardly at their human disguises. Zoro's ears and tail were gone, and Sanji's sharp incisors appeared normal. Nami didn't have to change much, but Usopp had to wear really baggy pants. Responding to his mood, Bun twirled around in his pocket, equally anxious to hang out with his friends again.

At lunch time, the group retreated to the roof where they could be alone and release their familiars. Nami knew a shrinking spell that allowed Usopp to bring his turtle, Munch, with him to school.

"Sanji, where's your kitty?"

"Ah, she hasn't been moved here yet." He explained while drinking from a bottle of blood, "Duchess will be coming with my sister in a few days." Another thing Luffy learned was that Zoro was living with Sanji and his sister, much to the latter's chagrin.

He couldn't imagine them sharing a room.

According to his friends, the Fair reconstruction was going very smoothly, and it would be done long before the next Halloween. Many of the monsters he'd met during his last visit would come to town often, but others he hadn't seen since the big battle.

He hoped Torao would come and bring his zombie friends!

As lunch came to an end, Luffy couldn't stop smiling. Finally, after so long, this was his new normal. No more attic, no more bullying, no more being alone. He had his friends, Ace, and everyone else from the Monster Fair, and he couldn't be happier.

BONUS 1: Sabo and Hawkins

As they did every night, Sabo stood at the foot of Luffy's bed with Hawkins by his side. As they were now, the boy wouldn't be able to see them even with his special sight. Unfortunately, their boss had been resistant to the idea of interacting with their charge outside of the dream world, but they would convince him.

After all, they had the Fair Lord on their side.

Sabo already had plans to get a decent "human" job, one that would let him see Luffy almost every day, and Hawkins was looking into being an undertaker at the local cemetery (which suited him in a morbid sort of way).

"Say…would you like to take point tonight?" Sabo whispered to Hawkins, who's eyes widened surprise.

"Are…are you certain?"

"Yeah." He replied with a smile, "I used to think that if he wasn't playing or having fun thoughts, it would be a bad thing, but now…Luffy needs both of us. Life is not just joy, but also sadness. It's full of emotions." Hawkins flashed a brief flicker of a smile before stepping forward and getting to work with his black sand.

When he was done weaving the dream, he gently touched Luffy's forehead with a finger, which allowing the dream entrance into the kid's psyche.

"It's done."

"Good job."

Before leaving, Sabo saw a note on the nightstand with his name on it. Luffy had started leaving little notes for him and Hawkins occasionally which was honestly the cutest thing he'd ever seen. Normally there were two though…

Curious, he opened it up and snorted in amusement.

You owe me a new battery and a taillight, sand jerk.

Ace

BONUS 2: Marco and Thatch

"Oh yeah, this is gonna be good."

"Don't go too crazy, yoi."

"It's fine!" Thatch chuckled as he weaved a particularly frilly dream that consisted up prancing through tulips and having a picnic with fairies. From what he could see of the golden sand, Ace was going to hate them.

It was weird enough that the young man would leave 'feedback' on his dreams in the form of notes, but now Thatch was taking it as a challenge! Marco would definitely be blaming his partner for this one.

The following night, as he predicted, there was a note on the nightstand for both of them scrawled in Ace's messy writing.

Do that again, and I'll beat the crap out of you myself.

I know where you live.

"Aww…our little Acey is growing up."

Marco sighed and pushed Thatch aside. Tonight, it was his turn and there would be no frolicking involved. Ace needed a good, long rest, which was something he could provide in spades.