No one knew what to say to anything they just found out. All they knew was that someone they loved, someone they were devoted to, was leaving them.

They were all sitting on the forest floor, having only heard the news and explanation moments ago. None of them spoke, or moved. Except Sabo.

"Did you keep your promise?" He stared his brother in the eyes, already knowing what his answer would be.

He shook his head, "I regret three things. I couldn't save my crew, or Ace..." Luffy looked at his brother, "And we didn't go save you." Everyone around him was sad, he could tell. Sabo was taking that last statement the worst. They never discussed with anyone why Luffy thought Sabo was dead that day in Dressrosa, why he was so happy. It was in the past, they didn't need to reopen old wounds.

"I don't regret anything I did during that time...not in the least. I only made it back because of that decision." Luffy looked at the people surrounding him, his nakama. His family. "Ace died free, and by his own decision." Jimbe, Marco, and Shank's crew looked downcast, but not surprised - like the Strawhats and Sabo. "I had the chance to become stronger, to see my nakama become stronger and fulfill their dreams. I had another ten years."

With that, Luffy got up and started walking further into the forest. No one went to follow him. All of them still absorbing the last of the information they obtained.

"Luffy's really dying." Sanji blew smoke out of his cigarett.

Zoro only nodded.

Nami, Usopp, and Chopper were no longer crying. Franky and Robin were discussing something quietly, and Brook stood up, walking towards the Sunny.

The rest of the crew followed, minus Zoro, who walked further into the forest. "Tiger good?" he asked.

"If you can kill it that is." Sanji quipped.

"Where are all of you going?" Sabo yelled at them. "Luffy is dying and you all are doing nothing!"

It came as a shock to everyone when it was Usopp who rounded on him, "We are not doing nothing." He growled, "We're doing the only thing we can do."

"Which is what exactly?" Sabo spat at the sharpshooter.

"Celebrate our Captains life while we still can."

Shanks, Benn, Yasopp, Lucky Roo, Marco, and Sabo. They all stood there, staring at Luffy's crew.

They realized just how mcuh stronger they were than themselves. They knew their captain was dying. They knew he was out of time. They didn't mourn, they didn't want to. They wanted to celebrate the life that had saved them in more ways than one. They knew that their Captain didn't tell them for a reason and didn't question it, they didn't question his actions from ten years ago. They accepted it and wanted to celebrate it.

The six men standing there were dumbfounded, they were all angry and devastated. They were only thinking of themselves.

[line]

Barking was the only knowledge Luffy needed to know that he had made it to his childhood home. The countries from when he and Ace were kids were left practically untouched.

Someone came running out of the hut, brandishing a knife.

"Hey, Magra!" Luffy chirped.

"L-Luffy!" the bandit dropped his knife and ran to the now fully grown man, hugging him and dragging him back inside, "Boss! It's Luffy! Luffy's here!"

Dogra and Dadan came running in, along with the rest of the bandits. The first two whacking him on the head, "WE HEARD ABOUT THAT LAST STUNT YOU PULLED!"

Luffy just laughed, knowing that they were just worried and over reacting. He held up a bottle of sake and all was forgiven.

They drank and laughed until nightfall, when Shanks and Benn went to get him...and somehow ended up dragging all of the bandits along with them.

The group was led to the beach where there was all sorts of food on many different tables and many bonfires going up and down the beach - each one flickered green and blue every now and then. Above them was a banner that said: Happy BIrthday Luffy!

Luffy was about to tell them that it wasn't his birthday, but he then realized what they were panning, and went along with it. It wasn't too far off, for that matter.

There was more drinking and partying, tale telling and music - until very early the next morning. Everything had died down and most were sound asleep, probably from having too much to drink.

Not many were still awake, only the Stawhats and few others who knew what the celebration was really for.

Luffy laid down on the sand, staring up at the stars. "Thanks," None of them said anything, but instead were deadly silent. "for everything." Those words meant so many things.

For being there.

For helping me.

For saving me.

For loving me.

"Be strong," he paused, taking a deep breath, "I know you can."

I love you.

He was gone. But all of them would swear to the day they died, that they saw Ace with his arm wrapped around Luffy's shoulders, waving to them. And Shanks would swear that he saw another man next to them.

"You always leave in the best way... don't you, captain."

XX..o..XX

Sorry that this was so short... that's just how everything kinda fit together.

I'm going to write an epilogue to this, which will explain some things.

Who can figure out what that last sentence is refering to?

Thank You for reading.