East Blue, Mt. Colubo...
"Once we drink this cup, we're brothers for life."
At the edge of a cliff, Ace held a bottle of liquor, carefully pouring it into three small wooden cups lined up on a stump.
On either side of him, Sabo and Luffy watched with wide, eager eyes.
"Well then, from this day forward—"
Ace picked up one of the cups as he spoke.
Luffy and Sabo did the same, grinning from ear to ear.
Clink!
"Our brotherhood begins now!"
The three wooden cups clinked together with a soft crack. Ace burst into hearty laughter.
"Yeah!!"
Luffy and Sabo whooped, faces lit with joy.
"Hey, Luffy."
After draining his cup, Ace turned to look at his younger brother, who was still smiling like a dope.
"What's up, Ace?"
Luffy grinned back at him.
"Are you going to become the Pirate King?"
Ace gazed at him seriously.
"Yeah! The Pirate King is the freest person on the seas—I'll definitely become Pirate King!"
Luffy beamed, shouting it loud and proud.
"…Wait, Ace, don't tell me... you wanna be Pirate King too?"
Suddenly, Luffy's eyes widened in alarm as the thought occurred to him.
If Ace wanted to be Pirate King too… he wasn't sure he could win against him.
"I'm not really interested in becoming Pirate King,"
Ace said with a light chuckle.
"But I will become the King of the World."
Standing at the cliff's edge, he spread his arms wide. His eyes burned with ambition.
"King of the world…?"
Sabo's voice trembled slightly.
As a noble of the Goa Kingdom, he understood the gravity behind those words far more than the others.
Was Ace planning to challenge the true rulers of the world... the Celestial Dragons?
"King of the world? That's amazing! But it's still not as great as Pirate King! Pirate King's the freest guy ever!"
Luffy laughed with a carefree grin.
"Then, Luffy… if one day I need the help of the future Pirate King—what will you do?"
Ace turned to look at him.
"Help you?"
Luffy blinked, then broke into a bright, sincere smile.
"Then no matter where I am, I'll come help you! You're my big brother!"
Luffy shouted, voice unwavering.
"And me too! Ace, I'm your brother too!"
Sabo clenched his fists, pushing through the fear of the Celestial Dragons that had been ingrained in him since childhood.
"Then it's settled."
Ace laughed, glancing at them both.
"Yeah!!"
Luffy and Sabo cheered in unison.
Months passed since the three had sworn their brotherhood.
During that time, Sabo had been living at Dadan's hideout with Ace and Luffy—but eventually, his father found him. Though Sabo was much stronger than he'd been in the original timeline, he didn't want to drag Ace and Luffy into trouble. So, he made the painful decision to return to his family.
Ace hadn't stopped him. In the end, Sabo's path was his own to choose.
Events unfolded just like in the original story. The king, preparing for the arrival of the Celestial Dragons, ordered the destruction of the Gray Terminal.
Sabo left a letter for Ace and set sail alone. Unfortunately, he ran into the Celestial Dragons' ship—and it was shot down.
But Sabo didn't die.
He was saved by none other than Monkey D. Dragon—Luffy's father.
News of the incident soon reached Dadan's hideout.
"Sabo! I don't believe it! Waaahhh!"
Luffy broke down in sobs when he heard the news.
Ace, meanwhile, remained silent, face unreadable.
On the day of the ceremony, Ace had actually been there. He'd used Observation Haki to keep track of Sabo.
Just because something happened in the "original story" didn't mean it would repeat here. If Dragon hadn't shown up in time, Ace wouldn't have let Sabo die—not without a fight.
Fortunately, just like before, Dragon did come. Sabo was saved.
"Here, Ace. This is a letter from Sabo."
Dogra held out a sealed envelope, watching Ace's silent expression.
"Give it to me. Luffy, stop crying. Sabo wouldn't die that easily. He's my brother—just like you."
Ace placed a hand on Luffy's head and spoke softly.
"Really? You really think he's okay…?"
Luffy sniffled, wiping his nose.
"That's what I believe."
Ace nodded firmly.
"Mhm! Ace, you… you have to promise not to die either! You're my big brother!"
Luffy's tear-streaked face stared up at him.
"Yeah, I'm not planning on dying."
Ace ruffled his hair gently, then walked toward the cliff.
Standing at the edge, he slowly opened Sabo's letter.
Ace, Luffy—
I hope you two made it out of the fire okay.
Ace, you're a fire guy, right? No way some flames could hurt you, haha.
If you're reading this letter, then I've already set sail.
A lot's happened… but I've made my choice.
I'm leaving this country—going anywhere but here.
I have to get stronger.
Ace, you said you want to be King of the World.
If I want to help you reach that goal, then I'm still way too weak.
I need to become strong—strong enough to stand beside you.
I'll become a pirate.
I'll become the freest person on the seas.
And when that time comes… I'll be able to help you.
The three of us will meet again, I'm sure of it—somewhere out there, on the vast, free ocean.
Oh—and Ace.
No—Oniisan.
I've already thought of you as my brother for a long time now.
Thanks for everything these past few months.
Our bond—our brotherhood—is the most precious treasure I have.
And Luffy… I'm entrusting our little brother to you.
Take care of that crybaby for me, will you?
—Your brother,
Sabo.
When Ace finished reading, his eyes shimmered with tears.
"You want to become the freest person in the world… and come help me?"
He looked toward the horizon, smiling softly.
"Then you'd better get strong, Sabo—my brother."
We'll meet again. I know we will.
...
Time flew by. Seven years passed in the blink of an eye.
Ace was now seventeen.
And today… was the day he would set out to sea.
Dadan's House.
"Hey, Boss! Ace has something to say to you!"
Magra shouted toward Dadan, who was lying on her side with her back turned.
"What now? That little brat's finally leaving. Don't tell me he wants to get in one last jab before he goes?"
Dadan grumbled, not turning around.
"No! He said… 'Thanks for taking care of me all these years.'"
Magra yelled.
"…"
"!!?!?"
"W-What the hell is that supposed to mean?! That damn brat—saying crap like 'thanks for taking care of me' all of a sudden!"
Tears gushed down Dadan's face as her mind swirled with memories—from the day Ace had arrived as a baby, all the way to now.
In her heart, Ace had long since become her son.
At the shore, Foosha Village.
"Ace! Do your best out there!"
"Make us proud, Ace! Become a great pirate!"
"Bring glory to Foosha Village!"
The villagers had all gathered at the shore to see him off, smiling and shouting their farewells.
"Quiet, all of you! Becoming a pirate is a disgrace to our village's name!"
Mayor Woop Slap scolded them—though the fondness in his eyes as he looked at Ace betrayed his words.
"Ace! I'm setting sail too—in three years! Wait for me! I'll become Pirate King for sure!"
Luffy yelled at the top of his lungs, watching Ace prepare to depart on his small, modified sailboard.
"I'm looking forward to it, Luffy."
Ace tipped up his straw hat and smiled, the breeze catching his cloak.
"Well then—thank you, everyone, for taking care of me all these years."
He bowed deeply to the gathered crowd.
"And please… take care of my idiot little brother."
Ace gave one final smile, then turned his eyes toward the sea.
Fwoosh—
Flames ignited beneath his feet, propelling his reinforced sailboard forward with blazing speed.
"Finally... My journey begins."
Ace's face was alight—not with fire, but with anticipation and excitement.
---
TL/N:
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