This is a part of my ASL series, it's getting posted way later then the main story and Sabo's story, but that's because I was having trouble with Ace's crew.
Summary: Ace sets out on his seventeenth birthday from Dawn Island, intending to make a name for himself and live free as he and his brother's promised.
~Departure~
A young man with raven hair stared out over the ocean, the wind lightly blowing his hair. His black eyes gazed out into the horizon, not really taking note of anything they passed over. He had a faraway look in his eyes as he leaned against the railing, mind wondering over the offer that had been given to him. His mind kept returning to his brothers, far away from him now, what would they think. He sighed as he remembered. It had been two years ago that he had left home.
~Two Years Before~
Ace was readying the small fishing boat since dawn, unable to sleep for once due to his excitement. As the sun rose higher he heard the arrival of one of his brothers. He could feel his long-time friend's eyes on his back as he put the rest of his supplies in the boat. A wind blew calmly through the air, his long raven locks being blown about as he straightened.
The raven turned and began making his way up the hill to his younger brother, the blonde now staring at the trees hanging above him. Sabo's gaze was brought back to his older brother as he heard the raven's footsteps. Ace smiled widely as he saw the blonde's worried look despite his usual smile.
"What are you so worried about?" Ace asked the blonde.
Sabo sighed. "I'm worried about you, you idiot. Knowing you as soon as you step off this island you'll be in big trouble."
Ace frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You know what I mean Ace," the blonde replied with a teasing smirk.
The two were quiet, the raven now frowning at the blonde who eventually stopped smirking. They stood there in silence, just listening to the sounds of the rustling leaves and watching each other, each wanting to say something but unable to form the words. Ace watched as Sabo uncomfortably pulled at the collar of his blue dress-shirt. Ace shuffled about as well, both lost in deep thought.
"You're really leaving?" Sabo asked, Ace noting the tone of sadness in the voice.
"Yeah..." Ace said after a moment, before he grinned at Sabo, "Looks like I beat you to it. You always said you were going to set out first."
Sabo glared at his brother in annoyance. "I did set out first, but my ship kind of exploded."
The raven frowned as Sabo mentioned the incident from seven years before, and Sabo's glare fell into a guilty look for bringing it up that incident. It was a touchy subject amongst the brothers, especially Ace and Luffy because they had thought Sabo died. Sabo grinned at Ace after a moment. Ace smiled back, forcing the thoughts of the past out of his mind.
"If you keep spacing out, I'm just going to steal your ship," Sabo teased.
Ace playfully glared. "Nope! I'm the eldest so I get to leave first!"
"You're only older by a few months, what would it hurt if I came with you now?" Sabo questioned.
Ace glanced back at the forest behind the blonde. "Luffy'd be alone."
Sabo raised an eyebrow. Ace knew there was an argument coming. "And he won't be alone when I leave in three months?"
Ace scratched the back of his head: Sabo had used that argument a lot and Ace had no way to beat it. "Okay, maybe I just don't want my kid brother tagging along."
"What was that?" Sabo growled as he moved to hit the older boy.
Ace brought his hands up to block the hits that came from the angry blonde. Soon the two were wrestling like they did as kids, neither giving an inch. The blonde began to smile as he continued to fight with his brother, showing he wasn't really mad, and the two enjoyed their daily ritual. As they stopped to catch their breath the two smiled sadly, realizing this would be the last time they would spar like this.
"You need to help him get stronger," Ace commented after a few moments.
Sabo jerked at the words. "Luffy?"
"Luffy's strong, but he can still improve. You can help him do that," Ace stated, looking to the forest again.
Sabo glanced at Ace. "I suppose..."
Ace went to speak again, but a shout from the forest interrupted him. He broke out into a huge grin as he and Sabo watched the trail intently, waiting for their younger brother to come barreling out. It didn't take long till the youngest shot out of the forest, jumping onto the elder raven excitedly.
Ace hugged their baby brother tightly, laughing at Luffy's enthusiasm. Ace faintly heard the crunching of approaching footsteps but ignored it in favor of his baby brother. Finally, after a few minutes of the two brothers hugging, Ace pushed Luffy off of him and turned his attention to the others. Upon seeing Makino standing next to Sabo, Ace felt a blush begin to spread across his face.
Even though it had been seven years since he met the woman, he still blushed like mad around her. Sabo loved teasing him about her being his first love, while Luffy only looked confused whenever it was brought up. The woman had been so kind to him, and for no reason. It was thanks to her that he would be able to thank Shanks properly once he met the man.
Ace glanced back at the forest, a frown on his face. He had hoped their foster mother would come see him off. The bandits were all gathered around, but the woman wasn't and it made Ace feel disappointed. He knew it was the woman's way; she hated admitting she actually liked the brats in her care. She had known and cared for Ace since he was a baby. Really she was the only mother he knew despite the stories he had been told of his birth mother.
Ace broke out into another grin as he turned to his boat, standing tall. He wouldn't let the absence of the bandit leader get him down. The others followed him to the coast, various looks on their faces. Sabo and Luffy stood at the front of the smiling and cheering group of bandits, some of which were trying to hide their tears at the raven's departure. Ace paused and turned back to the group, looking at the bandits more than anyone else.
"Can you pass a message on to Dadan for me?" He asked, his hat hiding his eyes.
A bandit moved forward. "What do you want to tell the boss?"
"Tell her..."Ace paused, scratching the back of his neck, he finally met the bandit's eyes with a huge grin, "Tell her thanks for everything!"
The bandits all promised to do so, some breaking down crying fully now, especially Dogra and Magra. Sabo smiled, standing next to his little brother, as Ace pushed off from the island, steering out into the ocean. As he got further out, he turned back to the island waving his arm to them all.
"Good luck out there Ace!" Luffy shouted, the bandits joining in.
"You just wait! I'll make a name for myself in no time!" Ace yelled back.
He saw Sabo move forward. "Ace!"
Ace stilled on the ship for a moment, watching the island begin to get further away. Ace waited, knowing that what the blonde needed to say was important. Ace saw the blonde straighten again and stand tall.
"Remember our promise!" Sabo shouted as loud as he could.
Ace thrust one fist high in the air. "To be free!"
Ace watched as Sabo threw his arm up in the air at Ace's words, and saw Luffy do the same. Ace turned his attention from his brothers, focusing on steering the boat from the island. The bag at his feet had several maps in it of the islands in the area-he'd start by sailing to each of the seas to gather his crew, then it was on to the Grand Line.
Ace stared out over the sea, a small smile on his face. He'd show the world who he was and what he could do. He'd make the world see him for who he was-not who his father was-and he'd live free just as he promised his brothers. Ace smiled. He had a lot of ground to cover before Sabo set sail, he wouldn't let his younger brother beat him.
~End Ch. 1~
Before I forget again, I want to thank my Beta Reader: Lady Spritzy, for helping edit this series. She too has an account on here, and in my opinion really great stories, so I suggest checking her account out.
So this chapter is similar to the one in Sabo's story, because it's set the same day and in the same series, so it's pretty similar. I hope I did good on Ace, Sabo is more my favorite character, and I haven't had much experience writing as Ace.
Also I have set up an updating schedule, so I will update my One Piece stories from Saturday to Sunday morning.
As with my other stories I will be doing SBS corners to detail things about Ace's Crew and journey, so if you have any questions I'll answer them there similar to Oda-sensei.
Also check out the other stories in my ASL series: Seraphim Pirates, Sabo's journey, and A Promise from Brotherhood, which is the reunion story for the brothers and begins at Sabaody.
Till the next time!
