"There's an island to the West that's merely a legend. It's called the island of the waiting." The drunkard whispered in the ear of the wide eyed youth donning a yellow boater's hat.

"Why's it called the 'Island of the waiting?'" The Pirate captain tilted his head, still entrapped in the old man's tale. But the kook just laughed loudly and slapped his knee. The black haired teenager pouted, his interest lost, and ran to catch up with his navigator.


Sploosh~ Sploosh~

The tranquil sound of waves filled the young man's ears. His eyes were closed, his body sprawled out on the beach, consciousness floating off with the tide. How long had he been here now? The sun had risen and fallen so many times he'd lost count of the days. But it couldn't have been a more than a month.

"Ace!" A boy called to him, his grin evident in his voice. The Black haired, freckle faced man groaned in response to the pitter patter of the boy's bare feet running on sand. "Come on, Ace! Get up." The boy pouted. Grey eyes reluctantly opened, met with a a giant grin that was missing a tooth, and a head of curly blonde hair. "Let's spar!"

The man, Ace, sighed, but truthfully was happy. "Alright Sabo, but you know you still can't take me." He teased, getting to his feet. "Even without my fruit abilities, I'm way stronger!" He smirked, mocking the much shorter boy, who wore dark blue shorts and a tattered cerulean tailcoat.

"Yeah, yeah." Sabo rolled his eyes, still grinning.


What was this place? How did I get here? Ace had wondered, wandering the beach he had washed up on. The last thing he'd remembered was crying, as his younger brother held him, blood dripping from his abdomen to the ground. He remembered feeling cold, but no pain, as he coughed out what he'd believed to be his final words.

Was this heaven? He chuckled to himself. Yeah, sure, how could a pirate with dirt blood like his make it into heaven? But he retracted his scoff when he saw a boy, leaned against a rock and looking out over the ocean with a telescope. That... could that be? No. No, Sabo was dead! But then again, so was Ace.

He stood in place, unnoticed by the preoccupied child. He brought his hand to his chest, checking for a heart beat. His breath hitched, noticing there was none. Another test, he held his breath. After nearly a minute he felt no need at all for air. Dumbfounded he looked at both of his hands in disbelief.

"Ace?" A young, familiar voice pulled him from his incomprehensible thoughts. He looked up, the boy had finally noticed him and was staring wide eyed. "Ace?" The boy gasped again, then broke out in a grin that brought tears to the pirate's eyes.

"Sabo." He choked out, stumbling forward, breaking into a run to tackle the blonde in a hug. "Sabo!" He nearly sobbed, clutching the boy's coat, repeating his name over and over, as if it was a spell to make sure the boy stayed real.

Summer passed and autumn came, making ace wonder why heaven would have seasons, but his doubts would wash away every time he saw Sabo's grin. Winter came around and Ace was amazed to find he could lay in the snow without feeling the cold. Soon it was spring again and another euphoric year passed the brothers by as they sparred and Ace regaled his adventures.

In the two years Sabo had actually grown, which seemed strange to both of them since Sabo had been on the the island, or 'heaven', for 10 years before Ace had arrived and hadn't grown an inch. But now, the boy was a young man, looking to be in his mid teens. Thankfully his clothing seemed to grow with him, which seemed equally strange. But hey, this was heaven, it's very existence didn't make sense.


"Land!" Usopp yelled from the crows nest. A small island coming into view through the eye of his telescope.

"Which direction?" Nami called up to the long-nosed sharp shooter.

"Hmm... About 20 degrees North!" He yelled back.

"Great!" Nami smiled and spun around, excited to finally be nearing the island. On the previous island the crew was unable to find what they needed (fresh food, women's clothing, and meat among other things), so she had asked around if there was another place nearby that might have what they needed. A kind older woman in a book shop told her of a small trade island 2 days sail to the East that wouldn't show up on the Eternal Pose. With luck and great navigation, the woman had said they should be able to find it.

3 hours later, they docked in the small port and Luffy flung himself from the ship, landing on the wooden dock. "Whoa!" He looked around at the tall buildings, and bustling streets.

"For a hard to find island this place is SUUPEEER crowded." Franky noted, after jumping off the Sunny Go and landing next to his captain.


Author's note: So, I haven't written anything in over a year, so I know I'm rusty, but please tell me what you guys think! This is just the pilot chapter, which explains why it's so short, so if it doesn't seem like any one wants this to continue, then I won't continue. Oh! If you have critique LET ME KNOOOWWWWW. Super!

Also, if anyone wants to suggest pairings/ships/plot developments, my ears are open!