I've always believed that Sabo was alive. I never believed that strong-willed boy could be killed so easily. So I decided to write about the reunion of the brothers, minus Ace. I hope you like it, and depending on how many positive review I get, maybe I'll continue the story.
Prologue - Remember Me
"Luffy! Come here for a second!"
The seven-year old boy looked up from where he was trying to dig a rabbit from its den. The straw hat atop his head was still awkward on him, almost twice the size of his head. A small band-aid covered his nose. A small scar ran under his left eye, the source he still wasn't aware of. "What is it?"
"I told you to get over here," the blonde boy said impatiently. Though he was only ten years old, he was still a mature-enough child. He always wore the same black top-hat, adorned with his favorite blue goggles perched on the brim. One of his teeth was still missing, but he grinned widely all the same. His short, curly blonde hair was manageable and easy to take care of, unlike some other rascals he knew. Some of the noble's lifestyle still resided in him, sadly.
The young Luffy scrambled to his feet and raced over to his big brother, a huge smile carving itself across his face.
"Here you go," the young blonde said, placing something small in Luffy's hand. "I found it in the Grey Terminal today."
Luffy looked down at his palm, curiosity filling his face as he stared down at the tiny object in his hand. It was a ring; very small, probably made for a child. A tiny pearl was set into the silver, twinkling in the afternoon sun. "What's it for?" the child asked in wonderment.
"Does there need to be an occasion for a big brother to get his little brother a present?" the blonde smiled. "But seriously. Hold onto that, Luffy. Keep it with you, always."
"Why?"
"It's something to remember me by." The blonde boy turned to look out at the open ocean that lay just below his feet. The gentle waves crashed against the cliff side, spraying particles of water into his face. He smiled. "When we're at sea, we won't see much of each other. So I want you to always carry it with you."
"Does Ace have one?"
"I gave him something else, but of equal value." The blonde boy turned, grinning wildly. He reached inside his shirt and pulled out a small locket on a gold chain. "This is my artifact. One day, when we're all great pirates, we'll meet again. We'll each have our trinkets and we'll share them together."
Luffy smiled, slipping the tiny ring onto his index finger. "It's a promise, Sabo!"
XXX
Luffy collapsed on the ground, his face a mask of absolute horror. The battle continued around him, but he did not see. Cannonballs crashed into the icy ground, but he did not hear. The only color that filled his vision was red, red color of blood and flames and boiling lava.
He saw his older brother standing above him, a look of immense pain upon his face, but standing strong all the same. Small tendrils of flame curled around the edges of his body. That was normal. But the flames encompassed something completely abnormal, the giant fist made of burning magma, and belonging to Marine Admiral Akainu, protruding from the center of Portgas D. Ace's chest.
The recently-restored vivre card immediately began to burn away, too fast, too fast!
"Ace…" Luffy whispered.
The admiral retracted his fist, removing it none-too-lightly from Ace's body. The second division commander of the Whitebeard pirates, the infamous Fire Fist Ace, stumbled. He regained his footing somehow as the fire element of his body desperately tried to piece itself back together again. Blood poured from Ace's open mouth, staining his chin.
Luffy shook himself into action. "Ace!" he said, standing and racing to his brother's aid.
The other Whitebeard pirates fired at will, aiming straight for the murderer who called himself a marine. The Admiral didn't move as he was continuously blasted by rocket launches and guns. The onslaught didn't appear to affect him one bit. He towered over the two brothers, Luffy desperately trying to keep Ace on his feet.
As the Admiral approached, the rubber man looked up, terrified, at his brother's attacker.
"Look like there's still some life in you, Fire Fist Ace," the admiral said. He raised his fist again, preparing for another attack.
"Stop it," Luffy said quietly, his voice still strained from shock. When the admiral didn't appear to hear him, he tried again, screaming his lungs out. "Stop it!"
Just before Akainu was to strike, a large blue fishman leaped into his path, stopping the large fist of magma with his bare hands.
"Jimbe!" Luffy screamed.
"I won't let you hurt him anymore!" Jimbe growled.
"Stop this pointless fighting, Jimbe," the admiral snarled. "You are a former warlord. I'm sure you know just how strong I am!"
"If letting my body burn away will buy us some time, then I don't mind!" the fishman returned. "I've already accepted my death!"
Luffy was unaware of what went on after that. All he could think of was Ace, who had collapsed to his knees. Luffy kept one hand on Ace's elbow for support, the other pressed against the gaping hole in his brother's back, trying in vain to stop the bleeding. The Straw Hat captain stared without seeing at the ensuing battle, only listening to the ragged breathing of his beloved brother.
"Ace, can you hear me?" Luffy said, speaking directly into Ace's hear. "You'll be fine, right?" He lifted his hand from the bloody wound and stared at the fresh blood staining it. "Ace," he said, his voice growing desperate. "We have to hurry and treat your wounds…"
"I'm sorry…Luffy…" Ace whispered, interrupting him. "Just for me…" Ace's voice was growing softer with every word. "You did all that crazy stuff… but I still couldn't be saved. I'm so sorry."
Luffy wouldn't hear it. "W-what are you saying? Don't be ridiculous!" He craned his neck around, speaking to the large-headed transvestite Ivan, the other transvestites, hermaphrodites, the other pirates, anyone other than a marine. "Someone help him! Ace… please, save Ace!" no one moved, for they all shared the same thought. Even Luffy knew it, but he still wouldn't give up. "Hey! Isn't there anybody who can save him? Come on!"
Finally, a man Luffy didn't know shoved another pirate forward, telling him to go give treatment. "Ace!" the man said, racing up to the two brothers. "Are you alright?"
"Hurry and help Ace!" Luffy begged the man, assuming him to be a doctor on the ship of Whitebeard.
"Sure," the man nodded. "Show me his wound."
Despite all of Luffy's pleading and begging, the doctor deduced there was nothing he could do. Even Ace confirmed it, whispering that his internal organs were completely fried. "I can tell… my life is at an end…"
"Don't say that!" Luffy turned to Ivan, shouting at him to inject Ace with the same hormonal fluids that saved Luffy's life in Impel Down. However, Ivan refused, telling Luffy what he already knew. It was too late.
"That can't be…" Luffy looked back to his brother. "Did you promise me? You… you said you'd never die… didn't you! Ace!" Luffy screamed.
"Was it good that I was born?" Ace asked suddenly. "No one wanted me to be born. I… probably wouldn't even have wanted to live… if it weren't with that whole deal with Sabo… and having an unruly little brother like you. Oh, right… if you ever see Dadan, give her my regards. For some reason, now that I know I'm gonna die… even her name sounds touching to me. I only have one regret. That I couldn't see you… fulfill your dream. But… I'm sure… you can make it. You're my little brother. Just like we promised on that day… I've lived my life… I have… no regrets about it."
"That's not true!" Luffy interrupted, pressure building up behind his eyes. "Don't lie to me!"
"I'm not lying. What I truly wanted… wasn't fame or anything like that at all. Was it… good that I was born? What I wanted… was just the answer to that question."
Ace's body was growing heavier as it slowly slipped further and further toward the ground. "I can't speak… loud enough for the others to hear it. Please… pass on… what I'm about to say. Old man… everyone… and you, Luffy… even though… I'm so worthless… even though… I carry the blood of a demon… thank you… for loving me!" Luffy's shoulder suddenly grew wet, soaked through with the tears of a dying man. Luffy let his own tears fall. "Luffy…" Ace's voice grew so quiet, Luffy had to strain to hear. "In my pocket. It's the artifact Sabo gave me. Hold on to it for me, okay?"
With that, Ace's body slipped from Luffy's grip and crumpled to the ground. It lay at Luffy's feet, the ghost of a smile still imprinted on the lifeless face of his brother.
And so it was that Fire Fist Portgas D. Ace died.
Luffy's hands shook, scattering tiny drops of blood. "Ace…" his body was going out of control. He couldn't move his limbs anymore. He couldn't reach into his brother's pocket. He couldn't repeat his last words. He screamed in agony, his eyes rolling back inside of his head as his body started going into shock.
XXX
No one found the small device hidden deep within the pocket of Fire Fist Ace. It was buried with him on the island in the New World, to lay there beside him for all eternity.
