Here we are! My nice little One Piece AU! Oda owns One Piece, of course, but I hope that you'll like my version just as much.

It had been an oddly calm day for the revolutionaries. Unnaturally so, really, and though there was always something to be done, the Chief of Staff found himself with a free day.

Though it was something others would likely be happy about, Sabo found himself unable to enjoy it: the base was near empty, with most members out on missions or transport, and, sitting in his quarters as dawn rose, he was already bored.

The only bright side was that Koala was due back by noon.

So Sabo found himself wandering from his room, stopping by to chat with whoever he came across. He first swung by the engineering depot, only to be ushered out by a sooty group, chaos erupting behind him after the door shut. He laughed, instead venturing to the training room, only to find it occupied by several of Koala's eager pupils.

Sabo left them to it, turning to look out at the snowy landscape, and thought that, really, that had used too little time. He moved to the kitchen, and the chef was all too happy to load him with food, but then went the cargo bay, hanging over the railing and fondly greeting the rhinos on the level below.

He absently chewed on a leg of meat.

He glanced up a bit later, at the telltale creak of large metal doors being opened, and grinned widely at the rhino-driven caravans that entered, red flags waving proudly in the fierce wind.

He tossed the now bare bone behind him, and hopped up to balance on the railing. As the people began to dismount, he brought his hands up to his mouth.

"Koaaaalaaa!" he shouted, merrily bring one hand up to wave.

The redhead looked up, grinning back. "Sabo!" she called back, her own hand raising in greeting.. "What are you doing?" she laughed, eyeing his position, and he pouted.

"I was bored!" he defended, putting his hands on his hips, and Koala laughed once more.

It was moments later that Koala made her way to the upper level, but as she reached the top of the stairs, she stopped, staring.

"What happened to Bunny?" she inquired, tone holding a vague threat, and Sabo followed her gaze. It landed on the splayed form of Bunny on the ground, and the bone lying a few feet away.

Sabo would have taken a step back, but as it was, he rubbed the back of his head, laughing nervously. "No idea!"

Her gaze, when it landed on Sabo, was condemning, and she raised a threatening fist. "Sabo..." she warned.

"No!" he persisted, raising his hands defensively in front of him, "I don't have any idea how he ended up that way!"

She looked ready to believe him, too, but when she spotted the bone, he mentally cursed.

"What's this?" she questioned, tone entirely too innocent, and Sabo gulped.

"That's, uh," he stammered, "Just a bone."

"And is it yours?" she pressed, and he jerked guiltily.

Her eyes narrowed.

A loud thwack echoed through the area.

"Sabo!" Koala shouted, waving the fist that had thrown the bone, "What have I told you about tossing around your trash!?"

He pouted, eyes watery as he clutched his head. "You just did the same thing!" he accused, gesturing to the group gathering around the now unconscious member below.

Before things could escalate, however, a call from below gained their attention.

They slipped into a more professional demeanor, Sabo grabbing his hat as Koala moved to the railing, and they both peered over.

The man who had spoken spotted them. "Koala!" he called, "Chief of Staff! Did you hear? Whitebeard's got a new second division commander!"

"Ehhh!?" Koala exclaimed, "Why are we only just hearing about this!?"

Sabo frowned as well, leaning forwards a bit more. "Who is it?" he questioned.

"Portgas D. Ace," the man said, "That Gol D's kid. He's been sailing with the Whitebeard's for a year or so now: don't know how we managed to miss it." He shrugged, "Either way, the full story is in the meeting room. Everyone is clamoring, so there's no shortage of conversation about it all."

And it was, indeed, clamoring, with all of the revolutionaries at the base, sans Dragon, crowded in the room, pouring over sheets of paper, various bounties, and several newspapers. As soon as the pair (plus Bunny, who had woken at the shouting), entered, a paper was handed to Sabo, and they began to read.

Koala and Bunny began to discuss, providing a thoughtful commentary to the article, but Sabo couldn't pull his gaze from the picture on the cover. Something in him pulled, and he couldn't help but think that the man's face look eerily familiar.

Sabo remembered a younger one, though. Vaguely. Childish, with black hair and freckles. Wite a wide grin and bright eyes: armed with dreams that greatly exceeded his stature.

Sabo frowned, the image in front of him growing dimmer as the one in his memory cleared.

He absently rubbed at his temples, faintly registering the pounding migraine growing behind his eyes.

"I'm gonna become a pirate!" The boy's voice declared loudly, "Then I'm gonna become a bigshot pirate! I'm gonna show the world!" Then, with a cheerful grin, "And you'll be right beside me, right Sabo?"

Sabo froze, staring unseeingly at the paper.

"Right Sabo?"

"Ace..." he whispered, shocked and breathless as his eyes widened.

Koala hummed distractedly in question.

"Ace," he said once more, and the words became a rush of noise in his ears, a wave of images through his mind as Koala made a sound of confirmation.

He dropped his hat.

Those around him paused in their conversation, waiting for the cry of dismay and dramatic recovery of his possession, but Sabo was still, eyes fixed on the picture. Koala frowned at him, moving the paper from his line of vision.

"Sabo?" she questioned when their eyes met, a frown pulling at her lips.

Sabo blinked.

And the next momnet, he was on his back, head spinning, with muffled shouts erupting around him as blurry faces blocked his view. The sounds were drowned out, however, by the clink of three sake cups, and his sight faded to the grinning faces of two boys as they vowed brotherhood.

Brotherhood to him.

"Hey, guys, did you know?" the boy questioned, a secretive tilt to his smile.

"If you exchange vows over a cup of sake with someone, you become brothers!" he informed, popping open the cheap sake bottle.

"No matter where we are or what we do, nothing can break this bond!" They all promised, and Sabo found himself breathless once more.

How could he have forgotten this?


Sabo's slow return to consciousness was accompanied by the howling of fierce winds and the rattling of a nearby window. He was still for a moment, when he woke, allowing himself a precious moment to just breathe. He was tired, but it wasn't physically, and, though his eyes were heavy, his heart felt light.

He smiled, ever so slightly, and opened his eyes, greeted by the relieved shouts of his two closest friends.

He was pulled into sitting position, hair and clothes in disarray, and blinked at the one to do so.

It was Hack, and while Koala babbled incoherently, practically bawling, the fishman simply grinned.

"You had us all worried!" he informed, dropping a hand on Sabo's shoulder and patting Koala's back. "You had an incredible fever for three days: no one knew if you would wake up."

Sabo was silent for a moment, slightly surprised, and his gaze wandered to the open door. The members of the main base were crowded there, pushing and shoving to catch a glimpse of him through the opening.

He grinned. "Sorry for the wait!"

The reply was thunderous, and Sabo laughed, but someone closed the door at a bit of prompting, and the trio was left alone.

Though Koala was still sniffling, she peered up at him. "Did you..." she hesitated, "Regain your memories, Sabo?"

Sabo blinked, and an odd feeling passed through him. "Yeah," he said after a moment, tone somewhat awing, "I guess I have."

"Are you..." she paused once more, "Quitting the Revolutionary Army, then?" she questioned, before barreling on, "No one would blame you, of course! We all want what's best for you, and if that means you have to leave, nothing can stop us from supporting you!"

Her passionate speech floored Sabo for a moment, but, as she opened her mouth again, he held up a hand. "No," he stated firmly, smiling, "I'm not leaving. I need to speak to Dragon, and I might be gone for a bit, but I would never quit." His expression was resolute. "No matter my past, this is my home now."

Hack and Koala grinned back at him, and Koala rushed to get their leader, Hack stopping at the door as she left.

"And this always will be your home," Hack spoke, "No matter who you turn out to be, Sabo. No matter your alliance or identity, the revolutionaries will stand at your side."

Sabo smiled once more, and nodded. As Hack left the room, Dragon entered, and Sabo made up his mind.

Ace... Luffy...

I'll see you soon.

Short, really, but most first chapters are. Hope you liked it! Reviews, are, of course, appreciated!