Ace: Big Brother and Defender
By: Selim
Summary: Drabbles about Ace in relation to Luffy. Because even brothers need to have attention.
Disclaimer: I Do Not Own One Piece.
Pairings: Vary by chapter.

What's in a Name?
Summary How Luffy got his name.
Pairings: None.


Ace was scared. A long time ago, his mother started wincing in pain and had sent him off to find the doctor. When he'd returned with the help, his mother had been taken into a back room with the door shut firmly behind. The three-year-old brushed his eyes, trying to hold back tears as his mother started screaming in pain.

"Mommy..." Ace whimpered, holding his teddy bear (a gift from his daddy on return from a voyage) to his chest. The woman screamed again, cursing a man for putting her in such unbearable pain. Again the boy cried for his mother as the doctor spoke inside the room. It was then that all in the house fell to silence. Ace whimpered. Was his mommy sick? He brushed tears aside with his teddy bear.

"He's not breathing doctor!"

"Sue! Sue!" Voices began yelling in the room as Ace banged on the door, trying to get in. The doorknobs were set too high though for his small hands to reach. "She's breathing doctor! And the boy?" A resounding slap was heard from the room and it brought a small cry that grew louder with a pause. "Sue, open your eyes."

Ace banged on the door. "Mommy!"

Finally the wooden door open and the doctor stepped aside. Without further encouragement, the three-year-old ran in and to his mother's side. Her hair was plastered to her forehead and she was breathing slowly. "Ace," the doctor spoke calmly, "would you like to hold your baby brother while your mom rests?"

The toddler stared at the bundle in the doctor's arms before nodding in uncertainty. Leading him to a big chair, the nurse and doctor helped position the baby in Ace's arms before returning to his mother's care. Ace watched for a second before turning back to the wet face of his brother. "Baby..." he whispered, leaning forward to get a good look. The baby groaned and coiled back.

"Come here, Ace..." A soft voice called from the bed. Carefully, Ace walked towards his mother with the baby. The nurse helped him on the bed, next to his mother. "This is your baby brother." Ace nodded. He knew that. "That makes you a big boy now and you'll have to take care of him."

"Like mommy takes care of me?"

The woman nodded. "What should we name him then, Ace?"

The freckled face toddler thought for a moment. "Monkey D. Luffy!"

His mother laughed. "Why that name?"

"'Cause I like monkeys and I like Luffy the cat!" The child smiled. "Isn't he supposed to have the D? Like me? Portgas D. Ace?"

Nodding, his mother held him close. "You're very right. Monkey D. Luffy it is. Take good care of your brother, Ace. Mommy needs to sleep a little." The child nodded and (with help of the nurse) left the room with the baby in his weak arms.


Nami slammed her hands on the table. "That has to be the biggest lie since Usopp told us how he got his name!" She cried out. Luffy tilted his head to the side in confusion. "You're telling me," Nami hissed, "that Monkey really couldn't be your last name because Ace named you after his favorite animals – a cat and some monkeys at the zoo!"

"Yea, I'll never forgive him for that. My name could of been Portgas D. Luffy or something cool like that. But I like my name anyway, it's so original - Monkey D. Luffy!" The boy smiled widely.

"And here I thought Zoro talking about being named after the awesome swordsman Zorro was stupid." Sanji cut through some carrots. "Luffy has to take the cake."

Chopper covered his face to hold his laughter at being reminded of Zoro's upbringing. That had beat Usopps story about the wolves naming him and making him their king. "Was your story the truth though Luffy?" He finally asked.

Luffy nodded. "Yes. Ask Ace if we ever see him again. He still can't believe mom let him name me. What was she expecting, something well thought out?" He turned to Sanji. "When will dinner be done?"

"Shortly."

"But..."

"Hey, wait. Chopper hasn't told us the history of his name. Let's just continue the stories." Nami took control again.

Luffy smiled and turned his head towards their doctor. If his crew wasn't going to believe him, there was nothing he could do. He knew the truth. Ace knew the truth. And his dead mother, bless her soul, knew the truth. That was all that mattered.


Note: I wrote this before I got past Skypedia in the series. For those that don't know it's like this: Monkey D. Garp, Monkey D. Dragon, then Monkey D. Luffy. I prefer this small spoof though.