Edited: 02/06/2019

When someone told Sabo to walk, with a typical amount of childishness, he felt the need to rebel and run.

"Do not undo my hard work. Gentle stretching only! Walk with the crutches. Finally, change the bandages every day for at least another week. If it takes you longer to heal, continue until only the scars remain." The nurse who had been treating him for the last week or so cautioned.

Sabo painstakingly put his clothing on. Someone had to have repaired the outfit. There were no signs of burns or scorching through the blue ensemble. He placed the top hat onto his head. Using his right hand for most things, not wanting to aggravate his left side more than necessary. He turned his head up to look at his nurse before he grinned, "I wouldn't disobey the woman who took such good care of me. I appreciate everything you've done, I can't thank you enough."

"Of course, that is my job." She mentioned, and the second she looked away, Sabo walked out of the room.

He left his crutches behind.

Walking through the building was an interesting experience. It was a mix of feelings. On one hand, it felt like it was high tech and put together. But, it felt like people had made this building last minute. The salt from the outside coated the floor. This despite clear efforts to keep it outside. There were long brooms in every walkway, used to push the salt back outside. The lack of polish that the place had was reminiscent of the feeling Dadan's place, or, even Gray Terminal had. Everything felt like it had a purpose. There were none of the frills that came with High Town.

It felt like the opposite of what the nobles would like, which made Sabo wholly fall in love with it by default.

Walking was more of a struggle than it should be. Sabo noticed but didn't allow his wobbly legs or side burning in pain to bother him. His breathing deepened with the effort, but he hid it behind his smile.

There were several different rooms lined throughout the base. Rooms that Sabo didn't want to enter for fear of stumbling upon something secret. After all, that was exactly what this organization was, a secret military operation.

It took awhile, far more walking than Sabo should have attempted. Eventually, the blonde ran into someone with wasn't occupied in one of the rooms.

Sabo hadn't seen someone like this before, at least not personally. Though there were stories and rumours.

He had yellow skill with brown spots lining his forehead. Long, purple hair cascading down his back like a waterfall. Around his chin was a frill. Less a frill, but more like a fin you'd expect on a fish or Sea King. On the sides of his neck were gills, but they were farther spaced out than they would be on an actual fish. He was muscular as well, built like a fighter, though not one who looked large. Likely relying more on speed than pure strength.

In other words, the man before him was a Fishman.

The nobles in High Town would sometimes talk about them, and the richer ones? The richer ones owned them, though they were never let out of the house for fear of them attempting to gain freedom.

"Excuse me, sir, do you think you could help me out?" Sabo called out, bowing his head, "I came out of the hospital and I'm looking for where exactly I'm supposed to go."

"You're that kid that we picked up in Goa, right?" The Fishman spoke, his voice was deep with a warble to it that Sabo hadn't ever heard in a human.

"That would be me." Sabo concurred. Trying his best to not show the fascination he was currently experiencing. You never saw beings like this, nobles were both shamed and ecstatic to own them.

"You're the talk of the base, child." The Fishman admitted, "Outlook Sabo, a noble turned revolutionary after being shot down by a Tenryūbito. Most people have their eyes on you, though their reasoning varies. I'm Hack, I teach recruits here Fishman Karate. I'm also a commander who takes orders directly from Dragon-san. I advise on most things relating to the slave trade."

"I am pleased to meet you, Hack-san." Sabo intoned, his voice which was usually cheeky, falling into a more instinctual, learned polite tone. A habit that even years of saying in Grey Terminal had broken.

"You won't think so once combat training starts." Hack mentioned off-handedly, "I won't be going easy on you because of your background –"

"I wouldn't expect someone judged by nobles for years as inferior to judge me based on my own background. Of course, it wouldn't be the first time I was wrong." Sabo interrupted. He beamed at the Fishman as admonished the man.A man who was his new superior officer, at that.

Hack narrowed his eyes. Was it Sabo's imagination, or did the gills around his neck clamp down in aggravation, "You'll be an obstinate one, I can tell. Dragon-san likes that type though. Come with me, I'll show you to your room."

Hack turned on his heel and started to walk onward, leaving Sabo to take steps larger than he would have liked to keep up. It was painful, but there was no way Sabo was going to ask the man to slow down. First impressions were everything. If you flubbed one than the other person would never forget.

They walked for a few minutes. Sabo had to wonder just how large this compound was before he was lead to a room holding three others. They stood up, startled as the room was entered.

"What the hell?!" One yelled but was ignored by everyone as Sabo looked around.

There was a total of four beds in it, and each of them had a desk. The area was already an improvement to the way he lived in Grey Terminal and with Dadan. Sabo impressed, and more than happy to call this place home.

At first, he had thought there would be even more people in each room. There was a whole army staying in this base, so the assumption made sense. The base must have been larger than Sabo thought. And he'd already thought it was pretty impressive.

"These will be your roommates. Now that you are out of the hospital, you'll get a schedule." Hack explained, "We have teachers here to get the under-educated members up to speed. After, that we provide the combat courses to ready for missions. After a few months, we should have a better idea of where we need to place you. We will shape you into the best possible asset toward the revolution and changing the world."

Hack's words were passionate, he believed in the Revolution and it's message.

Sabo turned his back to his new room in favour of looking up at the fish man's face. Even though Sabo felt like he'd gotten off on the wrong foot, this guy might be okay. He seemed like he was strong, and Sabo respected strong people, "I'll be sure to find my place."

Hack's eyes tracked over Sabo, his roommates, and the whole room.

Realizing everything was set he nodded and turned around, walking out and closing the door behind him. The snap of the door muffled the Fishman's last comment, "I'll tell the other commanders that you're awake. Welcome to the Revolutionary Army."

Sabo turned toward his new roommates with a friendly smile. His teeth showing, and the missing tooth making him seem childish. This look clashed with the maturity he had shown in his dealings with Hack, "Please take care of me~!"

They were a little bit older than him by a few years, but those few years were the ones that counted. They were going through or already having gone through, puberty. They towered above Sabo as they stood up and gave him considering looks.

The lot of them had dark hair and dark eyes. A typical look for those who were in the East Blue, especially around the Goa Kingdom. Luffy and Ace had inherited their looks from their East Blue ties. Blonde was more likely in the North Blue, where one of Sabo's grandparents had come from. The trio also had a darker tone of skin, again, likely a gene, as the people of the East Blue were easier to tan. Other than that, they just seemed pretty average for their age. Though one of them was quite chubby. A weird look for someone who was going through an Army's training.

"You're that Outlook kid, huh?" One of them muttered, and his disgust was clear.

Sabo had a moment of inspiration. Sure enough, he wasn't attached to his last name. In fact, he hated it with the same passion that he hated his father. If there was one thing that people in the Revolutionary Army would understand, it was the want to cut ties with the nobles.

"Just Sabo, if you would. I hate my father, and I want nothing to do with the man. Even the sound of my last name is disgusting to me. I would drop it, were it allowed. Instead, I'll pretend like it doesn't exist." Sabo said, though the words weren't a lie, the manipulation that he was using was subtle. He wanted them to like him more. It was a fitting skill for someone raised by nobles. But if he could use it to his advantage against the ones that taught him, Sabo wouldn't disparage the skill.

The three looked at Sabo, before glancing at one another. Sabo didn't move, stood there with a small smile on his face and let them make their judgment.

"In that case, welcome to Baltigo, Sabo."

"Psshh... HAHAHAHAHAHA! Thanks for welcoming me." Sabo replied with a relieved laugh. He even kept smiling even under the pain of his side jostling, "So, what are your names?"

"I'm Veni."

"Cenro."

"Ferveno, nice to meet you, Sabo-kun." The most chubby member spoke up. He was the polite one of the friend group. The other two either too quiet or too forceful sounding. "The bed in that corner is yours, and the desk at the foot of the bed is the one you were assigned."

"Thank you," Sabo replied gratefully. Striding over and sitting down with great care. Relief filling him as he finally got the strain off his wounds and the delicate, newly forming skin.

"Oi, how did you get that scar?" Cenro asked, and unlike Ferveno, he didn't even make a token attempt at being polite.

It reminded Sabo of Ace, and that sent a sting right through his heart. The only thing stopping him from going to Dragon and begging him to go back to the East Blue was... well ... he didn't know where Dragon was. But also the fact that Luffy and Ace would look out for one another. Luffy wouldn't allow Ace to get caught within himself, and Ace certainly wouldn't let Luffy experience the pain of being alone anymore.

So instead, Sabo got to look at the stranger, his new nakama, and brag about his rather badass story. "A Tenryūbito targetted me a few weeks ago. I was setting out to become a pirate after finally escaping the hell that my father put me through. The Tenryūbito came up to my boat and shot a bazooka at me. If I was any weaker a person, I certainly would have been struck dead on impact..."

Sabo continued to tell the tail, his right arm gesturing to his audience as he spoke. His left arm remaining glued at his side. It was a bit childish to brag about how Dragon. The young Revolutionaries version of a superhero, who had personally saved Sabo. But the looks of awe that he was graced with as he detailed and embellished the story were far too good to pass up.

So this was the start of his adventure. Not as a pirate as he'd dreamed, but at least for now, as a revolutionary. Sabo was happy. Not only was he free, but he might be able to do some good here.

...

...

...

Hello Ace, Luffy

I finally got out of the hospital, funny story that, but I'll keep it to myself. I was given a bunk with these three jokers. They were easy to make my friends, fell for my bullshit hook line and sinker! Of course, I didn't lie to them, just twisted it around a little bit, not that either of you would understand that, straitlaced as you are. Especially Luffy, god knows that his inability to lie will do him it at one point.

Good thing I'll be joining his crew then.

It's too bad that you guys can't write back, but I've decided that I'll write to you guys whenever I can. Of course, I can't give you a lot of information, nothing that would be dangerous to the operation, but I can still tell you about my life to a point. Of course, there is someone who reads the mail before it leaves, so most people decide that it's better to not send mail. I wouldn't leave my brothers like that!

Alright, so I guess I did leave you guys, I know that Ace's expression right there was about to call me out on bullshit.

Still, you're my brothers, and I know that sappy Ace is totally thinking that no matter the distance, we aren't separated.

He's probably also looking for a hug, so be certain to give him one whenever you possibly can Luffy. It will help him be less grumpy, trust me. You know that your big brother wouldn't lie to you.

Until my next letter, take care of one another

Sincerely, Sabo

Sabo grinned, teeth and all, as he finished the letter. Though he did make sure that his actions were too quiet for his sleeping roommates to hear. He almost wished that he could see Ace's face as he read the letter to his brother. Ace would read the whole thing word for word. Not because he wanted to, but Ace's morals wouldn't allow for anything else. Not when it came to his brothers.

Even oceans away, Sabo could still mess with his brothers. With that, he felt more at home than he had since he first arrived in Baltigo.