A Tale of Three Brothers
Luffy had been forced to stay with the mountain bandits from that day forward.
"I hate mountain bandits," Luffy complained.
"Shut up, we're tired of the likes of you already!" Dadan yelled at Luffy, "If you don't like it here, get the hell out and starve to death!"
"Calm down boss," one of the men told Dadan.
"I want more food!" Luffy complained.
"Ace went out and captured this! He gives us some of his own hunts to help out around here ..." Dandan told Luffy, "You will have a lot of work starting tomorrow! You will clean up the compound, do the laundry and sharpen the weapons! As well as rob and steal from people! And you better not tell Garp what you are doing here!"
"I refuse," Luffy said with no room for argument.
"A bowl of rice and water each meal. That is all you can have. Anything else you need to get or grow on your own you little monster," Dadan told Luffy.
"I'll agree to that," Luffy accepted.
"Whatever!" Dadan responded.
"Grandpa abandoned me in the jungle once before. Then Shanks taught me how to use Haki for almost a year. I can hunt birds, frogs, snakes, boar, find berries and mushrooms as long as I want. If I am going to fulfill my promise to be a great pirate, I must be able to feed myself at least!"
Ace frowned, got up and then left the house.
"Where is Ace going?" a man asked.
Luffy got up and trounced out right behind him.
"Wait, where are you going? Did you just say pirate?" the bandits yelled at Luffy.
Luffy headed outside, following right behind Ace.
"Hey Ace!" Luffy yelled.
Ace turned to Luffy, and wasn't too happy to see him following.
"My name is Luffy. I'm not angry about you spitting at me anymore!" Luffy yelled, "Let's be friends!"
Ace broke down a small tree and had it roll at Luffy.
Ace left, unaware that Luffy directed enough Haki to stop the tree from even getting close.
As Ace was crossing a rope bridge, he heard someone approaching him.
Ace turned to see it was Luffy still following him with a smile.
"Nice try, but a tree could never stop me!" Luffy told Ace as he moved onto the rope bridge behind Ace.
Ace started shaking the bridge until Luffy fell off. Ace then proceeded home without Luffy.
"Ace why are you back, alone? Weren't you with Luffy?" one of Dadans' men asked, "Where is he?"
"Who knows!" Ace replied.
A week passed since Luffy went missing.
"Hey boss! Luffy been missing for a while now. This won't turn out good for us!" one of the men told Dadan.
"Who cares? If he dies so be it, we can't do anything about it," Dadan retorted, "It's not like we even really watch Ace. It doesn't even matter if he's dead, we'll just tell Garp it was an accident."
Ace was listening into their conversation from where he stood in the house.
"Think what will happen if the government finds out! He is the son of the the most wanted man on the planet, Monkey D. Dragon, after all!" Dadan said, "Do you know what the government would do to us for protecting that demon?"
"Calm down boss," one of the men said.
Ace remained quiet, but knew they were talking about Luffy.
...One Week Later...
Luffy finally returned to the house, a little worse for wear, but no real injuries.
"Dadan! Luffy came back!" one of the men yelled.
"He's still alive!" Dadan yelled coming into the room to see Luffy, "Where have you been?"
"Calm down boss," one of the men told Dadan.
"I fell off a bridge, fought a bear and was chased by wolves, but after a while I tamed them." Luffy told them exactly what happened.
"Don't lie to me you brat!" Dadan yelled.
They helped clean Luffy up and he went to bed.
Ace was still awake when Luffy came in and was surprised to see he was still alive.
"You were really chased by wolves?" Ace asked Luffy.
"Yeah, after I fell off the bridge but, before I beat the bear," Luffy replied, "and I tamed them."
"How on earth does a wimp like you tame a wild beast?" Ace asked.
"I'm not a wimp you jerk! I've had Conqueror's Haki even before I ate the Gum-Gum Devil Fruit. I can't fully control this power yet, but everytime I'm in danger, I'm able to unlock more of my power," Luffy replied, "In fact, that's how I stopped that tree that was rolling at me."
"What?" Ace questioned.
"Yeah I'm strong so it was easy, well good night," Luffy said as he fell asleep.
'Is this kid serious?' Ace thought.
Everyday from then on Luffy would try to follow Ace, after his haki training. Luffy also decided he didn't like chores so he never did them.
Luffy was chased by a lion, escaped falling boulders and avoided being eaten by a giant snake, all to follow Ace around the forest.
Each time Luffy used Haki to protect himself making his will grow stronger.
...Months passed…
Luffy finally reached the end of the forest.
"I finally made it out of the stupid forest," Luffy panted, "Now where's Ace at?"
Ace was in another section of the forest.
"Sabo! Are you out here?" Ace yelled.
A boy in a raggedy suit, wearing a top hat and holding a metal pipe was on a tree looking down to see Ace calling for him.
"Hey Ace!" Sabo greeted.
"Sorry for being late," Ace apologized.
"Don't worry about it, I already did my job," Sabo told him.
"Well I took some money for our stash," Ace said as he climbed the tree up to were Sabo was. Ace gave Sabo the money he stole.
"Awesome! You got more than me!" Sabo counted the money, "How did you get it?"
"I took it from a bunch of people near the High Town gate," Ace replied, "They might have been carriers for some merchant ship."
Sabo put the money in a hole they had in the tree with a door built in.
"It been 3 years since we started saving money to pay for our ship," Sabo informed Ace.
"Close it up before someone sees it Sabo," Ace told him.
"A pirate ship?" someone asked, "You guys want to be pirates?"
Both boys looked down and saw it was Luffy.
"I'm going to be a pirate too!" Luffy yelled.
Sabo and Ace attacked Luffy and tied him up to the tree.
Of course Luffy allowed them to do it, or else he would've used Haki to defend himself.
"So Ace, is this where you go to everyday?" Luffy asked.
"Shut up!" Ace yelled at Luffy.
"So this is the Luffy guy you were telling me about," Sabo said.
"How did you survive that path?" Ace asked Luffy.
"I used Haki and my Devil's Fruit powers to protect myself," Luffy replied.
"Devil Fruit powers and Haki again," Ace responded, "If that's true, what's your devil Fruit powers and why didn't you just use it on us when we tied you up?"
"I ate the Gum-Gum Fruit. And Shanks told me not to use Haki on a friend unless I have no other choice," Luffy replied.
"We're not friends!" Ace yelled.
"This is why I told you, you should live with me," Sabo told Ace, "What should we do about this kid, Ace? He knows our secret, and if we leave him, he'll tell someone."
"I won't tell a soul I promise. Not even Grandpa Garp," Luffy replied.
"Let's kill him," Ace suggested.
"I agree," Sabo agreed.
"You guys ever killed people before?" Luffy asked.
Sabo and Ace remained quiet, but obviously they haven't.
"If you haven't then let me go," Luffy replied.
"Shut up!" Ace and Sabo yelled.
"Hey! I heard children voices from here," someone yelled.
"Someone is coming," Sabo responded.
"We have to get out of here!" Ace replied.
Pirates were heading their way.
"Those little kids: Ace and Sabo, are famous around here," the leader Porchemy said, "Are you sure that Ace took your money?"
"Yes sir... I'm ashamed to admit it, but he got me by surprise," one of the pirates replied.
"What a stupid child. To take money from our crew! If Captain Blue Jam hears about this, he'll kill us all," Porchemy said.
Ace and Sabo had untied Luffy and were hiding from the pirates.
"I think we should get out of here," Sabo said.
"How?" Ace asked.
They turned towards Luffy to see he was gone.
They look to see Luffy had attacked the men and now was being held by Porchemy.
"Let me go loser or else!" Luffy yelled.
"You're a bit young to be out here, are you Ace, or do you know Ace?" Porchemy asked.
"I'm not telling you anything!" Luffy yelled, "I'm going to protect my friends no matter what!"
"Friends?" Porchemy responded.
"Idiot! Why did he just reveal that he knew a us?" Ace whispered.
"Where's your friends now, do you know?" Porchemy asked.
"I'm not telling you," Luffy told him, "Now let go before I beat you with my power!"
The three pirates laughed.
"What kind of power would a kid have?" Porchemy asked.
"This!" Luffy roared.
Luffy called on his Conqueror's Haki, and summoned a force that knock the three men down.
Porchemy let go of Luffy and caused him to hit the floor gasping for breath.
"What just happened? He just knock down three men without touching them," Ace responded.
"That must be the Haki power Luffy told us about," Sabo responded, "But why did he use it now."
They then remembered what Luffy told them.
Flashback*
"Shanks told me not to use Haki on a friend unless I have no other choice," Luffy replied.
End of Flashback*
"He thought we were friends," Sabo suggested.
"That's why he didn't use it on us," Ace replied.
"What just happened?" one of the men said.
"That must be Haki," Porchemy said, "Since when does a kid know how to use Haki?
"I been able to use Haki for a long time now. That's not all..." Luffy replied as he grabbed his cheeks and stretch them, "I ate the Gum-Gum Devil Fruit, so my body is made out of rubber."
"Then normal attacks won't work on you," Porchemy responded.
Suddenly Ace and Sabo came at the men to attack them with some metal pipes.
"Ace," Luffy shouted.
Ace, Sabo and Luffy attacked the men, and manage to do some damage.
After beating them up they escaped.
Ace and Sabo took their treasure in bags and they along with Luffy got out of there.
"Hey Luffy, that move you used on them, was that the Haki thing you were telling us about?" Sabo asked.
"Yeah," Luffy responded.
"You think you can teach it to us?" Sabo asked.
"I never taught it to someone before, but sure," Luffy replied, "Does this mean I can hang out with you two?"
"Sure," Sabo responded, "You earned it kid. Right Ace?"
"Yeah, he earned it," Ace agreed, "But why did you follow me in the first place?"
"Because I don't have anyone else to turn to. I hate the mountain bandits, and I can't return to Foosha Village. Only relatives I know of is my grandpa," Luffy replied, "You're the only person I met who I can relate too."
Ace remember people talking about what would happened if Gold Rogers had a kid as well as what Dadan talking about the son of Monkey D. Dragon.
Truth was, he heard of Monkey D. Dragon and his reputation.
"I'm going to become a greatest pirate, and a powerful Haki user one day," Luffy said.
"Why stop at becoming a powerful Haki user? Why don't you become the Strongest Haki user known?" Ace asked, "I'm sure with that and the rubber power of yours, you probably can beatdown anyone."
"I never thought of it before," Luffy responded,
"Hey guys, I have a problem," Sabo told them, "Because of those pirates, I have no home to go to now."
"Why don't you stay with us then?" Luffy asked.
"Dadan will argue against it," Ace told Luffy.
"So what? She been arguing about me staying since I got here," Luffy retorted.
As predicted, Dadan wasn't too happy about watching over Sabo.
She repeated the same speech Luffy was given word for word.
Since then Sabo, Ace and Luffy became inseparable.
They trained their bodies and worked together to defeat wild animals. They snuck around stealing money from rich merchants.
Only time they did what Dadan told them to, was when Luffy was told to go to Foosha Village. This gave Luffy a chance to see Makino and the Mayor.
Luffy made Sabo and Ace promise not to steal from anyone he got along with in Foosha Village. They agreed since there was another town on the island filled with richer people they could steal from.
Makino got along with Ace and Sabo, she treated them nicely.
The Mayor, on other hand, wasn't too happy that Luffy made friends with kids that wanted to become pirates.
Garp would visit once a while putting the boys through a Marine Lieutenant workout. Garp then gave his punishment to the boys for wanting to become pirates instead of marines.
As promised, Luffy taught Sabo and Ace how to use the three types of Haki.
Ace was able to use the Conquerors' Haki like Luffy was able too, but Sabo was only able to use Armament and Observation Haki. They would constantly spar against each other. Testing each other's capabilities and strength.
Luffy had a good advantage with his Haki, but over time, and because of the Haki training, Sabo and Ace grew more resistant to it.
They also learned that Armament Haki can makes Devil Fruit powers useless in physical confrontations. Ace used his Armament Haki during a spar, when Luffy tried using his rubber powers and negated the effects.
Over time, Luffy became more proficient in combining his Devil Fruit powers and the three forms of Haki. He could manage a few hours of sparring against Ace and Sabo at the same time.
The trio were in a High Town surrounded by tall buildings running away from men they stole from.
"Somebody stop those kids!" a man yelled.
A passing man recognized Sabo escaping in the commotion.
"Sabo?! Is that really you! Wait right there!" the man yelled, "You need to come back home now!"
"Hey Sabo! Someone's yelling for you to come back!" Ace yelled.
"Who is that old guy?" Luffy asked.
"He must be mistaking me for someone else!" Sabo replied, "Luffy! It's your turn to cause the distraction!"
"I got it!" Luffy responded.
Luffy projected his Conqueror's Haki at the men and knock them out. Ace, Sabo and Luffy use this moment to escape back to the forest path.
As soon as they were safe, Luffy and Ace asked Sabo what's going on.
"I'm not hiding anything!" Sabo yelled.
"Tell the truth Sabo!" Luffy shouted.
"Give him the chance to speak," Ace told Luffy, "We shouldn't keep secrets from each other Sabo. So tells us what's really happening with that man."
Sabo looked ashamed, lowering his head, but knew he couldn't hide it anymore. "Alright, I'm the son of a noble," Sabo replied.
"Son of a noble!" Ace and Luffy stated as both started picking their nose, "So?"
"You're the ones who wanted to know!" Sabo yelled at them, "I'm not an orphan like I said. Both of my real parents are still alive. The man who was trying to get my attention was my father. I'm sorry I lied to you guys."
"Why didn't you just say so," Luffy responded.
"I didn't think that you would keep secrets from us," Ace said, "Why were you in the trash heap then?"
"My parents don't listen to me. They want me to be their perfect Noble boy and marry a girl I don't even like. All they ever care about was having me to protect the family status and fortune," Sabo explained, "If I couldn't marry into a royal family, I was trash to them."
"I understand," Ace replied.
"Ace, Luffy...we have to sail the sea one day! We can leave this island behind and gain freedom from people who would take it away," Sabo told them, "I want to travel the world and learn about what's out there! If it's sailing the sea, then I don't care how hard I have to work to get there! We've got to get stronger and become real pirates!"
Ace gave his rare grin.
"I already know that. I'm going to become a real pirate, letting my reputation become known around the world and show people what dreams are made of! " Ace yelled, "I don't care if the whole world doesn't want to accept me they can hate me all they like! I'll become a great pirate and prove my life is worth something! I won't run from anybody! I'll never quit! I don't care if they end up labeling me a fire breathing demon! I'm going to make sure the whole world knows my name."
"Me too!" Luffy yelled, "I'm going to gather the strongest crew, then travel around the entire world. We will train to get stronger everyday, I'll fight my way to the top until I become King of the Pirates and the Strongest Haki User to ever live!"
"What?" Ace and Sabo questioned.
Luffy grinned like a chess cat.
"Luffy, we were just playing about you becoming the Strongest Haki user ever," Ace told Luffy.
"Doesn't matter. If I become King of the Pirates, then I can also become the Strongest Haki user ever!" Luffy told them like it was common knowledge.
"Humph," Ace grunted.
"This seems like it's going to be a problem if all of us want to be captains," Sabo stated.
"Yeah, that really is a problem. I always thought that you were going to be my navigator, Sabo," Ace replied.
"I was hoping you would both join my crew!" Luffy complained.
"We'll just decide on the details when the time comes," Ace responded. Ace took out a bottle of sake and some cups.
"Where did you get this from Ace?" Luffy asked.
"Did you guys know, if we exchange drinks, then we can become brothers?" Ace asked as he poured some sake in each cup.
"Real Brothers?" Luffy asked.
"When we become pirates, we may not be able to end up on the same crew, but the bond of brotherhood we hold will never fade. No matter where we are, or what we do, this is one bond we can never break," Ace explained as he lifted his drink, "Starting today, we are brothers!'
"Cheers!" Sabo and Luffy agreed lifting their cups.
Months passed by and the three brothers were as thick as thieves. Garp stopped by to train his future Marines while he had some time off. Garp didn't argue against the boys acknowledging brotherhood. In fact, he was happy to train another 'Strong Marine'.
Garp even told them that he has big expectations if Sabo was going to be part of the family. Garp was expecting Sabo to become at least Vice Admiral.
Eventually Luffy, Ace and Sabo moved out of Dadan's place into their own hand built tree house.
Everything went well until that day Sabo's father found them with the help of some pirates
"Give Sabo back!" Luffy yelled.
Sabo's father was working with some pirates. One of the pirates had Sabo in his arms.
"Give him back? Try speaking some sense,urchins," Sabo's father told Luffy and Ace, "Sabo is my own flesh and blood! It is the duty of every child to live their lives however the parents want until they become an adult! How dare you urchins trick my Sabo to run away from his home! Dirty, rotten garbage, is it my fortune you are after?"
"What the hell did you say?" Ace asked. Ace was attacked by one of the pirates. Ace just used his Haki to knock the pirate out.
"Pathetic pirates! Be more serious how you deal with these kids!" Sabo's father told the pirates.
Sabo's leg was then coated with Armament Haki and kicked the pirate captain restraining him. Once loose he ran forward with his hands raised. "I give up!" Sabo yelled.
"Sabo don't?" Luffy yelled back.
"Sabo No!" Ace screamed.
"I'll do anything you want me to do. I'll live my life exactly the way you say! Just please don't hurt Luffy and Ace!" Sabo begged, "I'm begging you they mean more to me than anything they're my brothers!"
"Sabo!" Ace yelled.
Sabo left with his father willingly.
"Listen you two, I understand what you were trying to do, and I respect it," the captain name Bluejam told Luffy and Ace.
"What would you know?" Luffy asked.
"He's our brother, and we'll rescue him!" Ace yelled.
"Trust me, you two are better off not going near the kid again," Bluejam told them.
"But Sabo hates living in the Noble district!" Luffy yelled.
"You'll understand when you two grow up," Bluejam told them, "I still have a grudge to settle over stealing my money, but I figure let it go after today. Hell, you may be young, but you're both strong, and I like that. Now I'm actually a little short on hands right now. I would really appreciate your help with a little job?"
Bluejam took out a map of the Goa Kingdom.
"Here, this part of the map is the section of the whole grey terminal," Bluejam told them, "I want you to place some boxes to the spots marked with an 'X'. That's all I need help with."
Luffy and Ace decided to help since they steal from his crew all the time.
Sabo's father was trying to convince Sabo that everything he did was Luffy's and Ace's fault. Sabo disagreed with everything he said, knowing he made the choice himself.
Sabo learned that Luffy's and Ace's lives were in the hands of the BlueJam Pirates and Sabo's father has control over them.
After being questioned he was forced to live back with his family. Sabo learnt that he had an adopted brother after his disappearance and he didn't get along with him.
Then Sabo found information that the Grey Terminal was going to be burned and anyone caught in it would die.
On the ship, Luffy and Ace were in their beds.
"Do you think Sabo's doing okay?" Luffy asked.
"He has Haki now. He will be fine right now by himself," Ace replied.
"But his isn't like ours," Luffy responded.
"Just go to bed," Ace told Luffy.
...Next Day...
Sabo ran away again.
Ace and Luffy were working once more in the terminal. The captain finally told them the truth of their work. "What?" Ace and Luffy said in unison.
"Keep your voice down, you stupid brats, what if the people from the trash heap heard you?"
"You can't be serious!" Ace replied.
"We got to warn everyone!" Luffy yelled.
"I won't let you," the captain told them, "Now where's that treasure you stole?"
...Later that night...
The fires were started and the flames spread quickly.
Unfortunately for the pirates, they were forced to be caught in it as well.
Luffy and Ace manage to break out of the rope tie they were in, but still were in the flames.
"We got to get out of here," Ace shouted.
"Ace, stay with me!"Luffy told Ace.
Sabo was trying to get to Luffy and Ace as best as he can, but the guards stopped him.
Then a cloaked man came up to Sabo. The man stared at the guards and they feel over limp.
"What are your troubles, boy?" the man asked.
"Mister, the ones that brought this fire are the royals and the nobles. You've got to believe me!" Sabo begged, "I got to get out of here, and be free with my brothers."
Sabo look in the hood and saw a man with a tattoo on half his face.
"Oh, I understand I was born here in this country. Even still I do not have the power to change the ways of this world!" the man said.
"You believe me?" Sabo asked.
"Dragon! We have all preparations completed!" another man told the hooded man.
"Good," the hooded man known as Dragon responded.
Luffy and Ace were still caught in the flames.
"And who gave you permission to run?" someone asked.
They turned to see it was Bluejam.
"Don't let those two escape!" Bluejam told his crew.
The crew jumped quickly to capture Ace and Luffy.
"I don't know why you're friends with a nobleman, but we'll die together either way," Bluejam told them.
Luffy got so angry that he expelled a great force of Conqueror's Haki that knocked everyone out, and even staggered Ace a little.
"Luffy thanks!" Ace responded.
"Don't worry let's get out of here Ace!" Luffy told him.
'Maybe he can be the strongest Haki user ever,' Ace thought.
"You monster!" Bluejam yelled as he staggered to his feet.
"Give it up already you sea urchins!" Dadan yelled bursting in, smashing a wooden club at the head of Bluejam.
"Dadan!" Luffy and Ace cried out.
"You were put under my charge, you didn't think I would let you escape did you?" Dadan told Luffy and Ace.
Dadans' men arrived to tie up the pirates that were still unconscious.
"Let's get out of here!" Dadan ordered.
"No! I won't run!" Ace yelled.
"Me neither I'm going to finish this fight till one of us die!" Luffy roared.
"Crazy kids, you twerps are monsters, I guess I'll help you," Dadan told them.
"You three think you can take down me?" Bluejam asked.
… Next Day...
Somehow the fire ended, but with no word from Luffy, Ace or Dadan. Wishing for freedom Sabo proceeds to leave the country on a fishing vessel.
However, when the ship of the Celestial Dragons arrived off the coast, they shot down Sabo's boat because it had a pirate flag hoisted.
The bandits witnessed the destruction of Sabo's boat and what they believed to be Sabo's death. "Looks like Sabo has joined his brothers," the shortest bandit said. A half an hour later Luffy arrived while carrying Ace and Dadan.
"Hey guys!" Luffy greeted.
The bandits look surprised to see him, then depressed at what they must tell them.
"What's going on?" Dadan asked.
That was when they were told about Sabo's demise at the hands of the Celestial Dragon's ship.
"I can't believe he's dead, I miss him already." Luffy said.
"Me neither," Ace responded.
"Ace, Luffy you have a letter here for you!" Dadan told them.
Ace took the letter and opened it. It read:
"Ace, Luffy
I hope you weren't hurt in the fire? I'm worried about you both, but I have faith that both of you made it out alive. I feel kind of bad telling you this, but if you're reading this letter, I'll already have set sail.
The one thing I crave is freedom and so it looks like I'll be heading out to sea ahead of you guys. Once I'm safely away, I'll get stronger and become a real pirate.
Once all three of us have become pirates, with more freedom than anyone in the world, let's meet again someday. Somewhere out there in the wide open sea, I know I'll see you both again.
Ace. I don't know which of us is the eldest? It's a bit strange for us both to be the eldest brother, but this bond we share is my greatest treasure. Luffy. You may be strong with your Haki, but you must promise me that you will learn everything a great pirate needs to know before you set sail. Ace look after him for me, he needs to take being a pirate more seriously. I'll meet you on the sea dreams!"
"He wanted us to accomplish our goals," Ace said.
"Yeah," Luffy agreed.
"Let's do it, for Sabo," Ace told Luffy.
"Yes, Ace I'll get stronger and will read more to become smarter just like he asked!" Luffy said with a strong determined glint in his eyes. "I'll show the entire world that I'm the greatest pirate ever!"
"Until then, I'll protect you," Ace responded.
"Right, hey Ace can we go to the library? I want to learn it all now so I don't have to do it later." Luffy said with a smile.
"Sure thing Luffy the first thing you need to learn is navigation." Ace replied as the two boys headed towards Foosha Village.
... A few years later...
Ace helped Luffy to grow stronger. Ace also went with Luffy to the library everyday learning about the different seas and how to navigate them. They even learned a little on ship maintenance and firing cannons.
Eventually Luffy tested his Conqueror's Haki taming the Sea King of Foosha Village. Luffy even decided that he would train him to pull his ship for a while.
Ace began smiling more and was frowning less, except in a bad fight.
The now seventeen year old Ace and fourteen year old Luffy were at the docks of Foosha Village. Ace was leaving out to become a pirate now.
Ace was sporting a black jacket, some long blue jean shorts and a cowboy hat with two faces on it, one smiling and the other frowning.
Luffy was wearing a red sleeveless vest that was unbuttoned, blue shorts, sandals and Shanks' old straw hat.
"Are you sure you don't want to join my crew?" Ace asked Luffy.
"No way," Luffy told him.
"I'm proud of how strong and smart you've become, take care of yourself then Luffy, " Ace said to Luffy.
"You too big brother," said Luffy.