". . ."

"Luffy? What is it?"

"I'm hungry."

Ace and Sabo smiled.

"We'll get you food soon," Sabo promised. "Just a little longer."

"'Kay."

With the Snow Queen's death, not only had the ice guards vanished, but the clouds had dissipated. The evening sun shone upon the mountain, and the snow would surely melt come summer.

"We're here . . ."

They stopped in front of the cave's entrance, facing the two tunnels. Sabo let Luffy down and they led him inside. He put on Ace's jacket properly as they walked.

When they reached the room in the back with the dining table and the beds, Chopper and Law looked up. Chopper squealed in joy and hurried over to them, and Law stood, smiling—the first time Ace and Sabo had seen him do that.

"You did it!" Chopper cried, staring up at them.

"A raccoon?" Luffy exclaimed.

"Reindeer!" Chopper yelled. From his tone, it was clear this wasn't the first time someone had mistaken him.

"What happened to the Snow Queen?" Law asked, eyeing Luffy. "And his heart is . . . ?"

"He's fine," Ace said firmly. "As for her . . . we shouldn't . . . talk about that here."

Law raised an eyebrow.

"Where are we?" Luffy said in wonder, staring at Chopper.

"We're in another world," Sabo said, squeezing his shoulders. "It's a long story. How much do you remember?"

Luffy frowned. "I went with the bird-lady, and . . . I don't know what happened after that."

Ace swallowed. "Luffy . . . it's March."

Luffy looked up at him, eyes like saucers. "What?"

"Don't stress," Sabo said gently. "I'm sorry we took so long."

"How many months is that?!"

"Sorry to interrupt, but you three should get going," Law said. He pressed a hand to Luffy's chest, nodded at the warm beating he felt, and pulled back. "Follow me. You can borrow Legend."

He and Chopper moved past the three, who quickly followed.

Luffy looked up at Sabo and gasped. "What happened?!"

"Nothing," Sabo said quickly, turning to hide the scarring. "I'm fine."

"We had an adventure," Ace said. "We'll tell you about it one day."

"Why not right now?"

"Because we're all hungry and tired and we want to go home," Sabo said gently as they emerged into the cave's entrance and turned into the other tunnel.

Luffy nodded as his stomach growled.

"Here we are," Chopper said. "Legend! Wake up!"

Ace, Sabo, and Luffy gasped. Before them lay a crimson dragon, and as they watched, it uncurled and yawned, showing off impressive teeth. Its golden, catlike eyes opened and it eyed them as it stood, revealing a shiny gold underbelly and leathery red wings folded on its back.

Ace and Luffy looked at Sabo with grins, and Sabo stared at the dragon, a wide, delighted smile upon his face.

"Got your wish," Ace said, patting his shoulder.

"This is the best day ever," Sabo whispered.

"Are you okay?" Law asked.

"He loves dragons," Ace explained.

"You have them in your world?"

"Nope."

"I see."

"Legend can take you down to the village," Chopper explained. He made the others move so Legend (the dragon) could slink outside, and they followed, Sabo clasping his hands reverently. "He'll let you ride on his back—that's how Law and I travel when we need to treat someone there or go shopping."

"That's so cool!" Luffy exclaimed, grinning. "We're gonna ride a dragon!"

Legend snorted when he was outside, smoke puffing from his nostrils. He unfurled and stretched his wings, showing their shiny gold underside.

"Are all dragons this big?" Sabo exclaimed, holding out a hand. Legend sniffed it and pushed his head into it. "Do they all look like this? Can he breathe fire?"

"He can," Law said. "There are different species, and he's pretty young. They can get quite big."

Once Sabo had composed himself, he and Ace helped Luffy onto Legend's back and climbed on themselves (careful not to sit directly on the ridges).

"Okay, Legend," Chopper said. "Can you take them down to the town? Come back when you're ready."

Legend blinked slowly, flapped his wings, and began to stride.

"Bye!" Chopper called, waving his hooves. "Good luck!"

"Thank you!" Ace called back, waving. Law only gave them a nod as Legend took off, gliding down the mountainside.

Luffy shrieked in delight as the wind rushed past them, and Sabo could not stop smiling. Ace nudged him, grinning, and Sabo turned to him, eyes shining.

The forest trees rustled and the waters made ridges as Legend swooped overhead. Vivi came running out of the forest, and Zoro and Sanji poked their heads above the water.

At last, Legend glided to a stop, trotting on the ground and slowing until he was still. As Ace, Sabo, and Luffy climbed down, townsfolk gathered around, only to whisper in confusion when they realized Law and Chopper weren't the riders. Luffy stared around curiously while Sabo hugged Legend's snout. The dragon blinked slowly, turned around, and settled down, hoping to sleep before going back up the mountain.

"Hey!"

The three looked around and found four familiar faces coming towards them while the other villagers trickled back to the town.

"You did it!" Usopp cried, smiling broadly. He looked at Luffy, who still clung to Ace's shirt. "Are you Luffy?"

Luffy nodded. "Who're you? A goblin?"

"No! I'm Usopp, your brothers stayed at my house—"

"Our house," Nami interrupted, elbowing Usopp aside. "So you guys didn't die after all?"

"Die?" Luffy said, alarmed, as he glanced between Ace and Sabo. Sabo gave Nami a look.

"It's good to see you," Robin said with a smile, ignoring Franky's sobs of relief. "But . . . Sabo, your eye . . . ?"

Sabo hastily brushed some hair over it with a mutter of, "It's nothing."

"You guys made it after all!" Franky yelled through his tears. "I'm so happy—! I'm not crying, don't even accuse me of—!"

"What happened to the Snow Queen?" Robin asked.

Ace and Sabo looked away, and Ace tightened his arm around Luffy's shoulders. Nami and Usopp looked between them curiously, and Luffy frowned in confusion.

"We really should get going," Ace said at last, eyeing the sinking sun. "You guys . . . thanks again. You were really . . ."

"Maybe you can come back to visit sometime?" Usopp said hopefully.

Sabo winced. "Uh, maybe . . ."

"Why couldn't we?" Luffy asked, clutching his hat to his head.

"Maybe you guys could visit us, too?" Ace suggested.

Usopp gasped and turned to Nami with shining eyes.

"Maybe," she said at last. She smiled. "Have a safe trip home."

"I wanna see you guys again," Luffy declared.

"How sweet," Robin murmured, smiling. "Same to you."

Franky sobbed into a handkerchief, but he waved goodbye nonetheless.

With final farewells and a glance back at Legend (fast asleep), they headed for the woods, and the other four departed.

Luffy glanced at the mountain in the distance, but Ace and Sabo ignored it. They soon entered the woods.

The pond was not far in. As the sun set, they stood at the water's edge, and Ace said, "Luffy, we have to jump in."

"What?! But I can't swim!"

"Just trust us," Sabo insisted. "Get ready. On three: One, two, three!"

He and Ace pulled Luffy along with them as they leapt into the middle of the pond. They clutched each other, and felt something funny coursing through their bodies—and then they surfaced in their own pond, in their world, where the sun was still sinking.

They trudged along the bottom, Ace and Sabo keeping Luffy afloat, and climbed out, sopping wet. Ace and Sabo looked around, but didn't see Pell anywhere, and so, shivering, they led Luffy through the trees and to their house.

"We're home," Luffy whispered. The house was cold and dark, but it was theirs.

"Yeah," Ace murmured. "We're . . . home."

"Let's go change, and . . ." Sabo smiled. "We'll make dinner, and we can get a fire going."

Luffy grinned, teeth chattering. "Okay!"

After a lovely dinner and long, warm baths for each of them, Ace and Sabo started up the fire with a whoomph and crackling on the logs. They retreated to the couch, curling up on either side of Luffy.

"Oh . . ."

Ace and Luffy glanced at Sabo.

"I think my birthday passed," he murmured.

"Happy birthday," Luffy whispered.

"Thanks, Lu."

"Hope we'll both have a better one next year," Ace murmured.

Luffy shifted. "You guys . . . came to get me . . . even though I was being really horrible."

He sniffled. "Thank you."

"Of course we did," Ace said gently. "You're our brother."

Luffy looked down as Ace's loose shirt hitched up. He frowned and gently lifted it, and his eyes widened. Halfway down Ace's torso was a fist-sized, shiny scar—a near-identical one lay on his back.

"Ace?" he whispered. Sabo clenched his hands, face tense.

"It's nothing," Ace said, tugging his shirt down again. "We . . . got a little hurt on our way. It's not a big deal."

"Because of—"

"Not your fault," Sabo interrupted, recovering and leaning against Luffy. "We just weren't very careful, that's all."

Luffy nodded and settled back into the couch.

". . . Love you . . ."

Ace and Sabo glanced at him and saw his eyes falling shut as he nodded off. For a few minutes, they watched the fire crackling on the wood, and the light reflecting off Luffy's peaceful face.

"The old man's coming by soon," Ace murmured. "He's bound to notice your face."

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it," Sabo murmured, touching his scar.

"It makes you look distinguished."

"Does not. It's an eyesore in every sense of the word."

"Oh, it is not, cut that out," Ace muttered. "You look fine."

Sabo sighed and brushed some of his hair over it regardless. "Here's hoping we don't get nightmares, huh?"

Ace nodded. "They're sure to happen sooner or later . . . but a peaceful sleep tonight would be nice."

Sabo stood and put out the fire. He went back to the couch and pulled the blanket over the three of them.

Morning found them fast asleep on the couch . . . together.

~Fin~

Story's done! Thanks for all your support, everyone!