- Sabo! Sabo! Come look at this!
The 10 years old brunet was pointing at a strange looking bird. It had the appearance of a bird : wings, beak and eggs soon-to-be-hatched. But it was too big to be a simple bird and there were no feathers. Instead the creature had a skin similar to the crocodiles they love to eat.
- It's the emperor of the jungle. Apparently, he is stronger than the tiger.
- Stronger?! Impossible! I thought the tiger we defeated was the strongest creature of this forest.
- It's because people think it's a myth. They don't believe it exists. They just tell that to kids so they obey otherwise the emperor of the jungle will eat them. Dadan and the bandits used to threaten me like this so I follow their orders.
- Did you believe them?
- They just managed to make me more curious. But I never saw the creature and until now thought they were just really lying to me.
- Hmm, this looks tasty!
Luffy appeared out of nowhere causing the boys to scream then hit him on the head.
- Shut up Luffy! The emperor will notice us and we will be in trouble. Plus, when did you get here? I thought you were spending the afternoon with Makino.
- She left earlier. She remembered she had something to do and couldn't stay longer. Anyway, Ace, Sabo, I'm hungry, why can't we eat this bird?
- It's not a bird, Luffy. It's the emperor of the Jungle, the strongest creature.
- Huh? I thought it was the tiger.
- Well, we didn't know for sure if it existed until now. Anyway, we shouldn't mess with it right now.
- Yeah, let's go, it's time for the afternoon snack. Lu-
The 7 years old boy wasn't next to them anymore. He approached the sleeping -they guess it was sleeping since its eyes were close- giant bird to look at the eggs laying by its side. They were shaking like the babies were reading to come out.
- Luffy, come back here! Are you crazy?!
- Look guys, the eggs are moving!
More and more cracks could be seen on the surface of the eggs until it completely shattered into thousands of pieces. Little birds were coming out of their shells. If those kinds of events were usually endearing, that wasn't the case here. As soon as the little birds saw Luffy they started charging toward him, little fire balls coming out of their beaks.
- Luffy!
Ace, pipe in hand, came out behind the bushes where they were hiding and went helping Luffy. He managed to beat all the baby birds with a few swings of his pipe, avoiding the flames coming out their beaks.
- Let's go Luffy!
- Y-yes!
Ace start running to join Sabo behind the bushes so they could leave far away but he was stopped by Luffy's scream. Somehow the 7 years old boy fell and in the meantime the giant mama bird woke up. Looking at what happened to its kids, the creature was so furious, it let out a cry that made the entire jungle shake. Luffy tried to get on his knees to escape but he kept falling. The fear made his legs useless.
- Sabo! Distract it while I help Luffy! Throw some rocks on it from behind or something, it will be confused and we will have time to escape.
Ace instructed him to run to help Luffy get up. Sabo, instead of moving, stayed at the same place. He didn't know why but his feet wouldn't move. It wasn't even fear paralysing him because he never felt fear when his brothers were in danger, just the need to protect them. So why the hell was he petrified?
The blond boy was a mere spectator. He watched as Ace pushed Luffy to run in a safe place while he stayed behind to face the creature. He heard Ace yelling at him, asking him what is taking him so long to find some rocks and throw them at the giant angry bird. He saw the bird aiming for Luffy despite Ace being closer. Then, Ace reacted instinctively, positioning his body between his little brother and the creature. A huge ball of fire went through Ace, standing in front of Luffy. The bird, satisfied, disappeared.
Luffy fell on his knees, Ace barely alive body in his arms. Sabo was still standing behind the bushes, witnessing the scene without being able to move. Ace's lifeless eyes were glued to him. His lips mumbled something to him that Sabo couldn't hear but somehow was able to decipher.
- Sabo, why didn't you follow my plan? Why … were you standing there instead of helping me?
Tears started to fall on Ace's cheeks, mixing with his blood.
- Why? Why, Sabo, why did you let me die? It hurts so much. Not the burns. Not them because I can't feel my body anymore except my heart. It hurts because you gave up on me. Was I not worth saving?
.
.
.
When he woke up, he stared at the ceiling, taking the time to process his surroundings. He was at the new secret headquarters of the Revolutionary Army. They moved because Blackbeard and his pirates discovered their former location. The new HQ is located underwater. A place built by allied fishmen. As parts of his nightmares started replaying his head, tears made their way on his cheeks. Soon, he could barely breathe. He tried to stop the tears, regulate his breathing but it was becoming harder and harder. He didn't want to wake up Koala.
But she already was. Koala was awake before he even was. She didn't get up from her bed right away because she was tired. She couldn't stand Sabo suffering anymore. It's been more than two years now. Although, at first, she was happy Sabo managed to recover his memories, she now wished he never did. She wished he never remembered Fire Fist. Sabo was happier when he was just a mere pirate in his eyes. Remember Portgas D. Ace only caused pain and misery. Guilt filled her body for having those thoughts.
She finally got up then joined Sabo with a box of tissues and a glass of water. She cleaned his face then helped him drink. She changed the blankets and removed his pyjama top soaked as well with tears and snots then climbed in the bed next to him.
- It's not your fault, Sabo.
She said that so many times already. When will her words make it through his head? Her hand found his under the blankets. He was shaking.
- It wouldn't have changed anything.
- Huh?
- You being there. I don't think it would have saved him. Ace sacrificed himself for Luffy. He died doing something he loved. Protecting his brother. Tell me, Sabo. If Ace was here, how would he react seeing you crying like that?
- He would probably call me a crybaby.
- He wouldn't be wrong.
- Hey! I'm not a crybaby. Since we know each other, how many times did you see me crying before what happened two years ago?
Koala didn't reply. She knew Sabo was far from being a whiny baby. A smirk appeared on Sabo's face.
- See? You're making baseless accusations on my character.
- Boy! Are you calling me a liar?!
- Maybe.
- I'm not a liar, I was just making an observation based on your recent behavior. A liar is somebody who eats the last pie then blames a poor rookie instead.
- W-what? How do you know?
- Because it was a coconut pie which your stomach always had a hard time dealing with, and you spent half an hour in the toilets yesterday.
Koala was too good at observing and analyzing people's behavior. Finding no counter argument, Sabo let out three loud farts, chasing Koala out of the bed, holding her nose.
- You're disgusting, Sabo!
- Stop being dramatic. Loud farts don't really smell. The quiet ones are more toxic.
- Farting is not an answer when you don't know what to say. Just reply 'You're right, Koala, I'm sorry.' if you can't figure out anything!
She climbed back in her bed, trying to ignore Sabo pouting because he was now laying alone.
- Come back.
- No!
- I will buy you coconut pies.
- No! Plus, I don't even like coconut pies. Those are Betty's favorites, not mine.
- Ok, then I will buy you your favorites.
- Which ones?
- Huh?
- You're supposed to know what are my favorites by now, so which ones will you buy?
She got another set of three farts as an answer.
- Boy, go to hell!
Laughters filled the room until both occupants fell asleep. When Sabo woke up a few hours later, he was smiling.
THE END.