Ch. 13- The Promise
One Piece © Oda
Blizzard, Monkey D. Aika, Kumi, Kovar, and Monkey D. Star © Me
The Straw Hats all stood in the void, gaping at what they had just witnessed. The fire, Luffy getting sliced in the head, Ace's Conqueror's Haki, Dadan and the rest of the bandits coming to the rescue...and the Gray Terminal continuing to burn away.
"...Okay," Sanji said. "No kid should EVER have gone through something so horrific."
"You're telling me," Franky added.
"That was...that was just..." Brook started. "I can't even describe it!"
"...Big Brother Ace...and Miss Dadan...!" Aika whispered. "Were they...?"
"We know that Ace must have survived," Nami answered, "but as for Dadan...we don't know."
"Poor Luffy," Chopper said, sadly. "He was taken away while all that happened."
"All he could do was call out for Ace and Dadan," Usopp said. "He must've felt so helpless."
"...How did Luffy ever keep himself sane through all that?" Kumi asked. "If it were me..."
"We know, Kumi," Blizzard said. "I often wonder that, myself."
Zoro, meanwhile, remained silent...and yet, even he was unnerved by all of this. He had never once thought his captain had gone through such trauma. To him, Luffy was always just this idiotic goofball that always had a smile on his face...but now, he realized that smile just hid a deeply traumatized little boy.
"Guys," Robin spoke up, causing everyone to look at her. "The memory is changing."
Everyone looked up and saw Luffy, lying in a futon, the right side of his face and his torso in bandages while Dogra, Magra, and the other bandits tended to him. The boy was lying down, shuddering from the pain of his injuries...but the Straw Hats could also see the look of helplessness on his face.
"Now, now, Luffy," Magra said. "You need to rest. Your wounds were really deep, you know."
"I don't care," Luffy replied. "I gotta find Ace and Dadan...!"
"...Even now, he still isn't thinking about himself," Blizzard said. "Even back when he was a kid, he's still so admirable."
"Luffy, we're worried, too," Dadan began, "but we can't go back to the Gray Terminal! The soldiers are still going around, cleaning up after the fire...and by that, I mean sweeping up the garbage and shooting any survivors they find. If you go out there, now, you'll be killed!"
"What?!" Nami questioned. "Killing survivors?!"
"Sounds like the military is just as corrupt as the nobles," Sanji sneered.
"But why would they ever do something like that?!" Aika asked. "It's so cruel!"
"...You know...when I think about it," Nami said. "Once, I saw a Celestial Dragons ship sail by my home island, headed for Dawn Island. I didn't think much of it, though."
"Of course," Zoro said. "Now it makes sense."
"What do you mean?" Usopp asked.
"The nobles of the Goa Kingdom heard about the Celestial Dragons coming to visit the kingdom," Zoro began, "so they wanted their little city to look as clean as possible for them...that meant getting rid of any kind of trash...including the people of the Trash Mountain."
"...My god..." Usopp whispered. "Do the World Nobles have that big an influence?!"
"Apparently, they do," Sanji answered.
"But...but...!" Luffy stammered. "I wanna see Ace! Sabo's gotta be worried about him!" On that, he began to cry.
"...Big Brother...!" Aika whimpered.
"Oh, Luffy," Nami sniffled. "I wish I could hug him."
"I know, Nami," Robin said as she put her hand on Robin's shoulder, "but remember..."
"I know," Nami replied. "It's just a memory...there's nothing we can do about it."
Robin then reached up and wiped the navigator's tears away.
"Thank you, Robin," Nami said.
"Of course," Robin smiled.
"Hey, guys, look!" Chopper called as the memory shifted once again, where they found Luffy, sitting in the corner, sulking. It must have been some time since the fire at the Gray Terminal, because it looked like most of his injuries had healed by now. The bandits appeared to be just as depressed as he was, for they were lying around, moping as well.
"...That's it!" Luffy exclaimed as he got up. "It's been days, now! I'm looking for Ace and Dadan myself!"
"Now, hold on, Luffy," said one of the bandits. "Look, I know it's really hard for you to wait, right now, but...I think it's time for us to face the facts: there's a good chance that Ace and the boss might be-"
"DON'T YOU DARE SAY THAT THEY'RE DEAD!" Luffy shouted, taking the bandits and the Straw Hats back by his outburst. "THEY CAN'T BE DEAD! THEY JUST CAN'T BE, OKAY?!"
"...Luffy..." Usopp whispered, worriedly.
"It makes sense," Franky said. "Sabo's already been taken away, so he doesn't wanna lose another brother."
"Easy there, Luffy!" Magra exclaimed. "Let's not jump to conclusions! There's still a chance that they survived! We already sent Dogra to Trash Mountain to find them! Just leave it to him!"
Luffy only glared up at him...although it looked liked he was trying very hard to hold back tears.
"Believe me, Luffy, we're worried, too," Magra said, "but we just have to be patient. Understand?"
"...Okay," Luffy muttered as he looked down to the floor.
"Poor Big Brother," Aika said. "I can't imagine how worried he must be."
"If it were you, you'd probably do the same thing, wouldn't you, Aika?" Blizzard asked.
"...Well...yeah," Aika said. "If Big Brother were lost, I'd wanna go out and look for him, too."
"Hey, everyone!" a bandit suddenly came rushing in, excitedly. "Ace and the boss! They're back!"
Luffy and the rest of the bandits gasped before they all hurried outside. The rubber boy did trip on the floor as he ran, but he managed to get to his feet before he joined the rest of the Dadan Family. However, once they got outside, they soon saw the state that Ace and Dadan were in: Ace's clothes were in shreds and he had several burns on him...but Dadan, whom Ace was carrying piggyback style, looked like she had burned even worse, and she was covered in bandages.
"Jeez!" Sanji exclaimed. "Those two sure were put through the wringer, huh?!"
"They must have been trying to fight their way out of the fire," Brook added.
"I'm just glad they made it outta there," Chopper spoke up.
Soon, the Dadan Family began to help Ace and their leader inside, tending to their injuries. As Ace began to change out of his ruined shirt, Luffy suddenly grabbed him in a hug from behind, taking him by surprise.
"ACE~!" he sobbed. " I MISSED YOU SO MUCH!"
"What are you doing, Luffy?!" Ace questioned. "Did...did you think I was dead or something?"
"...Well...maybe, but-" Luffy whimpered.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU CRYING FOR?!" Ace asked as he punched the boy on the head, causing him to cry out in pain as a bump formed on his crown.
"OW!" Luffy yelled.
"HOW DARE YOU KILL ME OFF LIKE THAT, YOU MORON!" Ace barked.
"What did he hit him for?!" Aika questioned.
"Yeah!" Kumi added. "Luffy was just worried about him!"
"Ace isn't used to others be concerned for him, that's why," Blizzard answered.
"Now calm down, Ace!" Magra said. "Luffy was just really happy to see you, that's all! You should be happy, too!"
Ace only rolled his eye...but then he looked down at Luffy, who blinked up at him and sniffled, which caused him to sigh before he gave him a small smile.
"Ah, who am I kiddin'?" he asked as he ruffled Luffy's hair a bit. "I just can't stay mad at you, you little knucklehead."
"Shishishi!" Luffy giggled.
"Now why don't you go out and play?" asked Ace. "I gotta talk to the others, all right?"
"Okay!" Luffy chirped as he ran outside.
"Stay close, got that?!" Ace called. "If you get lost, I'm not comin' to look for you!"
"I will!" Luffy answered as he went outside, where he began to explore the yard. By now, the sun was going down, so it was quite dark, but he didn't care. He gasped in delight as he found two large beetles: a Hercules Beetle and a Miyama Stag Beetle.
"Cool~!" the boy exclaimed with starry eyes, which made the Straw Hats chuckle.
"He's so cute..." Nami whispered.
"I know~!" Aika exclaimed. "Look at how happy he looks!"
"He acts like the fire never happened," Usopp added as he watched Luffy put the beetles on a barrel, where they began to wrestle.
"Okay then," Luffy said. "Who's gonna win it?"
Just then, he heard footsteps approach, causing him to turn and see Dogra...but for some reason, he looked rather pale.
"What's up with him?" Sanji asked. "He looked like he saw a ghost."
"Oh, hey, Dogra!" Luffy greeted. "Weren't you out looking Ace and Dadan? They came back hours ago!"
"I-is that right?" Dogra stammered as he seemed to force a smile. "That's great, then!"
"...He saw something while he was out looking," said Zoro, narrowing his eye as Luffy grabbed Dogra by the wrist and led him inside. However, once he got in the house, the Dadan Family immediately sensed his anxiety.
"What's wrong, Dogra?" asked Magra.
Dogra didn't answer. He just sat there on the floor, shaking like a leaf.
"Hey, what's goin' on?" asked Dadan. "Spill it, already!"
"There's...there's no other way to say this...!" Dogra whispered.
"Will you just spit it out?" Ace asked, impatiently.
"Yeah, what's the matter, Dogra?" asked Luffy.
"...Sabo...!" Dogra answered, which immediately got everyone's attention...including Ace and Luffy's. "Sabo was...!"
"Sabo was what?!" Ace questioned. "What happened to him?!"
"...SABO WAS SHOT DOWN AT SEA!" Dogra shouted. "HE'S DEAD!"
All the color on everyone's faces immediately left them...including the Straw Hats. Ace and Luffy's mouths gaped in horror while Dadan gasped, her cigarette falling out of her mouth.
"...No...!" Luffy whispered.
"Liar...!" Ace growled before he rushed at Dogra and pinned him to the floor. "YOU LYING BASTARD! IF THIS IS YOUR IDEA OF A SICK JOKE, IT'S NOT FUNNY!"
"It doesn't look like he's joking to me," Franky answered.
"...Shot down...at sea...?!" Aika whispered.
"Now, Aika calm down!" Blizzard assured. "We all know Sabo's alive! You saw him in Dressrosa, remember?!"
"But...but...!" Aika whimpered with tearful eyes.
"I'm sorry, Ace," Dogra began, "but it's the truth! It was so sudden, I didn't even wanna believe my own eyes! I thought I was dreaming! He sailed right in front of the ship of those nobles who were visiting Goa Kingdom, and they shot him down!
"...The Celestial Dragons," Dadan whispered. "Of course. They were coming to visit the kingdom today.
The Straw Hats gaped at this.
"...So it was the World Nobles who shot down Sabo?" Sanji asked. "Those sick bastards."
"From what Sabo told me, they thought that he was at fault because he sailed in front of them," Robin replied. "To them, that was reason enough to shoot him down...thankfully, Dragon saved him from drowning at the last second."
"Yeah, but at the time, Ace and Luffy didn't know it," Nami said. "So that's why they thought he was dead until that day they met again in Dressrosa."
"It took only two shots," Dogra began, "and Sabo's boat was completely destroyed...all that was left was his hat, and that was picked up by the officials."
"How can that be?!" Ace questioned. "Sabo went home to his parents! Why the hell would he ever go out to sea?!"
"Yeah! It doesn't make sense!" Luffy answered. "He went home! Why would he leave?!"
"Even outlaws and hoodlums like us must have understood how the boy must have felt!" Dogra cried as he pushed Ace off of him. "We all have places we don't even wanna go back to!" He then raised his head...revealing tears spilling from his eyes. "If Sabo were truly happy...do you honestly believe he would have raised a pirate flag and gone out to sea by himself?! DO YOU?!"
The whole room fell silent as the gravity of the situation finally sank in. Ace shook violently while Luffy whimpered before he finally broke down, crying.
"Sabo...!" he sobbed. "YOU WEREN'T HAPPY AFTER ALL, WERE YOU?! WAAAAAAAH~!"
"...If I were him," Usopp began, "I'd run away, too."
"So would I," Chopper added.
"Dammit!" Ace cursed. "Why did I ever think that he was happy where he was?! WHY DIDN'T I EVER TRY TO TAKE HIM BACK?!" In his rage, the ten-year-old grabbed Dogra by the collar of his shirt and pulled him up to his face. "WHO THE HELL KILLED SABO?! WHERE ARE THEY?! LEMME OUTTA HERE SO I CAN KILL 'EM!" He then dropped Dogra and grabbed his pipe as he prepared to rush out. "I'M GONNA AVENGE MY BROTHER!"
"HOLD IT, YOU DUMBASS!" Dadan barked as she slammed Ace face-first into the floor, causing it to crack while the Straw Hats grimaced.
"STAY THE HELL OUTTA MY WAY!" Ace yelled, his forehead beginning to bleed.
"You're just one kid!" Dadan shouted. "WHAT CAN YOU DO EXCEPT TALK BIG?! If you go out there, now, YOU'RE GONNA GET YOURSELF KILLED! YOU'LL ONLY DIE AND NOBODY WILL EVEN REMEMBER BY TOMORROW! DON'T YOU GET IT?! YOU'RE WORTHLESS!"
"...No he's not...!" Aika whimpered, which prompted Robin to pull her into her arms and hide her face in her bosom, once more while Blizzard covered Kumi's eyes with his tail.
"It wasn't just those World Nobles who killed Sabo!" Dadan shouted. "IT WAS THIS COUNTRY! THE WHOLE WORLD! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT, YOU LITTLE SHIT?! YOUR FATHER, GOLD ROGER, CHANGED THIS WHOLE ERA WITH HIS DEATH! ONCE YOU BECOME AS BIG A MAN AS HIM, THEN YOU THINK ABOUT GETTING YOURSELF KID!" She turned to the bandits. "NOW SOMEBODY TIE THIS IDIOT BEFORE I DECIDE TO KILL HIM MYSELF!"
"Y-yes, boss!" the bandits answered as they grabbed Ace and carried him outside, even though he struggled, and the whole time, Luffy kept crying.
"SABO~!" he wailed.
"SHUT UP!" Ace called from outside. "STOP YOUR PATHETIC CRYING, LUFFY!"
But Luffy just kept sobbing...until eventually, the memory faded to black. By now, most of the Straw Hats were in tears, themselves, save for Zoro and Sanji. They knew that Sabo survived...but the fact Luffy didn't know until later broke their hearts.
"...My word..." Brook whispered as he shook his head. "Those poor boys."
"It's hard, knowing you couldn't save the brother you loved," Robin added while trying to console Aika.
"Sabo survived," Zoro began, "but still...it was way too cruel...and not only that, he didn't even remember Luffy or Ace until...THAT day."
"To think," Sanji began, "Sabo forgot about his own brothers...it's heartbreaking."
"He lost his memory?" Chopper asked.
"The shock of getting blasted by the Celestial Dragons was so bad, his mind went into overdrive," Blizzard answered before he looked down in shame. "To think...I was angry at him because I thought he just let Fire Fist die and didn't even think of coming to help him or Luffy...when in reality, there were circumstances that were beyond his control...even though he forgave me when I confronted him, I still feel so ashamed for jumping to conclusions like that."
The memory shifted again, and the Straw Hats found that it was somewhere in the afternoon. Luffy was lying on the cliff where he, Ace, and Sabo made their vow of brotherhood. Looking at it now, the Straw Hats felt as if it was just yesterday when they saw those three young boys, happily sharing their sake cups...but to see Luffy lying there, sobbing quietly...they couldn't help but feel their hearts go out to their captain.
Just then, Ace approached Luffy from behind, breathed on his fist, and then bopped him on the head, causing him to grunt as he grabbed at the rim of his hat, which Aika clutched slightly, as well.
"How long are you keep sulking?" Ace asked, to which Luffy sniffed in reply. "...The treasure that we hid in the forest is gone, now...I don't know if it burned in the fire, if Bluejam's crew found it, or if the military got it. Sabo and I never got to use it...but honestly, I don't care anymore. There's not much point in gathering up treasure if you can't protect it, so why bother?"
"...I can't help feeling sorry for Ace," Nami said. "He knew Sabo longer than Luffy did."
"He was pretty much his best friend," Zoro said as he placed his hand on the sheathe of Wado Ichimonji. "I know how that's like."
Blizzard whimpered sadly as he looked down at the silver chain necklace that was wrapped around his paw. The eye socket of the skull and bones charm seemed to twinkle a bit, as if it were shedding a tear.
"...Ace...?" Luffy asked. "I...I wanna get stronger!"
Hearing this caused Ace to glance down at him, as if in surprise, while the Straw Hats gasped a bit.
"And stronger, and stronger, and stronger, and stronger, and stronger, and stronger, and stronger, and stronger, and stronger, and stronger, and stronger, and stronger...and even stronger than that!" Luffy declared.
"...That's a whole lot of stronger," Sanji quipped.
"That way...I won't have to lose anyone precious to me ever again...!" Luffy whimpered. "I don't wanna lose anyone, anymore!"
"...So that's why he's always trying to get stronger," Franky said. "Even back then, he had lots of moxie."
"Once someone finds something they feel is worth protecting," Brook began, "they'll go to any length to protect it."
"...Ace...I'm begging you...!" Luffy whimpered. "Please don't die...!"
The Straw Hats looked away, cringing slightly while Aika gasped silently as she remembered the night when Luffy first found out she was his sister, even though she was sleeping.
"I promise I won't die and leave you alone..."
"Big Brother...!" Aika whispered as she clutched at Luffy's hat.
"You moron!" Ace shouted as he hit Luffy in the head, once again. "Don't be stupid! You should be more worried about yourself, not me! You're a lot weaker than I am!"
Luffy only sniffled in response.
"Listen up, Luffy!" Ace said. "I promise you, I'm never gonna die! Like I could leave my weakling of a little brother alone! Sabo asked me in his letter to take care of you, so that's what I'm gonna do, got that?!"
"...Okay...!" Luffy nodded as he sat on his knees.
"...If only he knew," Nami whispered.
"...So...I don't understand," Aika said. "Big Brother Ace died anyway...doesn't that mean he couldn't keep his promise, after all? Because...Big Brother promised me he wouldn't die, too."
"Promising someone you won't die is unreasonable," Blizzard said, harshly. "Death happens and there's nothing we can do about it."
"...Blizzard, that was kinda harsh, don't you think?" asked Chopper.
"Yeah, I mean," Kumi said. "You could've sugarcoated it-"
"There's no sugarcoating something like death!" Blizzard shouted, causing Chopper, Aika, and Kumi to jump back a bit in fright, which in turn made him soften a bit. "...I'm sorry...but you guys need to learn that. I had to be blunt."
"...Listen," Ace spoke as he stared out at the sea. "I'm not very smart, so I can't really tell you why Sabo was killed...but whoever did it, it must have someone who opposed freedom. Sabo died without even getting to so much as taste it."
"He can now," Robin whispered.
"But Sabo was our brother," Ace began, "and you and I are still alive and breathing, Luffy. Listen...we'll live out the rest of our lives with no regrets!"
"...Yeah...!" Luffy nodded, snot dribbling down his nose.
"One day, you and I will got out to sea," Ace began, "and live the way we wanna live! You and I will be freer than anyone in the whole world! We'll make a lot of enemies along the way...even Gramps. Our lives will be in constant danger! We'll leave this island when we turn 17! Nothing will stop us! We'll be pirates, living free on the seas! You got that, Luffy?!"
"...Yeah...!" Luffy nodded, again. "I got it!"
Despite the bittersweetness of it...the Straw Hats couldn't help smiling. Despite losing Sabo...the fire of their brotherhood burned ever stronger, and the vow that the two remaining brothers made was proof of it.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Next time on One Piece: The Fire Within!
Ace: Not bad, Luffy! You're actually managing to keep up with me, this time!
Luffy: I'll get stronger, no matter what!
Franky: *chuckles* Look at them go.
*A gunshot is heard*
Luffy (13): Ace, look! Did you see that?! Bullets can't hurt me-
Ace (16): *punches Luffy across the face* YOU MORON! WHY DIDN'T YOU RUN AWAY LIKE I TOLD YOU?!
Aika: Huh...?!
Ace (17): Well, Luffy, I'm off!
Luffy (14): See you in three years, Ace!
Dogra: Well, Luffy, you're 17 now! Good luck out there!
Luffy (17): *standing on his boat* I'm gonna be King of the Pirates!
Next time: Growing Up.
Review, please!