Ace dreams memories not his own.

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3. A Memory

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Ace's very first memory was the sound of rain. Raindrops created a rhythmic melody as they pelted against windows and the wooden deck.

"What a downpour. I seriously don't get the Grand Line weather. Are you cold, Ace?"

Thatch asked Ace in his arms. Ace shook his head no. The two of them were sitting on Thatch's bed. Even though Ace had his own room, he rarely slept there. When it was around the bedtime, someone would always come and pick Ace up to bring him to their room.

"Out?" Ace asked as he looked up at his brother. As a bedtime ritual, Ace usually got a stroll on the deck in his sibling's arms or beck.

"No, no out. Can't you hear how hard the rain's falling? Be a good boy and stay with big brother Thatch."

"Out!" Ace shook his chubby arms to emphasize his point, his lips protruding to form the most adorable pout.

"Oi, oi, calm down. I'll bring you outside in the morning if the weather is nicer. Besides, it's way past your bedtime now. Marco will have a word with both of us if he catches you awake at this hour." Thatch ruffled the little one's unruly hair.

Just then, someone knocked and opened the door without waiting to hear an answer. Speaking of the devil—it was Marco.

"You should have told me you were taking Ace with you, yoi," Marco complained as he pushed his wet hair out of his eyes. By the way he was drenched from head to toe, it seemed like he spent a good amount of time looking around the deck, worried that Ace might have ventured outside on his own. "And it's past his bedtime. He should be sleeping."

"Well, I thought I should keep him with me tonight in case it thunders or something," Thatch replied and added contemplatively, "Not that he's afraid of it."

"'under!" Ace clapped his hands. Yes, the little brat was not afraid of trifling things like thunder. Someone should really hammer some sense of self-preservation into his little head, Thatch thought to himself.

"No, no thunder yet," Marco replied as he lightly shook Ace's small hand.

"Ma'co!" Ace laughed happily and stretched his arms towards his eldest brother.

Marco grimaced and shook his head in regret. "No, Ace. You'll get wet too if I hold you now."

At the unexpected rejection, Ace's eyes became as big as saucers and his pursed lips started to tremble.

The two older brothers noticed the telltale signs of impending doom but could only standby helplessly as the first drop of fat tear rolled down Ace's chubby cheek.

Ace took in a deep breath.

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"Waaaaaaaaaaaa!"

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Ace was grief-stricken. He couldn't play outside all day because of the rain. Thatch denied him his nightly stroll. And now his eldest brother wouldn't even hold him. Ace's small head could not comprehend the injustice of it all.

"What happened?!"

At the sound of Ace's cry, several crew members burst into the room in alarm.

"Ma'co, Ma'co!"

In between his cries, Ace called out to his usual comforter. Marco was torn. He wanted nothing more than to scoop Ace up and hold him close, but he was still drenched from cold rain. Jozu, one of the people who had rushed in, smacked him squarely on the head.

"Why are you making the little one cry?" The diamond man chided.

"I didn't do anything!" Marco sputtered at the accusation.

"Hand him over, Thatch," Izou snatched Ace from Thatch's incapable hands and started to rock him gently, making cooing noises. "There, there, shhh…. It's alright Ace, your brothers are here."

At Izou's soothing gestures, Ace's wailing slowly subsided into small sobs. Eventually Ace closed his tired eyes, suckling his thumb.

"Aww, he's adorable."

Ace drifted to sleep, listening to warm voices surrounding him.

"Look at his eyes. They are all puffy from crying."

"How cute!"

"I still can't believe Roger is his dad. I mean, look at him! He's too cute to be related to that bast—man. I said man, don't glare at me like that, Marco!"

"Shush, Namur. You'll wake him."

Susurration of raindrops falling on the deck. Gentle whispers of his siblings. Izou's soft lullaby. Distant rumbling laughter of Oyaji.

In the midst of these familiar sounds, Ace fell into a deep slumber.

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I know that some of you've been waiting for Ace to meet the Whitebeards - I'm sorry for the dealy, but I promise they will meet soon :)