Title: How could this happen to me?
(Challenge:) A song featured in a musical
Character/s: Ace, Luffy, Sabo, Vivi
Song: One Song Glory & Will I?
Artist/Musical: RENT
(Words:) 772
Rating: K
Warnings: Non, some angst just =3
Disclaimers: I do not own One Piece nor RENT

He had never thought it would happen to him. Not him. Called one of the number one writer of this age, who had seen the whole world on his travels and encountered countless difficulties and managed to come out of every single one a little bit stronger than before. Not since he had lost so much, so many people and places precious to him. Not after finding true love and family where he had expected it the least.

Would he lose now, to this pathetic obstacle? After promising Sabo that he would fulfill both their dreams and carry the other's spirit into the future so that he would never be forgotten, as the simple boy he had used to be. Now, he were on his way to become a hero, if just Ace could overcome his own weakness. But as he stared up at the starry sky, he felt the powerlessness overpower him. Was this his limit? Wasn't he stronger than this? Or was this where it all ended?

The questions bounced around inside in his head, like snowflakes blown by the wind. With a deep sigh, he stood up and started to walk back towards the apartment where he now lived with Luffy and Vivi, his breath white in the cold air. Was there no way to go around it?

And in the end, did anyone expect his brother and lover care about it?

They had been his supporters through it all, from going to Egypt to try and find a golden treasure to all but attacking their friends favorite singers so he could sing at their ceremony. But as he himself started to find it hopeless, that he wasn't worth the effort, would it be enough to have them beside him, did he deserve them?

Neither of them were home as he arrived, so he kicked of his boots and hung up his jacket, scarf and hat before he sat down in the couch. Before him on the table sat a little monster, its blackness absorbing the light from the lamp in the window. Facing his inner demons, he reached out and hit the button which lit up the screen. Through this item his dreams would come true, if he just could defeat the disease inside. But at what cost? What if they all just laughed at him, like they had done before?

Entering the mix of his and Vivi's last names, he hit the 'Enter' key and watched as the picture of him, Sabo and Luffy appeared on the screen. Still feeling uneasy, he didn't dare to check his mailbox, even if he had four mails in it. Instead, he started Chrome and some music on YouTube, not even daring to check his usual chat-site.

Suddenly, a familiar 'pling'-sound reached his ears and a little blue box appeared in the right corner of the screen.

"Hi, how are you?"

"Hello to you too ^^ I'm fine, and you?"

"I'm fine too~ ^^"
Well, I just wanted to tell you that I'm rooting for you! Ganbatte! \(^o^)/
(sorry if I disturb something)"

A smile grazed his lips, this little Moda always tried to not disturb him.

"It's ok, I didn't do anything important."

"Ok...
Uhm, have you received any answer yet?"

That innocent question, probably asked out of curiosity and worry, sent a chill down his spine. What if one of those mails contained the answer to all these sleepless nights and questions?

"I haven't checked my mail yet"

"Ok! But please tell me when you've did, I really want to know how it went!
And we really hope it went well, so that you can relax and start be the regular Ace again!"

"We?"

"Yeah, me and my friends! We wish you all the luck in the world!"

Will someone care? That exact question were sung by the artist from Broadway's RENT as she wrote. And suddenly, he knew the answer to it. No matter how hard he tried to create and failed, he had people backing him up, people he had never even met face to face. Bracing himself, he moved the mouse and opened his mailbox.

Three notifications from the chat-site, all from people who supported him. And the fourth...

He swallowed hard and opened the mail, read it through and his hands started to shake. How could this possibly be true? But it stared at him, black on white, even if he just couldn't believe his eyes. There were no possibility in the whole world that this could happen to him. With still shaking fingers, hit the keys, typos appearing among his usually neat writing.

"i'm gettiing published..."