If you have some free time please check out my new story The Divide :D
So this is a second bonus chapter, meaning it's not related to the main story. Well, I suppose you can consider it part of the story if you want to, but only this one. I'm still getting people telling me not to have the story end like the Platform Drop bonus chapter even though I said it was totally unrelated hehe...So I wasn't going to write this but someone *cough* Son Goshen *cough* showed me a doujinshi that made me cry profusely and I felt I needed to cheer myself up by writing something like this. I was in the middle of writing chapter 6 of The Divide when I went to read it and then after that I was all sad and didn't want to write that specific chapter out feeling sad because I was worried it might ruin it so I wrote this instead. So if it's written crappily or you just don't like the concept then blame Son Goshen! Got that Shen? You brought this bonus about, showing me that embodiment of sadness ;_;
Disclaimer: I own nothing! Nothing at all! Well, I own the plot/premise, but that's besides the point!
Please stop crying…
Ace stared down with soft features at the boy below him; the one crouched over his corpse in mortified shock and disbelief. He watched him, his battered body no longer able to move on its own. It hurt seeing his little brother like that. He couldn't move – didn't even want to – and it was all his big brother's fault. Ace's fault. His fault.
Damn it…
He clenched his fist as tight as he could and noticed, to his dismay, that he couldn't feel the pressure of his nails digging into his skin. He couldn't feel anything. No heat, no pain. He couldn't breathe or speak, at least not so they could hear him. How he could think was baffling, seeing as his body was about twelve feet below in the arms of a sobbing, raven-haired teen. He knew what had happened – he remembered – but it hadn't sunk in until then. He died.
Sorry, Luffy…I'm so sorry…
When he took that blow for his little brother he knew what would happen but didn't fully grasp it. Only then, looking down at the boy's sickly form, did he realize how much he was going to miss him. He wouldn't get to see him fulfill his dream of becoming the Pirate King. He was sure he'd make it, but not being there to witness it himself, to be able to tell him how proud he was, felt horrible. And then there was the worst part of all: he broke his promise. He told Luffy that he wouldn't die. What a load of crap.
He didn't regret it. Luffy was more important to him than his own life and so he was glad that he could save him. But it still left him bitter. It wasn't until then, when Oyaji and all of his comrades, friends, came to rescue him that he realized how much he mattered to them. He was happy to be alive.
And then he died.
He floated to the ground and landed soundlessly next to his brother. The boy passed out. Reaching to give him a comforting pat on the head, he realized he couldn't even do that. His hand went right through Luffy, leaving him without feeling once more. He wanted to be there for his little brother, to help him and support him. But he couldn't. He was dead.
Before he could attempt to touch the boy again, he was grabbed away and the fighting resumed with Akainu going on the attack once more. Oyaji was pissed and attacked with the last of his strength, remaining unmovable even with wounds that should have killed him long ago. Luffy would be safe. He knew that. Jinbei was looking out for him. And Marco. When Oyaji breathed his last he heard his blonde friend order everyone to protect his brother. Luffy would be fine, but would he?
His matter-less form collapsed beside his unmoving corpse and he stared into the hole that went straight through his body. That stupid hole was the reason this happened. It shouldn't have happened. He was free! He was escaping with his brother! But Akainu…he insulted the old man and by then all Ace could see was red. He didn't run from a fight. That's what got him into this mess. It was his own goddam stupidity.
"Pitying yourself, boy?" a gruff voice asked from behind. Eyes doubling in size, he dared not look around. Didn't want to get his hopes up. After all, no one could see him. He was nothing. "I'm talking to you." With that he slowly turned himself towards the sound, disbelief washed away by awe. The man in question had coal black hair and a large mustache, wearing something of a captain's jacket over his shoulders. It didn't take him long to notice their shared features but he was too depressed to yell at the father he hated.
"What do you want, old man?" he asked, tone void of any sort of emotion. He didn't care anymore. He was dead.
"Friendly, aren't you?" He laced his words with sarcasm before letting out a big, bellowing laugh. It was hard to understand how anyone could be so hearty while surrounded by death. "Do you regret it?"
"No."
"Then why are you sulking?"
"I realized…"
"What?"
"Luffy…he's going to suffer more for this than I am, right?"
"Yes. A lot more." His sharp answer caused Ace to flinch. He didn't have to be so blunt, did he? "But he'll be fine, eventually."
"He'll be stronger for it in the end?" he asked, watching his brother's tiny frame sway in Jinbei's arm as they escaped. That was what he thought the Pirate King would say. After all, people always became stronger after a great misfortune, right?
"Not at all." Again, the blatancy of the man's words made him ache, even when he couldn't feel pain. A strange feeling. "Death never made anyone stronger. That's just an old farce made up by cowards too scared to face reality."
"Then…I hurt him."
"You scarred him."
Ace grit his teeth at that, still kneeling in place as he watched Shanks arrive to stop the fighting. He didn't regret it, but he didn't feel good about it either. So no matter what he did, Luffy would have to suffer? That wasn't fair. He couldn't help but think the whole thing was his father's fault. If he didn't carry the blood of the Pirate King, maybe none of this would have happened. Maybe they would have escaped. But passing the blame onto someone didn't remedy the situation, so he dropped the thoughts and continued to wallow in the negativities of his choice.
"Why are you crying, boy?" his father asked in that raspy voice of his. Ace didn't even notice there were tears in his eyes. He couldn't feel them.
"Damn it!" He crouched onto the ground and began desperately clawing at it, wishing to grip something with all of his strength, the strength that he no longer had. "I didn't want this!"
"Oh?" Roger focused on his son breaking down, looking hopefully at his hunched form.
"I want to live!"
That was what he needed to hear. He let out a joyful laugh, drawing the boy's attention back to him. His chuckling went on for a while before he caught his breath. By then Luffy was being taken away in a submarine.
"Then live!"
Ace stood firm in a blank, white space. His mother, Rouge, caressed his cheek lightly, though neither could feel a thing. They smiled at each other, knowing that this would be the last time they met. Ever. She moved her hand away and placed her lips gently on that same cheek, brushing wavy strands from his eyes.
"I'll miss you," she stated, watching the boy she had only just gotten to know leave her. She wasn't sad, though. This was for the best. He would never be content staying there with them where he couldn't feel. She understood.
"Yeah, me too," he replied, blushing ever so slightly. Even after so many months, he wasn't used to having his mother around. It was nice, though short-lived. Then he turned from the woman to a blonde, 10-year-old boy whom he knew so well and realized he would miss once again. "See you, Sabo."
"No you won't," he teased, walking up closer to the tattooed man. When Ace first arrived there it was more than just a little awkward, seeing as they were supposed to be the same age. He got used to it, but not to the horrid jokes Ace would frequently use. Oh well, he'd probably miss that too. They both grinned at each other knowingly. They wouldn't meet again.
"Sure you don't wanna come?"
"No way; somebody has to keep an eye on you and Luffy." Ace rolled his eyes at this, but smiled all the same. "I won't be able to do anything, but…I'm still there."
"Yeah. Thanks."
Gold Roger took brisk steps towards his son and threw his arms over his shoulders, giving him one of those grins that reminded him of Luffy. "You sure about this, Ace?" he questioned, though it was only a formality. He knew the answer. "You won't remember anything."
"I know."
"And there's no guarantee you'll see him again."
"I know."
"Plus you don't know what kind of life you'll-"
"Would you shut up, old man?" Roger just laughed at his outburst, ruffled his hair and removed his arm. Ace sighed, noting that his old man could get on his nerves worse than even that crybaby of a brother he had. But he didn't hate him anymore – he was like a magnet that just wouldn't let you get away. A good man, however strange he was. "I don't care. I want to be there when Luffy becomes Pirate King, even if…" his voice trailed, allowing him to compose himself. He swallowed loudly, finding the right words.
"If…?" Sabo urged, motioning for him to continue.
"Even if…I'm not myself."
The three smiled knowingly at him. Sabo promised himself that he would find his brother's new self and watch over him. He couldn't do much, but he would try his best to get the boy to Luffy, however long it took, regardless of the obstacles in the way. He knew that Ace wouldn't be the same after this. Maybe he would be similar, or maybe he would be completely unlike himself. There was no guarantee. It was scary for him to think about, but that was what he wanted. If Ace was prepared for it then so was he.
He skipped over to give the much taller man a reassuring pat on the back. Everything would be okay. He would make sure of it. No matter what.
"Guess I'll be the older one this time," Sabo teased, trying to lighten the mood. Everyone let out varying amounts of laughter and the dark air looming over them vanished, replaced by boundless optimism.
"Well," Ace began, scratching awkwardly at his head, "I guess this is goodbye."
"Yeah," Sabo replied, not really sure how else to react to those heart-wrenching words.
"Take care," Rouge said, voice shaking as her eyes glassed over with tears. Her boy was leaving her, but she wouldn't cry. He was doing what he wanted.
"Don't get into too much trouble, brat!" Roger commanded, voice light and playful as it always was. There was no sadness evident in his expression; he was proud of his son for doing what he wanted, regardless of the consequences.
"So…bye." With a lazy wave of his hand he vanished, leaving the white space just a little lonelier.
They all settled themselves, trying to stay strong as they watched him fade away. He would never be seen again. They could never talk to him or be with him. He was only with them for a few months but suddenly it was like he was always there. Now he was gone. Forever.
"Rebirth," Roger began, inhaling deeply as he readied himself for the unmovable words he was to utter, "is like a second death, only more permanent. Ace is gone." Rouge fell to her knees and clasped her head in her hands, unable to withstand the weight of those words. Her son would never return. Her lover was by her side in a moment, crouching down and holding her in a secure embrace, trying to keep her from falling apart. "He better make it."
"He will." Sabo let a few tears fall but continued to smile, watching the space where Ace was standing as though it was the last thing he would ever see. "Even if he doesn't remember. Even if he's someone else. He'll do it. Without fail."
A/N: So yeah. I guess you can consider this the prequel to Resolve. Well, actually, Skip is the prequel to Resolve. Hmm... So this is the prequel to Skip? Ah, whatever! I don't care anymore. I'm halfway done the next chapter so expect is Saturday or Sunday. Maybe tomorrow, but I have a chapter in my psychology book about cognitive development to read and make notes on. Yeah. Fucking cognitive development. It spans all of childhood! Biggest chapter I've seen yet other than biological psychology.
Oh and tell me what you think of this premise! If enough people like it then I might write a second part to it once we get through a lot of the story. It would be basically Sabo's POV showing him finding Ace, watching over him and his reactions to the stuff that happens throughout the story. It would show some things that aren't in the actual story too, like more of Ace's childhood. Though, considering how long the story will be by then it would probably be a long like 7,000-10,000 word story. Well, just an idea. I'll do it if there's enough support for it.
Now to my lovelies~
Lacus01: Thanks for pointing that out! (Just realized I still haven't fixed it...)
MysteriousEyez: I make an awesome troll :D Ace doesn't remember all of that. That's a flashback using his mom's POV and then he just has a dream of her at the end and cries because he missed her, but that wasn't what he was dreaming XD I knew it would confuse people!
Kitsune Firefox: Maybe, maybe not :P I was inspired for his mother by Rouge. She was just an incredible woman, so strong and brave and so loving~
Son Goshen: You're reactions are always so fun XD So yeah, about that...it's fiction that already doesn't make sense XD Just ignore the genetics part because honestly I just wanted Ace to look like...Ace :P Yeah...Ace didn't know what he was getting himself into when he decided to reincarnate, as seen above =_=; Oh, and YOU BROUGHT THIS CHAPTER ABOUT, making me cry over Ace's death again... *pouts*
Bard of Chaos: I'm glad you liked it! Hope this bonus wasn't totally horrible XD
nanigirl15: Yep, a little late for that ^^;
SioQu: See? It shall lead to infinite amounts of angst! Shanks is leaving next chapter sadly :/
Stelra Etnae: I wanted her to resemble Rouge, but not the same person :) Just did it to show that she was just like Rouge and cared more for her son than herself. Glad you liked it!
K: Thanks for the compliments~ 3 Luffy finding out may or may not happen. I don't know, depends on my moods as I go on throughout the story XD
angelrider13: Lol that is so true XD We're all very fucked up people. I wasn't expecting the flashback thing either. I wasn't going to do it until later but then when I was looking up a scene from the anime so that I could use the proper quote in Reverse I came across this German song (seriously, don't ask) and I felt like I wanted to write it now instead of later. Glad you like :)
99 luffy: No, the bonus chapter is completely unrelated. Just a random thing I thought up. I'll update as fast as I can, but it's hard keeping up 4 stories, school and doing everything from bills to groceries ect :( Doesn't give me endless hours to work on these.
XxSaorixX: You'll find out eventually :P Though I don't think anyone will guess it. Probably come close, though. Other way around ;) That'll be in the next chapter, don't worry.
RexLink: Thank you, glad you like! :D
AkaNeko-san: Lol it happens when I get inspired XD I'm always a troll. It's my full-time occupation. And yep, he was doing something similar. Details as to what he was doing will follow...eventually. Sorry the next chapter was a bonus and not an actual update :/ Blame Son! XD (Forgive me, Son Goshen, if you are reading this. You're my scapegoat :P)
Trich: Thank you!
Neko-VongolaPrimo: Well I wasn't planning on adding his dad but I can if you guys want me to. Do you? o.o And now there's four stories XD
Cyborgnetics: You're too kind ;_; Thank you! Glad you like!
azab: Glad you like it! And thanks for all of the reviews!
Kiyoumi: Thanks for all of the reviews! I'm happy you like it :)
alynawatlovers: That was just a bonus chapter. I wrote it for a reason and used Shanks to convey an opinion about Luffy that I've had for a while - that he's become such a legend that he'll never really die. I basically paralleled my feelings about One Piece eventually ending into a story where Luffy's life ended, but because of what he's accomplished (or what the franchise has accomplished) he'll never "die" because he'll always be remembered. But I'm glad you like the story :)
(We're at...169 reviews o.o Wow, just...wow. We're so close to 200! That's amazing! Just like 3 weeks ago I never thought I'd make it to 50. You guys are so great. Seriously, I love you all to bits. Recieving this much support is far beyond what I've ever concieved. Thank you so much!)