Luffy, I hope this letter finds you well. I hope it hugs you and eases your pain and sadness - Your nicer big brother, Sabo

Sabo always knows that he is the smart one, the reliable older brother in their trio family dynamic, Ace might have been wild and impulsive, but Sabo has intellect and class. He was the analytical one, the planner, and the one who made fewer mistakes. Yet, there were times when Sabo forgot this fact and went a little crazy because of his baby brother, the one and only Monkey D Luffy. It's funny to think that the people he calls brother are strangers with whom he once bonded over a stolen Sake from Dadan's hideout, a mountain bandit who raised Ace and Luffy.

And here he is, watching his brother appear in the newspaper, saving this princess, liberating that country, causing havoc in the New World, battling marines, and confronting scummy pirates. Funny because his baby brother's pirate crew looks like a justice maker instead of criminals. A smile spreads across Sabo's face as he laughs, Luffy has always been reckless and stupid. If only Ace were here to see it.

There is a new routine, where Sabo visits Ace's grave every year or whenever he has free time. He always brings Luffy's bounty posters with him. Updating Ace on everything their little brother has accomplished and done. Sabo can't help but be amazed at the fact that Luffy is closer to his dream as Pirate King.

"Look, Ace, he's grown up now. Every time I see his face in the newspaper, it brings me so much joy. He still grins like the idiot he is," Sabo says with a smile as he looks at the bounty poster of Luffy and shows it to Ace's tombstones.

"Ace, it's kind of unfair for you to leave me with the responsibility of worrying about Luffy for the rest of my life. Is this your way of getting revenge for all those years I was absent?" Sabo chuckles softly. The wind softly plays with his hair, making Ace's hat and necklace beads fly and make a rattling sound against his rock memorial.

"Ace, your fire blazing in me, I've got your devil fruit power The Mera - Mera No Mi. I carry your legacy with me, sometimes with a smile, I shout your fire-fist move. Of course, I'm not using that gun thing you did because heaven forbid me to do something so tacky like that. This power would help me, to help Luffy in need. Help our little brother realize his dream and help him get out of trouble" Sabo adds, his voice tinged with sorrow, "As his guide and anchor"

"Ace, it's so stupid of me to think Luffy would hate me. There were moments I was afraid to face him and wished I could have comforted him," Sabo admits, struggling to hold back tears. He remembers how Luffy once hugged him tightly, sobbing in his arms, and how he reassured him that he was glad he was alive.

"Luffy is our world, and for Luffy, we are his universe too. In your last moment, you were smiling knowing Luffy was safe but he spent the rest of his life (in that moment) believing that both of his brothers were dead. Luffy is broken into pieces and I am on the other side of the ocean, thinking it's only another event of Commander Whitebeard's pirate getting executed" Sabo reflects, recalling his initial indifference to the news of Ace's execution because he thought it was about ordinary, evil pirates terrorizing civilians.

"How could I forget that I once shared the same dreams of freedom and sailing away on my boat? Now I'm a revolutionary. I wonder how Garp would react to knowing all his grandsons have become outlaws," Sabo muses, his words filled with pain and regret for not being there. His eyes glazed feeling moved by the memories of them getting Garp's infamous fist of love.

"Ace, later the news of your death hit me like lightning. Everyone at the base said I passed out for a few days. When I regained my senses, I felt ashamed and blamed myself for not facing those locked memories sooner." Tears streamed down his face as he recalled the happy memories of their childhood together. Those moments are precious to him, and he couldn't stop crying, wetting his pillows and bandages.

"I see you lying there, smiling. Only someone like you could be so happy in death, knowing Luffy was safe. You didn't need to rub the good brother act in my face, stupid Ace," Sabo laughs, sharing a moment of camaraderie he used to have with his brothers. They used to compete over who was cooler and older in front of Luffy, never quite figuring out who was the oldest or the firstborn.

"I remember being so afraid to send a letter to our baby brother, scared that he would resent me for the rest of his life. So, the letter never reached him; I caught it before the delivery man took it," Sabo recalls, remembering his fear of Luffy hating him if he suddenly appeared. He had expected a punch and a beating but was instead met with Luffy's tearful embrace.

"So, after all these years, I'll finally give him the letters. I'll give him the hug I should have given two years ago. Ace, I'll take on the responsibility of protecting him as much as I can, so please keep us safe from up there." Sabo stands up, dusting off his pants, adjusting his hat, and looking up at the sky where the birds carry his letter to his baby brother.

Luffy, I hope this letter reaches you.

I hope it keeps you warm like the way we used to bundle up

Sprawling together on the wooden deck of our treehouse.

I remember writing a letter to you when I left to seek freedom.

Ace must have read it to you

As I can portray you crying

and begging him not to die like I did

Luffy, you never knew how glad I was to know you survived.

How I thank every entity that keeps you alive,

And wish I had been there,

Hoping that things might have turned out differently

Wishing we could sit by side, laughing about your magical and crazy adventure

Luffy, although I've known Ace longest, both of us love you dearest.

From the moment you shared your silly dream on the cliff near the beach,

We made an unwritten promise to always keep you safe.

So, it's not just Ace who would have given his life for you, I would gladly over mine too

But one of your big brothers should stay, right?

To have your back when you're tangled in a horrible situation

Something that Ace and I can't understand because you are surely a chaos magnet.

Luffy, just follow your heart, and I'll handle every obstacle you created

Even if you were on different sides of the ocean, I'll come for you.

Just make sure you keep Ace fire blazing inside your heart.

Call me for help and I will run as fast as I can,

Just like when you screamed out our names for help while facing Bluejam's pirates

Or when you fighting a jungle beast you can't defeated.

No matter how strong you are, you are still our crybaby

- with love, your big brother Sabo