Portgas D. Ace grappled with the certainty of his impending demise. He had willingly sacrificed his life to shield his cherished brother, the paramount figure in his world. Ace harbored no doubt that Luffy, his brother, was destined to ascend to the throne of the Pirate King, surpassing even Gol D. Roger, their shared father. It was a cruel quirk of fate that he would not live to witness this monumental achievement firsthand. How deeply he yearned to bear witness to it.

Ace found himself in a white voice as he heard a voice in his head, this voice was very angelic as he looked ahead at nothing but the witness of the world around himself. He tried to clear his mind as he thought about anything. Then he heard a voice in his mind, an angelic one. "Portgas D. Ace, son of Gol D. Rogers, I have an offer for you and for you alone, a second chance at life. One where you must follow the rules and become something better than the last life, to become a hero."

"What are you talking about, I liked my life before, why do I need a second chance, I mean I did what I could," Ace said wondering what was happening right then and there unsure of it all. He tried to again clear his own mind as he heard the voice again.

As Ace struggled to make sense of the surreal situation, the angelic voice continued, its tone gentle yet resolute. "Your life was indeed admirable, and your sacrifice noble. However, there is more to your destiny, Ace. You have the potential to become a beacon of hope and strength in another world, one where your presence and actions can save countless lives. This second chance is not just for you, but for those who need a hero."

Ace's mind raced with thoughts of his brother, Luffy, and their shared dream. He felt torn between his loyalty to his past life and the intriguing possibility of a new beginning. "But what about Luffy? He's my brother, and I promised to always protect him. How can I just leave him behind?"

The voice replied with a soothing assurance, "Luffy's path is his own, and he will continue to grow and achieve greatness. Your sacrifice has already set him on the right course. This new opportunity does not diminish your love or commitment to him. Instead, it expands your legacy and allows you to touch more , you aren't Luffy, your future in that world came to an end with your death. However, this is a chance to continue your legacy, let Luffy handle that, and you focus on what you can do in this new world.."

Ace let out a sigh as he clenched his fist. They had the wrong person here. He shook his head, "I don't care about being some hero. I just wanted to prove that I was worthy of being born, and wanted to help my brother find his way to becoming the pirate king."

The angelic voice remained calm, understanding his reluctance. "And that very desire to protect, to sacrifice for those you love, is what makes you a hero, Ace. You also have already done both those things. Plus there are others who need you, this world you're being sent to has many problems, and I am sure that you can make a whole lot of difference. I don't mind if you do it in your unique way, be yourself, but let that spirit and that drive inspire others."

Ace blinked thinking about it for a moment. He was glad to hear Luffy would someday become the King of the Pirates, and that he had made a mark even if he was dead. He let out a sigh after a moment. "Fine, sure I will do this, but I am going to do this my way, and I want to make my own path in whatever world this is you have lined up for me."

The voice seemed to smile, a warm glow enveloping Ace as he felt himself being transported to a new realm. "Welcome to your second chance, Portgas D. Ace. May you shine even brighter in this new world."

As Ace woke up, he found himself in a park, the sun shining down on him. He pressed his hands over his body, realizing he felt normal but younger—he guessed around fourteen years old. He stood up and moved gracefully, throwing punches in the air as he found a grove. It felt natural to him, as if he knew just how to use his fist, and feet in a real fight. As he focused, he turned to fire, just like before. He had it still, the power of the Mera Mera no Mi in this new world. They were still his, and that meant a lot. It meant he had a connection to his old life and something to remind him of where he came from. It was something he was more than a bit happy to have.

As he looked around the part, he could see four main directions to go into. He picked one at random as he walked forward. He wasn't sure he was at that moment, but he figured he would figure it out in time. He noticed soon after a sign that read Musutafu, Japan. He had never heard of that place before in his whole life. As he turned a corner he saw an old van in front of a small bank. He saw people inside and out cowering in fear of the robbers. He narrowed his eyes as he felt this desire to fight and show them to not mess with these normal people.

Ace looked on as he figured he might as well deal with this. He thought up a plan of action. Hit the ones in the back first. Then pick them off quickly one by one using his flames as needed, and making sure to leave them all knocked out without much damage to the people. He took one last moment to run it through his mind before he moved in.

Ace moved in quickly, relying on his power and experience. Though his body was younger and weaker, he was still tough at fourteen and more than capable of handling these bandits. He surprised them with his swift attack, delivering a quick kick to the first man, knocking him off his feet. An elbow to the jaw of another followed, taking him down.

He continued his advance, using his skills to take down the bandits quickly and flawlessly, giving them no chance to counter. As he fought, his memories of his past life began to fade, leaving behind only the knowledge of how to use his Mera Mera no Mi, his fighting abilities, and his name.

With the last bandit subdued, Ace stood amidst the fallen criminals, flames flickering around him. "Guess I haven't lost my touch," he muttered to himself, scanning the area to ensure no more threats remained.

The onlookers, previously cowering in fear, began to emerge, their expressions shifting from terror to awe and gratitude. Ace's heart swelled with a sense of purpose. He never felt this as far as he could remember, but he couldn't remember almost anything at that point. It was nice, and seeing the smiles on people's faces glad he helped them. It felt really rewarding and made him feel great, better than normal.

As he looked at the content and much happier people as well as the cops who were starting to come in to mostly just collect the robbers. Ace turned and almost walked into an old wise looking veteran police officer. The officer gave him a rather confused look as if to wonder why a fourteen-year-old was out and about and how he had taken down so many thugs so easily, some even with minor quirks.

"Hey kid," the old veteran officer commented, "could you come with me for a bit? You're not in trouble, I just have some questions."

Ace nodded, a bit disoriented but willing to comply. "Sure," he said, his voice steady. He followed the officer, trying to piece together his scattered memories. He knew how to fight, he knew his name, and he knew he had strange powers, but beyond that, his mind was a blank slate.

"So, nice work in there kid, that was impressive the way you handled that," the vet commented looking at him, "However, I do need to know your name, kid."

"Ace," he replied without hesitation. "Portgas D. Ace."

The officer raised an eyebrow at the unusual name but didn't press further. "Alright, Ace. That was some impressive fighting back there. Where'd you learn to do that?"

Ace shrugged, unsure himself. "I just know how to fight. It's like second nature to me."

The officer nodded thoughtfully. "And those flames? How did you do that?"

Ace looked down at his hands, the memory of the flames flickering in his mind. "I... I don't really know. I just can. It is like it is just part of who I am, what that means no clue at all."

The officer rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Well, Ace, I think you have a rather impressive quirk. It's like Endeavor's but different in how it works on you. We've been looking for special talents like yours."

Ace looked up, curiosity piqued. "Special talents?"

"Yeah," the officer said, nodding. "U.A. Academy, the top hero school, has asked us to nominate anyone we think has potential, just one. We had a hard time thinking of someone, well until this moment. You need direction, Ace, or your powers could take you down the wrong path. You could become a hero—or a villain without proper guidance."

Ace's eyes narrowed slightly as he absorbed the officer's words. He had never thought of himself as anything but someone who protected those he cared about. But in this new world, with his memories scattered and only fragments of his past life remaining, the idea of becoming a hero intrigued him.

"U.A. Academy, huh?" Ace said, more to himself than to the officer. "Alright, I'll give it a shot."

The officer smiled, relieved. "Good choice, Ace. Let's get you down to the station and start the process. You've got a bright future ahead of you, kid."

"Come with me. I can get you to the station and tell everyone else about you. I'm sure they'll be curious and excited about the potential you have for good," the veteran officer said, motioning for Ace to follow.

Ace nodded and walked alongside the officer, taking in the sights and sounds of this new world. Once at the station, Ace explained and demonstrated his powers, which amazed the officers. They watched as he conjured flames effortlessly, his control and power far beyond what they had expected from someone so young.

Ace enjoyed showing off a bit, laughing and sharing stories with the officers. They fed him, asked countless questions, and by the middle of the afternoon, Ace found himself approved and escorted to U.A. Academy. He was to meet with Principal Nezu himself.

Sitting before Nezu, Ace felt a sense of familiarity despite the unusual appearance of the principal. Memories of Zoan users from his past life floated in his mind, though he couldn't recall specific details.

Nezu, ever the astute and curious leader, observed Ace with keen interest. "Welcome, Ace. I've heard quite a bit about your abilities already. It seems you've made quite an impression today."

Ace, feeling slightly out of place but determined, nodded. "Yeah, um, the people I helped today and the cops think this academy is the right place for me. They're using their ability to send one student on recommendation, and that's me."

Nezu leaned forward, his small paws clasped together. "We don't often get students with such unique abilities and an unusual background. Your power is extraordinary, and I believe you could thrive here at U.A. But tell me, Ace, what drives you? What do you hope to achieve by becoming a student here?"

Ace thought for a moment, his eyes flickering with the determination that had always driven him. "I just want to protect people. My memories are kinda fuzzy, but I know I want to make a difference, to help those who can't help themselves."

Nezu nodded approvingly. "A noble goal, indeed. At U.A., we can help you refine your abilities, give you the training you need to become a hero. But remember, being a hero isn't just about power. It's about heart, determination, and the willingness to put others before yourself. Do you think you're ready for that, Ace?"

Ace met Nezu's gaze with unwavering resolve. "Absolutely. I'm ready."

Nezu smiled, his eyes twinkling with a mix of curiosity and anticipation. "Very well, Ace. Welcome to U.A. Academy. Let's see what you can do."

Ace reached over and shook Nezu's hand, then paused for a moment. He thought about his issue at hand. "Well, Principal Nezu, I have a couple of issues you see," Ace said pausing for a moment, "I woke up here this morning without any clothes and without a place to even sleep. I would really need both of these things to get by, if you would be so kind. It would be great if you could point me towards a dorm that you might have and give me some type of clothes other than the ones I have on."

Nezu, understanding the situation, nodded with a reassuring smile. "Of course, Ace. U.A. Academy has dormitories for all of our students. We'll make sure you have a comfortable place to stay. We'll also arrange for some additional clothing and other necessities for you."

Ace nodded gratefully. "Thanks. I really appreciate it."