Ace was on his knees. The invincible Fire Fist, the man who had faced enemies without flinching, was shaking like a leaf. He stared up at the man in the top hat, his eyes wide, searching for a lie, a trick, anything to make sense of the impossible.
"Sabo?" Ace choked out, his voice cracking into a whisper. "But... the ship... the explosion..."
Sabo took a step forward. His hands, usually steady with a pipe or a pen, were trembling. He reached up and slowly removed his goggles, revealing the burn scar around his left eye—the mark of the day he almost died, and the day he lost his memories.
"I survived, Ace," Sabo said, tears spilling over his cheeks. "Dragon-san saved me. I lost my memory for a long time... but when I saw you now... it all came back. I remembered our promise. The sake cups."
Luffy, who had been looking between them with a tilted head, suddenly froze. The name registered.
Luffy's eyes bugged out. His jaw hit the deck.
"SABOOOOOOOO?!"
"Yeah, Luffy," Sabo smiled through the tears, opening his arms. "It's me."
"UWAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!"
Luffy didn't run; he launched himself. He collided with Sabo, wrapping his rubber arms around him three times. Ace, breaking out of his shock, lunged forward, grabbing both of them.
The three brothers collapsed into a heap on the deck of the pirate ship.
They weren't commanders or captains or chiefs of staff anymore. They were three kids from the Gray Terminal.
They howled. They snot-cried. They laughed hysterically between sobs.
"You were dead!" Luffy wailed, burying his face in Sabo's coat. "I thought you were dead!"
"I'm sorry!" Sabo sobbed, hugging Ace's head. "I'm sorry I wasn't there! I'm sorry I left you two alone!"
"You idiot!" Ace yelled, punching Sabo's shoulder while hugging him tighter.
The Straw Hat crew stood in a semi-circle, watching this display with a mixture of confusion and awkwardness.
"I have never seen Luffy cry like that," Nami whispered, wiping a tear from her own eye.
Koala stood next to Ben, her mouth slightly agape. "I have never seen the Sabo cry. He's usually so... cool. He looks like a baby."
"Family does that to you," Ben said, leaning against the mast with a satisfied smile. "Let them have this. It's been ten years."
---
It took a solid thirty minutes for the "ASL" trio to calm down. They sat in a circle on the deck, wiping their faces, hiccuping occasionally. Sanji, sensing the mood, had quietly refilled their drinks and brought out snacks.
"So," Zoro said, looking at the three of them. "Let me get this straight. You're brothers."
He pointed to Ace. "You're the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates."
He pointed to Sabo. "You're the Chief of Staff—basically the Number 2—of the Revolutionary Army."
He pointed to Luffy. "And you're... you."
"I'm the man who's gonna be King of the Pirates!" Luffy declared, grinning so hard his eyes were closed.
"Whitebeard, Revolutionaries, and the Pirate King," Usopp shivered, hiding behind Chopper. "What kind of monster family is this?! Is your grandfather a demon?!"
"No, he's a Marine," Luffy said casually. "Grandpa Garp."
"GARP THE FIST?!" The crew screamed in unison.
"Yeah, he hits hard," Ace rubbed his head fondly. "But seriously... look at us." He looked at Sabo and Luffy. "We really did it. We all set out to sea. We all became free."
"And we're all here," Sabo said, clinking his cup against theirs. "In the Grand Line. It's a miracle."
"It's a party!" Luffy shouted, throwing his hands up. "SANJI! MEAT! BANQUET!"
"Aye, aye," Sanji smirked, lighting a cigarette. "I had a feeling this was coming. I've got a desert feast ready to go."
The tension of the impending war, the threat of Crocodile, and the heat of the sun were momentarily forgotten. The deck of the Merry transformed into a festival.
Luffy, Ace, and Sabo ate like black holes, stealing food from each other's plates with the dexterity of veterans. The crew mingled with Koala, asking about the Revolutionaries, while the Giants drank barrels of ale with Zoro.
Ben sat at the head of the table, watching the chaos. He checked his datapad. The satellite scan he had launched earlier had returned results.
"Attention, everyone," Ben's voice cut through the noise, amplified slightly by magic.
The crew quieted down. Luffy paused with a bone in his mouth.
"While we celebrate, the war doesn't stop," Ben said, projecting a holographic map onto the table. "We were planning to go to Nanohana to find the Rebel Army, but my intel shows that Koza and the main Rebel force have relocated."
He pointed to a blinking red dot in the center of the desert.
"They are now in Katorea. They moved their base to prepare for the final assault on the capital."
Vivi gasped, covering her mouth. "Katorea? But that's... that's so far inland. My information was completely wrong. If we had gone to Nanohana, we would have missed them entirely."
"Exactly," Ben nodded. "We saved days of travel. We need to head straight for Katorea. If we can intercept Koza there, Vivi can talk to him before they march on Alubarna."
Sabo stood up, adjusting his cravat. "Then we're coming with you. If the Rebel Army is there, the Revolutionary Army needs to be present. We can help mediate."
"That would be reassuring," Vivi said, bowing her head. "Thank you, Sabo-san."
Ben looked at Ace. "What about you, Ace? Coming along for the ride?"
The mood at the table shifted. The warmth in Ace's eyes dimmed slightly, replaced by a cold, steely resolve. He set his drink down.
"I wish I could," Ace said, looking at Luffy. "But I have business in Nanohana. I'm hunting someone."
"Hunting?" Luffy asked. "Who?"
"A former crewmate," Ace said, his voice dropping an octave. "A man named Marshall D. Teach. He goes by Blackbeard."
Ben's eyes narrowed slightly. He remained silent, sipping his drink.
"He committed the only crime that is unforgivable on a Whitebeard ship," Ace continued, his fist clenching until smoke rose from it. "He killed a crewmate. He murdered Thatch, the 4th Division Commander, and fled. I'm his Commander. It's my duty to find him and punish him."
A heavy silence fell over the banquet. The Straw Hats, who valued loyalty above all else, looked horrified.
"He killed his own nakama?" Nami whispered. "That's... scum."
"He's in Alabasta," Ace said. "I have reports that he was seen in Nanohana. I have to go check it out."
Ben watched Ace. He knew the tragic future that awaited this hunt. He knew about Banaro Island. He knew about Marineford.
I can't stop him, Ben thought. If I tell him not to go, he'll go anyway. It's his duty. But... I can arm him.
"If you're going to hunt a traitor," Ben said, standing up. "You should go prepared."
Ben walked over to his lab entrance and returned a moment later with a metal case. He opened it, revealing three vials of glowing blue liquid.
The Super Soldier Serum.
"What's this?" Sabo asked, peering at the vials.
"A little science project," Ben said. "It enhances physical prowess, reaction time, and regeneration. The entire crew has taken it. That's why Luffy is the size of a bear now."
Ace looked at Luffy. "I was wondering about that. I thought you just ate too much."
"It makes you super strong!" Luffy flexed. "Takes a while to work though."
"I don't need drugs to be strong," Ace scoffed lightly. "I'm a Logia."
"Teach isn't a normal pirate," Ben said, his voice cuttingly sharp. "If he killed a Commander, he's dangerous. This serum will ensure that your physical body can keep up with your Fruit."
Ace looked at Ben. He saw the seriousness in the Wizard's eyes. He looked at Sabo and Koala.
"Fine," Ace shrugged. "If Luffy took it, it can't be that bad."
Ben handed a vial to Ace, Sabo, and Koala.
"Drink up. It'll integrate over the next few hours. You'll feel a fever, then you'll feel like you can punch a mountain."
They drank.
Ace wiped his mouth. "Tastes like blueberries."
"Right," Ben said. "Now, we rest. Tomorrow, we part ways."
---
The sun rose over the desert, painting the sky in violent shades of orange and purple. The Going Merry rocked gently in the cove.
Ace stood at the railing, his pack slung over his shoulder. Luffy and Sabo stood with him.
"Well," Ace said, tipping his hat. "This is it. I'm heading to Nanohana. You guys go save the country."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of white paper. He tore it into three pieces.
He handed one to Luffy and one to Sabo.
"Here."
Luffy held the scrap of paper. "What's this? Paper?"
Ace laughed, chopping Luffy on the head. "It's a Vivre Card. It shows my life force. As long as I'm okay, the paper stays whole. If it burns... it means I'm in trouble. And the pieces will always point toward each other. This way, we can meet again."
Sabo clutched the paper tight. "A promise that we won't be separated again."
"Exactly," Ace grinned.
"Wait," Ben walked up to the trio. "I have something for you too, Ace."
Ben handed Ace a small, metallic coin with complex runes etched into it.
"This is a Two-Way Portkey."
"Port-what?" Ace squinted at the coin.
"Teleportation," Ben explained. "If you are ever in a situation you can't handle, or if you find Teach and need backup, hold this coin and say: 'Take me to Merry.' It will instantly transport you to the ship's location, no matter where we are. Conversely, if we need to get to you, I can use the frequency of that coin to teleport us to you."
Ace looked at the coin, impressed. "Instant travel? You really are a Wizard."
He pocketed it securely. "Thanks, Ben. I'll keep it as an ace up my sleeve."
"And the bracelet," Ben pointed to the beads. "Kimoyo Beads. It's a communicator. It has a holographic map, and it monitors your vitals."
Ben handed similar bracelets to Sabo, Koala, and every crew member. "We stay connected. No matter how far apart we are in this desert, we are one unit."
Ace put on the bracelet. He grinned, tipping his hat. "Thanks, Ben. You take care of my brother."
"I always do."
Ace jumped onto the railing. "Luffy! Sabo! Next time we meet, it'll be at the top!" "Yeah!" Luffy shouted. "Stay safe, Ace!" Sabo called out.
With a burst of fire, Ace launched himself off the ship.
"ACE!" Luffy shouted.
Ace waved without looking back, speeding off toward the city of Nanohana.
---
Once Ace was a speck on the horizon, Ben clapped his hands.
"Alright! Vacation is over. We have a desert to cross. Katorea is one day if we hustle."
"What about the ship?" Usopp asked. "We can't leave Merry here exposed."
"We aren't," Ben said.
He walked to the figurehead.
"Everyone off! Clear the deck!"
The crew jumped onto the rocky shore.
Ben tapped the hull.
"Command T: Reduce."
The air warped around the caravel. With a sound like a deflating balloon, the Going Merry began to shrink.
It shrank from a full-sized vessel to the size of a rowboat. Then a toy boat. Then a model.
Finally, it was the size of a shoebox.
Sabo and Koala's eyes popped out of their heads.
"He... he shrank the ship," Koala stuttered. "Is the physics... how does the mass..."
"Don't ask," Sanji patted her shoulder. "It hurts your brain."
Ben picked up the miniature ship and placed it gently into his magically expanded suitcase.
"Merry," Ben said to the Android girl standing beside him. "You ready?"
"Aye aye Ben," Merry said.
"Good."
Ben then turned to Sabo, Koala, and Robin.
"You three are high-profile. If Baroque Works or Marines sees the Chief of Staff or the Demon Child, the game is up."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out three silver rings.
"Glamour Rings," Ben explained. "Standard illusion magic. Put them on."
They slid the rings onto their fingers.
A shimmer cascaded down their bodies.
Sabo's top hat and noble coat vanished, replaced by the ragged robes of a desert nomad. His blond hair turned a dusty brown, and his scar was concealed.
Koala's appearance shifted to that of a young teenage girl.
Robin's distinctive features softened, her hair turning a dull sandy blonde, looking like a simple traveler.
"Incredible," Robin murmured, touching her face. "It feels real."
Ben said. "As long as you wear the ring, you are a nobody. Now, let's move."
---
The Straw Hat procession set off into the Alabasta desert. It was a strange sight.
Karoo, the valiant Super Spot-Billed Duck, was carrying a Chopper.
Luffy, Usopp, Nami, and Vivi are walking at the front.
Walking alongside them were the heavy hitters.
Sanji, smoking a cigarette, ignoring the heat.
Zoro, training with heavy weights as he walked, somehow not getting lost because he was tethered to Sanji by a rope.
Merry (Android) rode on Ben's shoulder, scanning the horizon with her telescopic eyes.
Dorry and Brogy, the Giants, walked at the rear. Their massive strides meant they were barely walking, just casually strolling to keep up. Their presence was terrifying, but Ben had cast a partial Notice-Me-Not charm on them so they wouldn't attract every Bananawani in a ten-mile radius.
Sabo and Koala, in their disguises, walked near Ben.
"Your crew is... unique," Sabo commented, watching Luffy try to feed a scorpion to Karoo.
"They grow on you," Ben smiled, adjusting his suitcase straps. "Like a fungus. Or a family."
"Katorea," Vivi whispered, looking at the endless dunes ahead. "Koza... please wait for me. Don't start this war."
The wind howled, carrying the promise of sandstorms and bloodshed. But for the first time, Vivi didn't feel afraid. She looked at the rubber man laughing and the crew.
She wasn't fighting alone anymore.
"ONWARD!" Luffy roared. "TO THE OASI-PLACE!"
"It's Katorea, you moron!" Nami yelled.
The Straw Hats marched into the heat, ready to turn the desert upside down.