One day later.
Grand Line — Unknown Island.
Multiple fleets of ships surrounded a silent, nameless island.
An island untouched for hundreds of years—
yet today, it bore the presence of nearly every major figure who had shaped the era.
At the highest peak of the island stood a single grave.
Before it gathered everyone who had known Portgas D Ace
Garp
Sengoku
Luffy
Sabo
Yamato
Dragon
The former Whitebeard Pirates.
Friends, comrades, rivals—anyone whose life had once intersected with Ace's flame.
This was not a battlefield.
This was a funeral.
The wind was gentle, carrying the smell of the sea. No banners flew. No titles were spoken. There was no grandeur—only silence and respect.
The day before, an informal meeting had lasted over two hours.
Dragon had negotiated alliances with the Red Hair Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates. As for the kingdoms—resistance never truly formed.
The Revolutionary Army had become the single largest force in the world.
Pirates dispersed without pursuit. Dragon did not order attacks—this was not the time to shed more blood. The world needed to breathe.
Before the grave, Luffy and Sabo placed a bottle of sake.
Just like before.
Just like when they were children.
They drank together, heads bowed, saying nothing.
Yamato stood a little distance away, watching quietly, memories surfacing—Ace's laugh, his stubborn pride, the fire in his eyes.
Nearby, Kaido was drinking loudly with Garp.
Strangely enough, it worked.
Ace had once been close to Yamato—that alone was reason enough. And after jointly targeting Shanks during the war, the two old monsters had found unexpected camaraderie.
Both were retired now.
Both loved chaos.
Naturally, they bonded.
Shanks, meanwhile, sulked behind Mihawk and Issho, nursing his drink. He was battered, bruised, and in a foul mood.
Issho had spent most of the time elsewhere, preventing further disasters across the seas. Now that he stood here, everyone silently acknowledged the overwhelming strength of the Revolutionary Army.
Gradually, people departed.
One ship after another sailed away.
Until finally—
Only three people remained on the island.
Outside, three ships waited offshore.
Only Luffy, Sabo, and Yamato stood together.
The sun dipped lower.
Silence settled in.
Then—
Luffy's stomach growled.
"…I'm hungry," he muttered.
Luffy blinked, then grinned. Without a word, he stretched his arm behind him, plucked a bunch of apple from a nearby tree, and tossed it over to Sabo and Yamato.
"Here."
Yamato took the apple—
And froze.
The fruit began to change.
Its color shifted into a vivid orange.
Strange swirling patterns emerged across its surface, pulsing faintly with energy.
Luffy stared, stunned.
Sabo's eyes widened in disbelief.
He had seen this before.
"Fire—Fire—Fruit," Sabo stammered, voice shaking,
"That Devil Fruit… Ace's fruit."
Silence.
Then—
Sabo burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha…"
Laughter mixed with grief, relief, and something like fate itself.
The flame had returned.
---
Yamato stared at the Devil Fruit, her expression tangled with emotions she couldn't fully put into words.
After a long pause, she finally spoke.
"Hey, Luffy, Sabo… can I take this Devil Fruit?"
Sabo didn't answer immediately.
But Luffy reacted at once.
"Eh?!" Luffy exclaimed. "Yamato, do you want to eat two Devil Fruits?! I heard people explode if they eat two!"
His voice was full of genuine concern.
Yamato looked at him and shook her head lightly.
"No," she said calmly. "I don't want to eat it."
She lowered her gaze to the fruit.
"I want to leave it… for his bloodline."
The words fell softly—but heavily.
Both Luffy and Sabo went silent.
Luffy didn't understand anything about bloodlines, but even he could feel the weight behind Yamato's words. ( Well, Luffy didn't understand what Yamato wanted to express )
As for Sabo—
He was shocked.
But mixed with that shock was something else.
Relief.
And happiness.
After a moment, Sabo finally exhaled slowly.
"Did Ace knew about this…"
Yamato shook her head, her eyes distant.
"I found out recently," she said. "But I didn't stop him."
She clenched her fist slightly.
"He already had his own mission. And I believe that mission will create a better world—for it… or for whoever comes after."
"So I couldn't hold him back."
Silence followed.
Not an awkward one—but a deep, meaningful quiet.
After some time, Sabo spoke again.
"Yamato… this Devil Fruit chose you," he said gently. "It transformed in your hands."
He smiled.
"So keep it. Protect it."
"And take care of yourself too."
He scratched his head lightly.
"I'll come visit once a month. Just send me the address."
Sabo paused, then asked casually,
"…Are you still living in Onigashima?"
" ..."
" ..."
" Yamato take care of yourself.
Yahahahhhaaahahhahaha
I, Monkey D Luffy, the Future King of Pirates am going to become Uncle."
---
The flame hadn't vanished.
It was simply waiting—for the next era.
---
END