Chapter 45: Alabasta Arrival – Reunion with Ace & Chopper Officially Joins
After five or six days of sailing, the Straw Hat crew finally reached the port city of Nanohana.
Their original plan was to resupply quietly and leave quickly, but because Luffy accidentally provoked "White Hunter" Smoker—who was investigating intelligence—the group ended up fleeing in chaos amid chickens flying and dogs jumping.
"Hey, Vivi!" Usopp panted as he ran, carrying a huge sack of food. "Shouldn't we just get on the ship and leave this island right now?"
"No need!" Vivi, also carrying supplies, nimbly darted through the alleyways. "As long as we follow this river inland, we can head straight into the desert region!"
Sanji ran at the back of the group, glancing over his shoulder from time to time: "Idiot captain! You caused us so much trouble again! The Marines are about to catch up!"
"Hehe!" Luffy carried two water barrels, grinning carelessly. "But running into Ace here was awesome! Too bad Sol and Nami haven't come back yet…"
In his mind flashed the earlier scene—at the critical moment, Ace suddenly appeared, blocking the pursuing Marines with a blazing wall of fire: "You guys go ahead—I'll catch up!"
Back on the Going Merry, Vivi handed a sealed letter to Karoo: "You must deliver this safely to my father!" Karoo nodded solemnly, then ran northward toward the palace without looking back.
On deck, Zoro leaned against the railing, asking Luffy thoughtfully: "That Ace is also your brother? I thought your brother was Sol."
"Ace is three years older than me—he's the oldest among us brothers!" Luffy sat cross-legged on the railing, explaining enthusiastically. "He set out to sea as a pirate three years before me!"
Sanji blew out a smoke ring and sighed: "You brothers are both Devil Fruit users… and he controls fire just like Sol."
"Yeah! It scared me at first! Hahaha!" Luffy laughed heartily, then added: "Ace is super strong! Before he ate his fruit, I never beat him once!"
Usopp curiously chimed in: "What about Sol? Couldn't beat Ace either?"
"Wrong!" Luffy corrected proudly. "Even the two of us together couldn't beat Sol!"
Thud! Everyone on deck instantly collapsed in shock.
Luffy didn't notice his crew's stunned reactions and kept grinning foolishly: "But now I can definitely beat Ace!"
"Oh? Who're you saying you can beat?"
A familiar voice suddenly came from behind Luffy. The next second, Ace leaped into the air and stepped on Luffy's head, kicking him flying, then squatted steadily on the railing: "Everyone, thanks for taking care of my reckless little brother."
"N-No, no! You're too polite!" Usopp and the others hurriedly bowed in return.
"This is unbelievable—I thought he'd be even more selfish than Luffy, but he's actually so polite," Usopp and Sanji remarked.
"Yeah, the sea really is full of wonders," Sanji agreed.
Luffy climbed up from the deck, beaming when he saw Ace: "Ace! How are you in this country?"
"Hm?" Ace looked puzzled. "Didn't you guys come here because you saw my message on Drum Island?" He glanced around. "By the way—where's Sol? Don't tell me he heard I got stronger and got scared into hiding?"
"Hehehe, Sol took our navigator to Drum Island to find a doctor. They should catch up with us soon," Luffy explained.
Ace smiled and pulled a small white piece of paper from his pocket: "Here—this was originally for Sol… but giving it to you works too." He handed the Vivre Card to Luffy. "With this, you can find me no matter where I am."
Suddenly, five warships flying Baroque Works flags emerged on the sea surface—the same ones that had chased them in Nanohana earlier. On the lead ship, a man wearing sunglasses shouted arrogantly: "Fire Fist Ace! Straw Hat Luffy! Today you'll see the power of the Billion Elders!"
Ace's eyes sharpened. Under his orange cowboy hat, a cold smile curved his lips: "Luffy—I'll deal with them. I'll be right back." With that, he did a sharp backflip and landed neatly on his flame-powered speedboat.
Ace deftly circled to the enemy ships' right flank. His right arm instantly swelled into a massive blaze: "Fire Fist!"
The scorching flames roared out like an angry dragon. The five enemy ships exploded into fragments in a deafening blast; enemies fell into the water like dumplings.
At that moment, the sea surface suddenly bulged. A uniquely shaped submarine assault sailboat burst through the waves, its prominent hippo figurehead unmistakable.
"Oh? Still some stragglers?" Ace's right hand ignited again; without hesitation, he launched a second Fire Fist.
But this time the outcome was unexpected—the blazing flames were suddenly swallowed whole, as if devoured by an invisible maw. When the fire dispersed, Ace looked in shock at the figure standing at the bow.
"Sol?!"
Nami held a trembling Chopper, tears welling up—who could understand? They had been stealthily traveling underwater, only to surface amid a pile of ship wreckage and dead bodies, and then immediately get hit by a massive flaming fist. Fortunately, Sol stepped forward and ate all the flames.
"Burp~" Sol rubbed his satisfied belly. "That fire tasted pretty good." Only then did he notice Ace and the Going Merry in the distance. "Hm? Why are you guys here?"
After the misunderstanding was cleared up, everyone gathered on the Going Merry. Sanji, Zoro, and Usopp were busy transferring treasure from the White Iron King.
They had to admire Nami's navigation skills—even though they left Drum Island two or three days later, she still took shortcuts and caught up.
"Ace!" Sol dashed forward and gave his long-unseen brother a solid hug.
Ace thumped Sol's back: "Sashiburida na!"
Luffy, never one to let chaos pass, interjected: "Sol! Ace says he can beat you now!"
"Hey! Luffy!" Ace frantically tried to cover Luffy's mouth, but when he met Sol's half-smiling, half-threatening gaze, he immediately looked away guiltily: "Ahaha… don't listen to this idiot Luffy…"
No joke! He had thought eating the Flame-Flame Fruit would let him get revenge, but Sol could actually eat flames?! He hadn't shown that ability before—oh wait, back then I hadn't eaten the Flame-Flame Fruit either.
Worst of all, even without powers, his physical techniques were taught by Sol back in the day. Ace recalled being beaten black and blue as a kid and felt a chill down his spine.
Bang! Bang!
The familiar fists landed as expected. Both brothers now sported fresh, prominent lumps on their heads and squatted on the deck with teary eyes.
Sol flexed his wrists: "Anything else you want to add?"
"N-No… nothing…" they chorused, instantly becoming obedient.
"Nami…" Chopper curiously surveyed the lively deck. "These people are your crewmates?"
"That's right!" Nami smiled and introduced him to everyone: "This is Tony Tony Chopper—the ship doctor Sol and I found!"
"A talking tanuki!"
"Is he a Mink Tribe member?"
"He looks delicious!"
"Emergency food reserve!"
Facing the crew's enthusiastic "greetings," Chopper nervously bowed: "P-Pleased to meet you all!" His little blue nose flushed slightly from excitement.
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