Chapter Text
Recap:
There was an inexplicable pull from the other side, warm but intense, drawing him into its depths, his frame gradually being engulfed by each passing second.
“It’s been an absolute delight to finally meet you Luffy.” Rouge softly chimed in, lips quirked into a grin while bidding goodbye. For a moment, Luffy saw someone else in her place, her image overlapping with his freckled brother. “Thank you for loving Ace in my stead.”
The Rubber Man’s eyes widened in realization. He tried to turn around, mind racing at the implications. “Wait! You’re--“
But the rest of his words were cut off as he became fully engulfed by the mirror, whisking him away to parts unknown.
IV.
When Luffy’s form fully emerged from the mirror, his rocky posture—torso contorted awkwardly in a mid-twist—made him lose balance, ultimately sending him plummeting to the ground with a resounding thud, his face planting on the floor with an undignified smack.
Groaning inwardly, he slowly pushed himself upright, instinctively massaging his sore nose to ease the sting from the impact. For a moment, Luffy just sat there cross-legged, lost in thoughts.
So that was Ace’s mom…
The Rubber Man privately commented on the memory of the grinning, freckled woman. Luffy shook his head, chasing those memories away. After all, he had more important stuff to accomplish than just daydreaming.
This, unfortunately, caused his nose to sting again from his earlier fall, which was weird since Luffy’s made of rubber. He’s supposed to be immune to these kinds of stuff. But… Luffy’s been experiencing stranger things since he came here. Plus, he’s a man on a (new) mission. Instead of relying on the inhabitants of this realm, Luffy decided he would rather seek the assistance of his mirror counterpart in his search for his brothers. After all, if they’re truly one and the same, then the Other Luffy–as he mentally dubbed him–should be willing to assist him, right?
He was just so done asking the others and hearing their nonsense. If they don’t want to help him, then fine. Luffy will work it out on his own (and his counterpart). Now, if only he could figure out where the Other Luffy had mysteriously vanished into.
(His decision to avoid the inhabitants of this place had certainly nothing to do with the unsettling effect of their words, and the gnawing hollowness in his chest at the memory of his crew—his nakamas who would undoubtedly wait for his return, fighting tooth and nail for all their dreams—threatening to devour his already fragile resolve to stay in this place with Ace and Sabo.
After all, Luffy no longer deserves their devotion and trust after he failed them in Sabaody, right?)
Speaking of which…
Where am I?
The moment those thoughts crossed his mind, Luffy noticed a shimmer of white from his peripheral vision. In fact, it was everywhere — white crystals reminding him of snowflakes glistening under the moonlight, embedded in the concrete. So when Luffy decided to look up, a sense of awe dawned over him, stealing his breath away. While the Rubber Man had always been more fond of vivid and vibrant colors, the glistening whiteness of the cityscape–from the leaves of the trees to the very grains of the soil–was simply magical.
It reminded Luffy of the beautiful, mystery places in Sabo’s stories.
However, unlike the previous (dead) places he was brought to, this—whatever or wherever this is—was brimming with life. The streets bustled with activity, vendors engaged with buyers, children gleefully playing tag, and families leisurely strolling their pets. Near the crystallite angel fountain, flocks of white doves swarmed around a pair of children tossing feeds.
And yet, in spite of the lively scene before him, Luffy couldn’t hear anything. Everything remained silent like half-cooked meat, tasty but lacking in richness.
“What…”
Luffy instinctively recoiled, startled by the sound of his own voice. His left hand immediately flew to his throat, bewildered. "Huh? I can speak?"
A rumbling chuckle emanated from his right, followed by a deep and rich voice confirming, “Of course, you can.”
Tilting his head, the Rubber Man was greeted by the sight of a tall, blonde man leaning casually by the wall, wisps of smoke escaping from his cigarette. He was clad in a pale, flamingo-hued long-sleeved shirt adorned with heart prints, paired with white pants, making his dark, black feather cloak stand out even more prominently. His golden locks were hidden under a crimson hood with heart-shaped fringes. However, what caught Luffy’s attention the most was the red paint adorning the man's lips and cheeks, reminiscent of Buggy, just without the Clown’s big red (stupid) nose.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Monkey D. Luffy.” He paused, puffing another smoke. Using his free hand, the Blonde man snapped his fingers as he muttered. “Release.”
His surroundings began to flicker as a translucent indigo dome, which the Rubber Man had only noticed now—Luffy swore he had seen something similar to this before, just in a different color—became more pronounced before fading away into nothingness.
Like a switch has been flipped, the world came to life, making Luffy even more entranced with the cityscape before him. The Rubber Man could now hear the euphoric chirping of the birds, the rhythmic tapping of soles against concrete, the gentle rustling of leaves, and of course, the lively chatter of the common folks. But amidst all of these, the euphony of sounds that stood out the most was the childish feminine, giggle accompanied by a pitter-patter of rushed footsteps coming from their rear(?).
“Hurry up Onii-chan!”
And that was the sole warning Luffy received before a small blur — or rather, someone passed right through him, brimming with excitement. It was a girl, a very giddy child with her chocolate-hued locks tied in pigtails.
The Young Brunette stood a couple of feet away, looking in their direction expectantly.
“Jeez, calm down will you?”
Another voice piped from behind, making Luffy instinctively move out of the way, just in time before the newcomer strolled by.
“You’re gonna trip at one point, Lami. Plus, the festival ain’t going anywhere.” The other kid, this time male, followed in a more sedated pace, both hands tucked inside his pockets.
The moment his gaze landed on the newcomer, Luffy was instantly drawn to the kid’s (familiar) head garment — a white, spotted fur hat.
Sticking her tongue out, the girl called Lami petulantly countered. “Blehhh. You’re such a slowpoke , nii-chan.”
Predictably, the hatted-kid rolled his eyes at her. “And what the hell is a slowpoke supposed to mean?”
Lami grinned ear-to-ear, mischievous like a Cheshire Cat as she proclaimed. “Not telling!” The Young Brunette shot her brother a look, teasing as if she’s hiding a great secret. “It’s your fault for being so serious all the time, always reading those boring, complicated books--”
“--medical textbooks.” Spots—or the name Luffy decided to call the other kid based on his hat ‘til he figured out his name—corrected, which unsurprisingly fell on deaf ears.
“--that you don’t even know the new game, Pokemon. You have to get a life, nii-chan.” Lami chided, shaking her head despondently.
Offended, Spots scoffed. “ I do have a life, Lami. It’s my choice to study because I’m gonna be a great doctor--“
The Rubber Man then felt another presence—Luffy had honestly forgotten about Feather-Cloak Ossan—stood beside him. Not-so-subtly side-glancing at the Blonde, Luffy watched how the Older Man’s expression morphed into fondness, gaze softening while his lips quirked into a smile, as the playful (one-sided) banter between siblings unfolded before them.
It was a mystery and Luffy always loved mysteries aside from adventures and meat.
“Ne, Feather-Cloak Ossan.”
Luffy’s gaze briefly returned to the bantering siblings—Despite the boy’s obvious distaste, the Rubber Man couldn’t detect any animosity, both in his words and actions. In a way, he was just a grumpy kid, kinda like Ace—before it flitted across the crowd, head cocked to the side as he let his eyes roam in wonder.
“Is this where you grew up?”
“No. I haven’t been here before. But--” His companion paused, blowing his cigar, the smoke idly reminding him of Sanji. Through it all, the Older Man’s gaze remained fixated on the duo, not once, not even for a millisecond did he tear it away. “--this is the city where my son was born.”
And clicked.
Luffy finally understood.
The look Feather-Cloak Ossan was giving the duo, particularly Spots — it was identical to how Zeff Ossan gazed at Sanji, stern yet proud. Or the way Pinwheel Ossan eyed Nami and her sister, protective and affectionate. It was the very same piercing stare Giant Mustache Ossan directed to Ace and the rest of the crew, the gaze of a father.
Luffy privately wondered if anyone ( Shanks ) ever looked at him that way.
Crash.
A resounding thud, accompanied with an alarming cry of ‘Lami!’ and hurried footsteps broke Luffy out of his reverie.
Spots worriedly ran after his sister who was still face-planted on the ground, a couple of feet farther than where they were before.
Huh. The Rubber Man blinked, somewhat confused. When did they move?
When Spots finally caught up with his sister, he immediately crouched down to check her wounds and help her. But before he could do anything else, Lami hastily perked up and reassured with a bright, cheery tone, “I’m Okay!”
She promptly sat up, dusting the specks of earth clinging to her clothes and elbows. Once satisfied, she flashed Spots a grin, arms spread out in emphasis as she proudly declared, “See? I’m all good.”
Luffy couldn’t help but snort. It would’ve been believable if her right knee wasn’t bleeding and her face–particularly the cheeks, nose, and forehead–wasn’t coated with dust and dirt like a blotched canvas. Beside him, Feather-Cloak Ossan shot him a chiding glance, but even the Older Man struggled to hide his amusement.
Spots gave her a very pointed stare, gaze zeroing in on her scraped knee, which Lami futilely tried to hide. Noticing he wasn’t gonna budge, Lami huffed and added. “Really, Onii-chan. I’m okay.” As if to prove her point, Lami stood up without a care for her bleeding knee. “Can we now go to the festival?” She ended impatiently.
At her insistence, Spots pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing in resignation. He pulled a hanky out of his pocket and wiped the muck on Lami’s face, earning a petulant grumble from the latter.
“I have a bandage with me. We’ll--” Spots flipped his hanky to find the clean side and gingerly dabbed the edges of Lami’s wound. “--just have to stop somewhere to clean it first.”
Lami was just about to protest when Spots turned around, offering his back.
And Luffy had to double-take, blinking in surprise. For a moment, Spots’ image flickered, replaced with a blond with a black top hat and pair of blue goggles, but it disappeared as fast as it came. He rubbed his eyes, wondering if it was just a trick of light.
“Come on. The faster we get to clean and treat your wound, the faster we get to the festival.”
Without further ado, Lami promptly latched onto his back, mimicking a baby koala, her eager movements almost toppled over Spots’ hat, causing him to let out another weary sigh. After securing his fallen hat, Spots stood up and began walking.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it? The tranquility and simplicity,” Feather-Cloak Ossan mused, his voice tinged with wistfulness. “Moments like these seem so ordinary in our day-to-day lives, yet they’re often the most precious ones.”
As Luffy watched the duo, the figures of Spots and Lami were slowly being eclipsed by the shadows of his past, instances when Ace had to carry him back to Dadan’s hut or their tree fort after exhausting himself.
“This is the best library in the world. Do you like books?”
The voice came out of nowhere, catching Luffy off guard. But before he could even process it, their surroundings had, once again, shifted. Out of the blue, it began showcasing a mosaic of his childhood — vivid snapshots of moments he shared with his brothers.
✵✵✵
"...It isn't so bad when I'm here?"
Ace hesitantly asked, treading the dangerous waters carefully, his previous anger dissipating into thin air. Solemnly, Luffy nodded with snot still dripping from his nose, sniffling.
"You… You want me to live?" Ace’s voice almost cracked with thinly veiled surprise. The Rubber Man sensed something unfamiliar in his tone, a stark contrast to his usual gruff. All the while, Sabo stood awkwardly nearby in silent support.
“Of course!” Luffy confirmed without hesitation.
“Huh.” Blinking blankly at him, Ace turned around, crossing his arms over his chest. “But I hate spoiled brats like you, y’know.”
“I’m not a spoiled brat! I’m strong!” Luffy shot back, puffing his cheeks in defiance. He certainly hadn’t endured hours of pain and torture just to be called a spoiled brat. Even Makino would back him up on that, he was sure of it.
“Strong?” Ace snarked, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, further irritating Luffy. Meanwhile, Sabo sighed, clearly resigned to the bickering. “What’s strong about you? You’re a boy, but you cry like a little girl!”
(If Luffy paid more attention, he would’ve noticed that Ace’s condescending remark lacked its usual venom, while Sabo was hiding a pleased smile despite his exasperation.)
✵✵✵
"Did you know? When men drink together--" Ace preambled, grinning as he poured the (stolen) sake into their cups. “--they become brothers.”
The freckled lad placed the empty bottle on the tree stump, their makeshift table. And together, the three of them — Ace, Sabo, and Luffy — each raised their respective sakazuki cups, all brimming with excitement, as they proudly declared.
“From now on, we're brothers!”
✵✵✵
“You’re getting better, Luffy!” Sabo earnestly praised, even when he missed the target rock (badly). “Just aim more to the right next time.” The Blonde advised, grinning broadly at him, and Luffy couldn’t help but lighten up.
But alas, Ace had to open his big (stupid) mouth, shattering Luffy’s blissful world.
“Hmp. You’re spoiling him, Sabo.” Ace huffed nearby, holding his pipe. “This is why rubber is a stupid power.”
And Luffy being Luffy, butt-headed Ace in offense, as he cried out. “Rubber’s not stupid! Take that back!”
As the duo fell into their usual banter, Sabo sighed in exasperation and slumped against a nearby tree, waiting for them to expend their excess energies.
✵✵✵
“Ace’s gonna be so mad at you when he wakes up, Sabo.” Luffy idly noted, watching lines and circles appear on his sleeping brother’s face.
Sabo, the culprit, momentarily paused with a permanent marker held in mid-air, seemingly reflective. However, the Blonde just shrugged, and instead, pulled out a spare pen from his pocket.
“Come on,” Sabo urged, holding out a marker in Luffy’s direction. “This will teach Ace to be more conscious with his narcolepsy attacks. You can draw anywhere you want, but--"
Luffy snickered, as he accepted the pen. Sabo might be the most responsible out of the three of them, but nobody said he wasn’t impish himself. He’s their brother after all.
“--don’t touch the freckles. I’m making a map out of it.”
(When Ace woke up, it became an all-out war of face doodling between the brothers. Three days later, Sabo and Ace were sporting heavy eyebags from the lack of sleep in fear of each other’s childish retaliation.
Luffy, as usual, was spared from the chaos. Both Ace and Sabo instinctively knew that whenever their younger brother was involved in any mischief, it was only because one of them had convinced him to join in.)
✵✵✵
“Sabo…” Luffy mumbled, hugging his treasured hat close to his chest in worry. “Do you think Ace’s alright?”
Sabo, who had been busy inspecting their harvest a few feet away, paused and glanced over. Setting aside the dubious-looking mushroom in his hand, the Blonde approached, plopping down next to him.
“Don’t worry too much about him, Lu.” Sabo reassured, gingerly ruffling his hair. “Ace is too stubborn to die. Plus, he’s just scouting the area. He might not be smart, but--" Sabo raised his index finger for emphasis, a knowing grin spreading across his face. “--Ace is strong, not as strong as me, of course, but close–-”
And thwacked.
A very familiar pipe came crashing down on his skull, courtesy of none other than their freckled brother — Portgas D. Ace.
“What the hell, Ace!?” Sabo snapped, glaring at the older raven-haired while massaging his assaulted head.
Luffy, on the other hand, visibly lit up at the other’s arrival. “Ace!” He happily chirped, perking up like a puppy.
However, Ace just side-glanced at him before smacking the back of his head, but with considerably less strength than his usual (not that Luffy was aware of it).
Ace merely crossed his arms, a smug look plastered on his face. “You were both asking for it.”
“Why’d you hit me too?” Luffy whined, pouting. He might be rubber, but it didn’t mean he enjoyed being hit.
“That’s for thinking I was weak and dead.” Ace huffed while Sabo scowled harder.
“But I didn’t--“
Luffy’s words were caught in his throat, his eyes widening in pure terror. With Ace facing his brothers and Sabo preoccupied with nursing his sore head, neither of his older brothers sensed the looming danger in front of them until it was too late.
“So this is where you brats are hiding, huh?” Garp’s gruff voice rumbled through the clearing like a thunderstorm, making the other two turn in haste. “You didn’t think I’d let you escape your training, did you?”
The towering figure of their grandfather emerged from the thickets of the forest, cracking his knuckles as he approached them with an air of confidence like some apex predator.
The trio gulped, faces drained of color. But as always, his big brothers quickly regained their bearings, instincts kicking in, their hands gripping their trusted pipes tighter. Not even a second later, Ace and Sabo sprung into action. Sabo, ever the navigator and responsible one, grabbed a wide-eyed Luffy, dragging him along as they bolted forward, while Ace fell back, acting as the rear guardian.
“Goddammit Ace!” Sabo hollered in annoyance, circumventing the bushes and trees, while he ran as if their life depended on it (and in this case, it did). “I asked you to check if the coasts are clear, not lead your crazy grandpa back to us!”
Before Ace could even open his mouth to retort, Garp reappeared in front of them, fist raised threateningly. “Who are you calling crazy, huh!?”
Sabo tried to avoid the marine’s incoming attack, but their momentum made it impossible for him to steer away in time.
“And call me Grandpa, you Blonde twerp!” Garp reprimanded as his fist connected with Sabo’s skull.
“GYAAH!”
“SABO!” Ace and Luffy screamed in horror.
As Luffy scrambled after his fallen brother, whimpering, Ace stood protectively in front of them, fierce and defiant.
“FISTS OF LOVE!”
✵✵✵
“Luffy! Get back in here!”
Ace angrily shouted from the Rubber Man’s rear, voice somewhat muffled by the pouring rain. The siblings were still a few miles away from their tree fort and had to take refuge in a cave, waiting for the storm to pass.
But as usual, Luffy ignored him, crawling discreetly toward the Hercules beetle, seeking shelter in a nearby crevice. The Rubber Man was about to reach out and catch it when there was a loud boink on his head, scaring the insect away.
Luffy glared at the offender and accused. “Look what you did, Ace! The Hercules beetle escaped!”
“You were never gonna catch it anyway. And I said, get inside the cave!” Ace rebuked, pointing at their temporary shelter. His clothes were gradually being drenched, but he didn’t seem to mind.
Luffy's lips parted, ready to counter, but before he could, Sabo wisely stepped in, his tone patient and placating. "Come here, you two."
Holding a gigantic leaf above his head like a makeshift umbrella, Sabo grinned, teasing but warm. "You’re gonna get sick, and I don’t want to be stuck with two snotty, feverish brats. We can go home with this," He added, waving the leaf at them as he gestured for Ace and Luffy to come closer.
The Rubber Man instantly joined in, completely forgetting about his earlier irritation, as he urged their freckled brother to hurry up. With a resigned grumble, Ace relented, and the trio huddled under the large leaf. Together, they trudged through the rain, making their way back to their tree fort.
(Ironically, it was Sabo who got sick the next day.)
✵✵✵
"Shh. It's going to be alright." Ace murmured to his ears, uncharacteristically gentle.
Luffy continued to sniffle. He was terrified, his small body trembling in fear and worry, not just for their safety, but also for Sabo’s—wherever the Blonde might be.
Flames roared around them, turning their vicinity into a seething sea of inferno, while the thick, acrid stench of burning trash and smoke filled his nostrils. Distant cries and desperate pleas of the other Grey Terminal’s inhabitants echoed in the night, adding to the icy knot twisting in his stomach.
"I'm here with you." Ace, once again, soothed.
Luffy buried his face further into Ace’s neck, replacing the suffocating smell of fire and smoke with his brother’s earthy scent, as he succumbed into unconsciousness.
✵✵✵
As they were nearing the riverine, Luffy felt his mouth water at the mere thought of crocodile meat. Ace, who was casually matching his pace, inwardly snorted, fully aware of the thoughts running through his gluttonous brother’s mind.
"Don't get eaten by another--"
Ace's eyes widened in horror as a massive crocodile opened its jaws, mere seconds away from swallowing Luffy whole. Clutching his pipe tighter, Ace dashed toward his reckless brother, adrenaline flooding his veins as he yelled.
"--Goddammit, Luffy!"
✵✵✵
Peals of laughter escaped the brothers’ lips as Ace and Luffy skirted around the alleys of Edge Town, evading their angry pursuer.
“STOP! THIEVES!”
Unsurprisingly, the brothers ignore the wrathful restaurant owner, the distance between them steadily growing wider. Turning behind another street, they were about to lose their pursuer when Ace abruptly stopped, shooting Luffy a look.
Understanding his gaze, the Rubber Man followed his brother, twisting his torso to face the approaching restaurant owner. Their pursuer halted in his tracks, bewildered by their grinning and expectant expressions.
“Thanks for the meal!” Ace and Luffy declared, bowing respectfully at him, a perfect re-enactment of Makino’s courtesy lessons.
Flabbergasted, the restaurant owner spluttered, before he roared. “Don’t give me that, you brats!” Another vein popped out of his temple when Luffy and Ace decided to make a break out of it again. “Just pay up already!”
✵✵✵
“Look Ace!” Luffy exclaimed, pointing giddily at the starry night sky. “There’s a mystery, falling star!”
Ace looked up, just in time to see its glowing trail, causing the edges of his lips to quirk up, as they watched it dissolve into the night.
“It’s called a shooting star, Lu.” He reminded with a tone of endearment.
Nodding in agreement, the Rubber Man concurred. “Right, a mystery falling star. Just like what Sabo said.”
From his periphery, Luffy caught Ace shaking his head (fondly) in response. The brothers were currently lying in the open field near Mt. Colubo’s cliff, waiting for midnight to strike. Today was December 31, XXXX, the day before Ace’s 17th birthday and his last night on Dawn Island before he’ll sail to be a pirate, inciting mixed emotions in Luffy. He was absolutely thrilled that Ace would be following his dreams tomorrow; but at the same time, it made him somber because he’ll be alone again.
“Ne, Ace…” The Rubber Man muttered, staring at the glistening stars. “Do you think Sabo also saw the mystery, falling star? Wherever he is?”
When he felt a shift in the air, Luffy immediately regretted asking. He was just about to laugh it off as usual when Ace replied.
“Of course, it’s a mystery star after all. So enough with the gloomy face!” Ace announced, ruffling his raven locks vigorously. “Because no matter how far apart we are, we’ll always be brothers, still under the same sky.”
(The next time the brothers stargazed together, it was beneath the vast skies of Alabasta, neither knowing it would be their last.)
✵✵✵
The events were flashed for barely a second. But for Luffy, the second felt like an eternity.
“It’s because these moments are privileges we only notice when Fate decided to steal them away.” Feather-Cloak Ossan remarked.
The moment those words sunk in, intense hues of red, orange, and yellow began flooding Luffy’s vision. It was accompanied by the scent of burning earth and concrete, a mixture of charred wood, organic matter, and something acrid like plastic. All of a sudden, everything was on fire. The once thriving, crystalline cityscape was completely engulfed by flames. Luffy instinctively jerked in an attempt to evade the crawling fire. Seeing no way out, the Rubber Man closed his eyes as the wisps of flames came closer, bracing for the pain, but nothing came.
And then, there was a piercing wail.
The cry was so raw Luffy could physically feel their rage and desperation. He snapped his eyes open and saw Spots weeping at the burning city.
“Hey!” Luffy shouted, voice full of urgency. “That’s your son, isn’t it?! Why won’t you--“
“--it’s all in the past, Luffy. This is nothing but a memory.” Feather-Cloak Ossan explained, rueful. “And even if I wanted to protect him from all the pain he’s been experiencing ‘til now, the dead and the living are never meant to exist in the same plane. All we can do is watch from afar, hoping the ones we left behind will find the strength to live on, even with the weight of their loss.”
The flames flared harder, engulfing the entire city without remorse. As the inferno raged on, the once-familiar skyline began to blur, reshaping itself into an ablazed island. Spots faded away, replaced by a sobbing raven-haired girl, face tucked in her knees, drifting away on a small wooden boat. Ice flanked both sides of the boat, creating a path of safety through the blazing chaos while shielding her from the stray embers.
And then, there were echoes.
“This is the best library in the world. Do you like books?”
The Rubber Man perked up, recognizing the same echo from earlier.
“We cannot give up the future you young ones will live in!”
“So laugh! When you’re having a hard time, just laugh! Dereshishishi!”
The echoes came from different individuals, voices distant yet distinct like remnants of another memory. The girl lifted her head, tears still streaming down her cheeks, as she mimicked the strange, haunting laughter.
"Dereshishishi..."
“Robin?” Luffy cried out in disbelief and worry.
His protective instincts flared, arms reaching out toward the (broken) chibified version of his nakama when Robin’s image became distorted, courtesy of the cigarette whiff made by his Blonde companion, the smoke enveloping the scene before him like a breeze creating ripples in the ocean’s surface.
"Nico Robin is just one of many waiting for you," Feather-Cloak Ossan reminded, gentle yet firm. He looked at him straight in the eye, transfixing him into place. "You know you have to go back. You still need to be the Pirate King after all so… why won’t you?"
Scorching, stormy fury began resurfacing into his chest, creeping like molten lava. “I’M DEAD!” Luffy screamed at the top of his lungs. “I already died! So why do you guys keep getting in my way!? How I want to live my life is not for you to decide!”
“And the same can be said for Ace,” Feather-Cloak Ossan calmly reminded, his voice firm, cutting through Luffy’s rage like a hot knife through butter.
“It’s not--”
Before he could finish, something hot, wet, and sticky seeped into his hands. When he looked down, his breath hitched — all Luffy could see was red.
“Thank you… for loving me.”
As another wave of guilt and regret threatened to consume him, body shuddering in repulsion, Luffy did the only thing he could think of — he ran. He wanted to escape and leave everything in this cruel reality behind. It was cowardly, a trait utterly unbefitting of the Pirate King. But after everything that happened, Luffy could never claim that title. He was simply too weak to be anything at all.
Despite his efforts, no matter how far he ran or even after he closed his eyes, the events surrounding his brother’s death kept replaying in his mind. His ears were still ringing from the cacophony of anguished cries from Ace's crewmates and cheers from the Marines. The stench of blood mixing with burnt flesh still lingered in his nostrils, making his insides churn in a thousand ways. Luffy could still see the upward curling of Ace’s bloody lips as he took his last breath. However, what truly made him snap was the sensation of his brother’s cold, lifeless body, slipping through his grasp.
( Ace was never meant to be cold. He might be a spitfire from time to time, but Ace was meant to be warm. His big brother had been made of fire and life. And Luffy stole it all away.)
“--STOP IT! Just stop it, please.” Luffy pleaded, voice cracking as he clutched his head tightly in an attempt to shut himself from the world.
Luffy knew he killed Ace. He might not be the one to deliver the blow, but he might as well have done it. Ace wouldn’t be dead if he hadn’t been so weak. And wasn’t that the sole explanation behind all the tragedies in his life? The reason why everyone he cared about got hurt—or worse, killed?
Shanks lost his arm because Luffy was too weak to fend off the bandits.
Sabo was blasted while at sea before his brother could taste freedom because Luffy was too weak to stop his brother from sacrificing himself.
His crew was torn apart, scattered by the Bear Guy, because Luffy was too weak to protect them.
And now… Ace had paid with his life because Luffy was too weak to evade the Magma Bastard’s attack. He didn’t need a reminder every second of his failure.
“Why? Why--" His voice, once again, broke. “--do you keep showing me Ace’s death?”
There was a comforting hand on his shoulder and the world gradually stilled, even the ringing noises in his head (read: inner demons) became silent almost as if lulled into sleep.
“It’s because we want you to understand that you didn’t fail. Everyone, and I mean everyone, who knows the truth about Marineford, even Sengoku-san, would agree—you saved Ace.”
Luffy’s lips parted, ready to argue, but before he could protest, Feather-Cloak Ossan pressed on, unwavering. “Didn’t you know, Luffy? Only the freest among us can choose their death. Portgas D. Ace was meant to be executed, but you restored his freedom. You gave your brother the choice in how he wanted to face his end. Isn’t that enough?”
(Ironically, when Luffy was imprisoned and mocked by Queen in Udon, he declared the very same thing with unwavering resolve, “When it comes to where I die... I'll do the choosing!”)
“It isn’t! He’s still dead!” Luffy shouted, refusing to see reason as he clung to his anger and guilt as if it were the only thing keeping him grounded. “It doesn’t matter.”
Slowly, the Rubber Man slumped to the ground, the weight of everything becoming too much to bear. His voice softened to a whisper, “Ace is still dead…”
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Following the rhythmic tapping of shoes, a melodic entrance of a piano resonated in the air, its notes dancing gracefully, intertwining with a very familiar, cheerful, and infectious chant of ‘Yo-ho-ho-ho, Yo-ho-ho-ho.’
Drawn by the music, Luffy instinctively glanced up. The sight that greeted him made his chest tighten. There they were—himself and his nakamas—relaxing on Sunny’s deck. His rubbery arms were casually wrapped around Usopp and Chopper’s shoulders, the trio swaying and singing along with Brook’s lively violin and Franky’s off-tune strumming of his improvised ukulele. Robin and Nami lounged in deck chairs, absorbed in their books while accepting snacks from Sanji. Zoro, as usual, was napping against the ship’s rail nearby, snoozing without a care in the world.
Just another lazy afternoon with the Strawhats.
“Rouge-san mentioned that your crew is made up of dreamers, didn’t she?” Feather-Cloak Ossan preambled, his voice steady and contemplative without overpowering their jubilant singing in the background. “While true, your crew is also comprised of survivors—people who have endured tragedies.”
As the song transitioned to the next verse, Sunny’s signature lion figurehead morphed into a bull’s skull, ultimately replacing Thousand Sunny with another pirate ship. And instead of his nakamas, Luffy saw an equally rowdy group of Pirates. But this time, almost all of them were playing a different instrument. However, Luffy was particularly drawn to the pianist and his afro, almost as if it was…
“Should we increase the tempo, Captain?” The Pianist tilted his head, his afro bouncing at the movement while giving them a view of his (non-skeletal) face.
It was the sole confirmation needed by the Rubber Man to recognize him.
“…Brook?” Luffy murmured, confused.
“And for survivors-–” Feather-Cloak Ossan carried on, his tone becoming more somber, “--dreams are never enough to sustain them. More often than not, they’re the first thing that gets lost.”
The moment those words were uttered, the sky dimmed, and a thick fog crept in, blanketing everything around them. As the mist gradually lifted, Luffy’s eyes widened in horror. The ship was in total ruins. There were bodies littered on the deck. And those who survived were completely battered with mortal wounds, blood trickling down their heads and mouths. Yet, none of them paid their injuries any mind, as they continued to sing even while facing their last breaths.
“...We’ll deliver Bink’s Sake, Causing trouble all the way
The pirates’ life upon the sea, We've chosen one and all…”
Slowly but surely, more of Brook’s crewmates fell, stealing away the voices that once harmonized with their melody. This left only four musicians standing, including Brook.
“Well, it would seem we’re down to a quartet.” Brook noted when only four of them remained standing, tears streaming down his face as he continued to play.
Without even finishing the same verse, the other three–one by one–met their death, leaving Brook all alone, playing on the piano.
“…Stop it.” Luffy whispered, his voice tight with emotion as his chest constricted at the sight of Brook’s silent suffering. It was unbearable. He didn’t want to see this. He didn’t want to know about Brook’s past, didn’t want to witness the tragedy that shaped who his musician is today. Because this is a private memory — something, deeply ingrained in Brook’s soul and Luffy had no right to invade it.
“And solo.” Brook remarked softly, his voice trembling yet he continued playing, honoring them with what he had left — his music.
“I SAID STOP IT!” Luffy cried out, panting heavily.
Like a broken spell, they were back in the mysterious, white city. The flames, rubbles, and dead bodies vanished as if they had never existed. The city was, once again, alive, vibrant and bustling with life. But this time, they were in the middle of the park with Feather-Cloak Ossan sitting by the edge of the crystallite angel fountain.
“Ne, Luffy. Do you blame them?” Feather-Cloak Ossan asked, his tone gentle but probing. At first, the Blonde seemed distracted, his gaze lingering on the children feeding doves nearby. But when he turned towards him, something sharp flickered in his eyes. His voice became more intent as he repeated. “Do you blame them for surviving?”
“Of course not!” Luffy immediately shot back.
Despite not giving any indication of who, the Rubber Man instantly knew he was referring to his nakamas — Robin and Brook. Why would Luffy ever blame them for surviving? He was just thankful they were alive.
“That’s dumb! Why would I–-”
“--then, why do you blame yourself, Luffy?” Feather-Cloak Ossan interjected with a piercing stare. “Why do you keep wasting your second chance at life? Your brother chose you over his own life. Just as you taught Ace whenever you wrapped your rubbery arms around him, or saved Nico Robin at Enies Lobby, or invited Dead Bones Brook to your crew—it isn’t a sin for you to be alive.”
Luffy clenched his fists, but as always, he refused to listen. “No, no. Stop it. I–-”
His voice wavered as he shook his head furiously in denial. His legs began to tremble, slowly buckling beneath him as he sank to his knees. He could feel the walls of guilt and regret cracking, crumbling. But he held on to them as tightly as he would to a piece of precious meat or buried treasure. Luffy clung to his regret as if it were the last piece of brother he had left. He didn’t want to let go — He couldn’t.
“--it isn’t, it’s not the same! Stop it! Stop making me choose–-”
“--We’re not asking you to choose, Luffy.” Feather-Cloak Ossan gingerly corrected, his tone soft but firm. The Blonde was suddenly near him, close but not crowding, just enough to offer his calming presence. “This journey was never about your brother or your crew. But rather, it’s about helping you move forward, just as you’ve helped the people we cherish.”
Feather-Cloak Ossan paused for a moment, letting his words sink in. “Luffy…” The Blonde knelt beside him, gaze softening. “The only person who has not forgiven you for the death of Portgas D. Ace is… yourself.”
Luffy’s breath hitched. The truth hit harder than any punch he’d taken in battle. It was a thousand times more painful than Gramp’s Fist of Love or Iva-chan’s mysterious treatment. And then came the sobs.
Similar to how he never did anything in halves, Luffy's cries were loud and unrestrained, the sounds raw and jagged as they tore through his throat. His body trembled violently as the sobs wracked through him, breaking him open like a wound with no way to patch him up.
Because for the first time, Luffy finally allowed himself to grieve.
Luffy cried, and cried, and cried. He wailed like he was seven again, when they had learned that Sabo was gone, lost to the sea forever, never to be seen again. Only this time, there was no brother beside him. Ace wasn’t there to make him stop or comfort him in his own grumpy way. But Feather-Cloak Ossan stayed, offering no judgment—only silent understanding.
“Shh. Just let it all out, Luffy," Feather-Cloak Ossan whispered softly, rubbing comforting circles on his back.
For a while, Luffy just cried his heart out—mourning his brothers, for Sabo, for Ace, and for all the adventures they could’ve had together. But even in the midst of it, Luffy knew there were people waiting for him. He felt it, a gentle tug calling him back.
And so, when he finally found his voice, the dam just broke, and Luffy let it all out.
“I-I know t-that… I k-know that all along! We m-made a promise, a p-promise to live with no regrets! But I…” Luffy’s voice trembled, his hands furiously rubbing his eyes while snots and tears poured down like waterfalls. “I s-still can’t. And I know it’s gonna piss Ace because I’m being such a weakling! B-But then, Ace will come and knock some sense into me l-like he always did, and m-maybe he’ll even bring Sabo w-with him! And t-then, I’ll get to see them again!”
“I-I just…” His voice cracked with something raw and desperate, full of longing. “I-I just want to see my brothers again!”
Because everything happened so fast, and in the blink of an eye, Ace was gone. Luffy didn’t want his last memory of his brother to be dying: Ace, bloodied and broken, smiling through the pain and thanking him—as if Luffy wasn’t the one who let his life slip away.
(Once again, Luffy never got the chance to say goodbye.)
The Rubber Man didn’t know how long he cried, but it must’ve been hours at least. As his sobs gradually faded into soft sniffles, Luffy just felt tired. He wanted nothing more than to curl up into a ball and wait for his big brothers to find him again like they always did.
And so, Luffy buried his face in his knees, hiding from the world as he waited—hoping for another chance.
There was a gentle squeeze on his left shoulder, urging him to look up. But the Rubber Man stubbornly refused. Luffy remained anchored to his spot like an immovable rock, refusing to even look up unless it was Sabo or Ace coaxing him.
“Let me tell you a secret, Luffy.” Feather-Cloak Ossan began casually, “Did you know that Mera Mera no Mi wasn’t the first Devil Fruit Ace had encountered? All those other fruits he stumbled upon? Your brother simply gave them away, as if they were mere trinkets, not one of the rarest treasures in these seas.”
There was a pause, before Feather-Cloak Ossan let out a low, knowing chuckle. Luffy was intrigued, yet he obstinately resisted, even when he felt the Older Man moved.
“With you being a hammer--” Feather-Cloak Ossan continued, his voice rich with mystery, “--Ace vowed he’d never trade his ability to swim. He needs to be able to save you every time you fall into the water. But he made an exception for the Mera Mera no Mi. Wanna know why?” He asked, voice low and almost conspiratorial.
Succumbing to his curiosity, Luffy slowly peeked from his knees and saw Feather-Cloak Ossan grinning at him with a hint of mischief, a lighter held out, almost as if he were about to ignite his stick. The gesture was oddly reminiscent of how Ace lit Sanji’s cigarette when they were in Alabasta.
“Portgas D. Ace wanted to demonstrate to you that while fire--” A spark flickered, an orange ember glowing bright, and Luffy was entranced. “--can obliterate everything in its path, leaving nothing but ashes behind, it is also, at its core, the essence of life. It was a promise—a testament that fire, the very force that nearly took your life and tore you from Sabo, can never harm you again. So don’t ever let the fire inside of you die, Luffy. It’s time to forgive yourself and live. Besides–-” The Blonde purposively dawdled, allowing the thick air of anticipation to slowly build up. “--don’t you want to meet your brother again?”
What?
Luffy snapped his head so fast, anyone else would’ve had a stiff neck. He must've looked ridiculous given Feather-Cloak Ossan (fond) chuckles, gawking like that, but he didn’t care. All he needed was confirmation. Luffy needed to be sure he hadn’t imagined it, that he could still see—
“--We never said you can’t meet Ace. We simply said… not yet. So, come on.”
But when Feather-Cloak Ossan held out his hand, the blinding rays of the sun intensified, eclipsing his entire frame with an achingly familiar silhouette, blending into someone else.
There was Brook, his long, skeletal fingers reaching out, Franky with his massive mechanical hands, Robin with her delicate yet fragrant touch, Chopper with his tiny hooves, and Sanji with his clean, well-groomed hands—an unmistakable mark of a chef. It was then overshadowed by Usopp's nimble and steady fingers, followed by Nami's delicate hands—stealthy and precise from her years of thievery—and Zoro’s firm, calloused fingers, scarred from his countless training sessions.
However, when Luffy grasped his first mate’s hand, it was gloved. And instead of the silhouette of Zoro's spiky locks, he found himself staring at a blurry figure of a Blonde with wavy locks, wearing a strikingly familiar top hat. Without any warning, the top-hatted man yanked him forward, sending him into a stumble. The moment his feet found solid ground, the world around him transformed into a dense yet familiar forest. Luffy's eyes widened in bewilderment as he scanned the area, desperately searching for Feather-Cloak Ossan and the other man.
But all that remained was a swirling wisp of smoke and an echo.
“Your adventure doesn’t end here, Luffy. It’s just the beginning.”
A powerful gust of wind swept through the trees, sending leaves and twigs spiraling around him, almost as if it was pointing him to go somewhere.
As the final remnants of the breeze whispered through the air, it carried Feather-Cloak Ossan’s parting words softly to his ears. “Go back to where it all started.”
OMAKE
As Luffy delivered the final blow, punching a crater out of Doflamingo—quite literally—another ridiculously tall blonde stood by the Flower Hill, watching the events unfold from afar.
Lips curling in gratitude, he watched as the birdcage—the puppeteer’s strings that had choked Dressrosa and shackled Corazon and his son in fear—began to dissipate, its edges fading away along with Doflamingo’s defeat, ultimately setting Corazon, Law, and the entirety of Dressrosa free. And despite the destruction it has left behind, the country ravaged into ruins, it was—for the first time since Doflamingo has taken over—alive like a phoenix reborn from the ashes.
It was beautiful and poetic.
But alas, his reflective musings were (rudely) interrupted by a rather colorful commentary.
"Told ya Luffy’s gonna kick that goddamn flamingo's ass to kingdom come," A certain freckled, cowboy-hatted pirate (read: Ace) quipped, a proud smirk plastered on his lips. "He's a fucking insult to all big brothers—and how dare that asshole even lay a hand on my fruit! I swear—if I ever get my hands on that bastard, I’ll--”
And Corazon tuned him out in favor of watching his son examine his grinning, rubbery friend and their saviour.
“Thank you, Luffy.”
To be Continued...
PREVIEW OF THE NEXT CHAPTER
Luffy didn’t need to be told twice; he ran.
The Rubber Man sprinted like never before, darting past the bushes, rocks, and trees that he knew by heart. He pushed aside the nostalgia swelling within him with every step, focusing solely on the path ahead.