A Brother’s Bond

The sound of crashing waves echoed across the Thousand Sunny as it sailed deeper into the New World, the ship moving quickly but with the crew on high alert. They had narrowly escaped the Marine battleships, but they knew it was only a matter of time before another encounter.

In the infirmary, Ace stirred. His body ached with every breath, but the sharp pain that had once wracked him was now a dull throb. He slowly opened his eyes, his vision adjusting to the soft light of the room. As his gaze shifted, he saw Luffy sitting beside him, slumped in a chair, his head resting on his arms. Luffy had fallen asleep while keeping watch.

A small smile tugged at Ace's lips. It was just like Luffy to stay by his side, even after everything they'd been through.

"Luffy..." Ace whispered, his voice hoarse.

Luffy stirred at the sound of his brother's voice, his eyes blinking open in confusion before they widened with relief. "Ace! You're awake!" Luffy exclaimed, jumping to his feet and leaning over his brother.

Ace chuckled weakly. "Yeah... I'm still here," he replied, his voice soft. "Thanks to you."

Luffy's grin was wide and genuine, but there was something else in his eyes—something heavy, like the weight of all they had been through still hung over him. Ace could see it, and it made his chest tighten.

"How long was I out?" Ace asked, trying to shift his body but wincing as pain shot through him.

"A couple of days," Luffy said, scratching the back of his head. "Chopper's been taking care of you. He said you just needed time to rest."

Ace nodded, glancing down at the bandages that covered his arms and torso. He remembered Marineford, the chaos, the fight against Akainu, and Luffy's desperate struggle to save him. It all felt like a blur now, but one thing remained clear—his brother had risked everything for him. Again.

"You saved me, Luffy," Ace muttered, his voice filled with both gratitude and guilt. "You always come through, even when it's crazy dangerous."

Luffy shook his head, his usual carefree grin returning to his face. "We're brothers, Ace. I told you, I won't let anyone take you from me again. I don't care how dangerous it gets."

The sincerity in Luffy's words hit Ace hard, and he closed his eyes for a moment, trying to steady his emotions. He had been so close to losing everything, but here he was—alive, free, and still with his brother.

"I'm sorry," Ace said quietly, his voice strained. "Sorry for making you go through all of this, Luffy. You almost died for me..."

"Don't apologize," Luffy said firmly, his face serious. "I'm glad I got you out. That's all that matters."

Before Ace could respond, the door to the infirmary creaked open, and Sabo stepped inside. His eyes widened as he saw Ace awake, and for a moment, he stood frozen in the doorway. Then, a wide smile spread across his face, and he rushed to his brothers' side.

"Ace!" Sabo exclaimed, his voice filled with relief. "You're finally awake!"

Ace's eyes widened in shock as he took in the sight of Sabo, his long-lost brother who he had only recently been reunited with. The memories of their childhood together flashed through his mind, and he couldn't help but laugh—a sound that was half joy, half disbelief.

"Sabo..." Ace said, his voice cracking. "I... I thought..."

"Yeah, I'm alive too," Sabo said with a grin, sitting down beside him. "I've been keeping an eye on you both."

Ace shook his head, still in disbelief. He had mourned Sabo for years, believing his brother to have been lost in a tragic accident. But now, sitting here with both Luffy and Sabo, it felt like a dream—a dream he never thought would come true.

"How..." Ace began, his voice breaking slightly. "How are you here? How did you survive?"

Sabo smiled softly, his gaze drifting to the floor for a moment before meeting Ace's eyes again. "It's a long story, but after I lost my memory, I was found by the Revolutionary Army. They raised me, trained me, and... well, eventually I remembered everything. And when I heard what was happening at Marineford, I knew I had to find you both."

Ace's throat tightened, and for a moment, he couldn't speak. He had lost so much—so many comrades, so much time—but now, here were his brothers, alive and together. It was almost too much to take in.

"I can't believe it," Ace whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. "You're both here. I thought... I thought I lost everything."

Luffy, never one for heavy emotions, slapped Ace on the shoulder—gently, of course, given Ace's injuries—and grinned. "We're here, Ace. All three of us. And we're going to keep moving forward together!"

Sabo nodded, his face serious but filled with warmth. "That's right. The world's changing fast, and the Revolutionaries are in the middle of it all. But right now, my priority is keeping you two safe."

Ace's eyes flickered with determination as he met Sabo's gaze. "You don't have to worry about me, Sabo. I won't sit on the sidelines anymore. I've been given a second chance, and I'm going to make sure I'm strong enough to protect you both."

Sabo smiled proudly, placing a hand on Ace's shoulder. "We'll protect each other, Ace. But for now, let's focus on getting you back to full strength."

While the brothers shared their emotional reunion, the world outside was not standing still. Far from it. In Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral Akainu paced his office, seething with fury. The escape of Portgas D. Ace had been a massive failure for the Marines, a failure that haunted Akainu's every waking moment. He had been so close to executing the son of Gol D. Roger, only to have his victory snatched away by Straw Hat Luffy and his allies.

Now, the Marines were mobilizing to find Ace and Luffy, and Akainu intended to personally lead the effort to bring them back to justice. He wasn't going to let Ace slip through his fingers again.

"Send word to every Marine ship in the New World," Akainu barked to his subordinates. "We'll find them. And when we do, there will be no mercy."

Meanwhile, on the Thousand Sunny, the crew was preparing for what lay ahead. Nami had been charting a course to one of the Revolutionaries' hideouts, where they could rest and recover. But she knew it wouldn't be easy getting there with both the Marines and Blackbeard's forces hunting them.

"We need to be careful," Nami said as she gathered the crew in the galley. "The Marines have already started patrolling the area, and I'm sure Blackbeard is out there somewhere too."

Luffy nodded, his expression more serious than usual. "We'll make it. We've got Ace and Sabo with us now. There's no way we're losing to anyone."

Zoro grinned, his swords resting at his side. "Let them come. We've fought worse."

But Robin, sitting quietly at the table, looked thoughtful. "It's not just about fighting. The world is changing quickly. The Marines are more determined than ever to regain control, and Blackbeard... well, he's not going to stop until he has everything."

The weight of her words settled over the crew, but Luffy's unwavering confidence remained. He stood up, fists clenched, and his eyes gleaming with determination.

"Whatever happens, we're going to win," Luffy declared. "We're going to protect Ace, and we're going to keep moving forward!"

The crew nodded, their spirits lifted by their captain's resolve. They had faced impossible odds before, and they had always come out on top. This time would be no different.

As the Thousand Sunny continued its journey through the New World, the brothers' bond grew stronger, and their determination to face the challenges ahead solidified. But they knew that the road ahead was dangerous, and the forces against them were growing stronger by the day.