LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 19 - The Bond of Brotherhood—Ace Sets Sail!
Chapter 19: The Bond of Brotherhood—Ace Sets Sail!
On the Cliffs of Mt. Colubo, East Blue…
“Once we drink this, we’ll be brothers.” Standing at the edge of a rugged cliff, Ace held a bottle of sake, carefully filling three wooden cups perched atop a weathered stump. Sabo and Luffy watched with eager anticipation. “Then, from this day forward…” Ace lifted his cup. Luffy and Sabo followed suit, bright smiles lighting up their faces.
Clink!
“Our bond is sealed—we’re brothers!” Ace’s laughter rang out as their cups collided. “Yeah!!!” Luffy and Sabo grinned, their hearts swelling with joy.
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“Oi, Luffy.”
Ace turned towards his youngest brother, who was still grinning like an idiot. “Huh? What is it, Ace?” Luffy tilted his head, still buzzing from excitement. “You really plan to become King of the Pirates?” Ace’s gaze bore into him. “Of course! The Pirate King is the freest person on the sea! I’ll definitely become King of the Pirates!” Luffy beamed, his conviction unshaken. Ace chuckled. “Luffy, you don’t think I want to be Pirate King too, do you?” Luffy froze, suddenly looking nervous. If Ace wanted to be Pirate King, then…I might not be able to beat him…!
“I have no interest in being Pirate King.” Ace smirked. “But—I will become the King of the World.” Standing at the edge of the cliff, Ace spread his arms wide—his amber eyes burning with ambition.
“The King of the World…?” Sabo’s breath hitched. As a former noble, he understood the weight of Ace’s words far more than Luffy did. Ace wasn’t just talking about conquering the sea. He was talking about challenging the true rulers of this world. The Celestial Dragons.
“King of the World? That sounds amazing! But… being Pirate King is still better! It’s the freest title in the world!”
Luffy laughed. Ace turned back towards him. “Then tell me, Luffy… if one day, I need the help of the future Pirate King, what will you do?” His voice was calm—but his golden eyes held a challenge.
Luffy blinked in surprise. Then, without hesitation, he grinned brightly, “If you ever need my help—I’ll come, no matter where I am! You’re my brother, after all!” He shouted, voice brimming with certainty. “And me too!” Sabo clenched his fists, overcoming the fears ingrained in him as a noble. “If I want to stand beside you, Ace, I must become stronger. I refuse to let my past hold me back!”
Ace laughed, nodding. “Then it’s a promise!” “Yeah!!!” Luffy and Sabo cheered. In the time since their brotherhood oath, life continued as usual— Until one day, Sabo’s father finally found him. Despite being far stronger than he was in the original timeline, Sabo chose to return home, not because he was afraid but because he didn’t want to cause trouble for Ace and Luffy. Ace didn’t stop him.
The path Sabo chooses—it must be one he walks himself.
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Just like before, history unfolded the same way— The Goa Kingdom’s king, in preparation for the Celestial Dragons’ arrival, ordered the burning of the Grey Terminal. Sabo, determined to escape his life of nobility, set sail alone. But fate was cruel. As in the original timeline, his small boat was destroyed by a Celestial Dragon’s cannon fire.
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“SABO! I don’t believe it! Waaaaaah!!!” Luffy sobbed uncontrollably. Ace, however, remained silent, his face unreadable. What no one knew was that Ace had been there that day. Using his Observation Haki, he had locked onto Sabo’s presence from a distance. Even though history had dictated this event, he had been prepared to intervene. If Monkey D. Dragon had not appeared to save Sabo, Ace would have done it himself. But as expected, Dragon had arrived just in time. Sabo was alive.
“Ace, this is for you. Sabo left behind a letter.” Dogra handed him the envelope. “Give it to me. Luffy, stop crying.” Ace ruffled Luffy’s messy hair, his voice calm but firm. “I believe Sabo isn’t dead. He’s our brother—just like you, he wouldn’t die that easily.”
“R-Really…?” Luffy sniffled. “That’s what I believe.” Ace nodded. “O-Okay! Ace, you better not die either!” Luffy grabbed his arm, his tear-streaked face looking up at him. Ace grinned. “I won’t die.” Then, with the letter in hand, he walked towards the cliff’s edge.
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“Ace, Luffy,
By the time you read this, I’ll already be out at sea. A lot has happened, but I made a decision—I had to leave first. My destination? Anywhere but this country. I need to become stronger. Ace, you want to be the King of the World—but if I want to stand beside you, I still have a long way to go. I need to grow, to become a pirate, and to become truly free. When that day comes, I will stand beside you, just as I promised. We will meet again—somewhere out there, on the endless sea.
And Ace—no, big brother—I’ve considered you my brother for a long time now. Thank you… for everything. Our bond is my greatest treasure. As for Luffy—no, our little brother—take care of him for me, okay? With you around, I know that crybaby idiot will be just fine.
Sincerely,
Sabo.”
Ace finished reading. A soft chuckle escaped his lips, but his golden eyes glistened with unfallen tears. “You want to become free, and then come help me?” His voice was quiet as he looked towards the vast sky. “Then you’d better get strong, Sabo.” He smiled. “We’ll meet again—I know it.”
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Seven Years Later…
Ace was seventeen years old.
And today—was the day of his voyage.
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At Dadan’s hideout…
“Oi, Boss! Ace has something to say to you!” Magura called out. “Tch, what is it now? That brat is finally leaving—what, does he want to curse me one last time?” Dadan scoffed, turning away. “No… He said—thank you for taking care of him all these years.” Magura’s voice was loud and clear.
“…!!!”
Dadan’s eyes widened, and tears poured down her face.
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At the Shore of Foosha Village…
“ACE! Do your best out there!”
“Become a great pirate, Ace!”
“Make Foosha Village proud!”
The villagers cheered. “Shut up! A pirate is a disgrace to our village!” Mayor Woop Slap grumbled—but his eyes held warmth.
“ACE! Three years from now, I’ll set sail too! I’ll become Pirate King!” Luffy shouted. Ace grinned, adjusting his hat. “I’ll be waiting, Luffy.” Then with a flame-propelled launch, Ace set sail.
“The voyage begins.”