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Ace had been on edge the moment he heard where Luffy was heading. While the Whitebeard Pirates had disbanded after the death of Oyaji and his own temporarily coma, that didn’t mean he would just sit still from now on.
Ever since waking up, he had been searching the papers for any news that Luffy was still alright. Jinbei had called in that his little brother had survived, Marco told him that much. Yet, he couldn’t help but want to know that himself. He needed to see that Luffy survived despite everything. The moment the article was released that he set out, a huge weight fell off his shoulders.
Once Dressrosa was behind them, Ace knew what was going to happen. It wasn’t that hard to figure out; after all, it was an open secret that Doflamingo made weapons for Kaido (and the marines but no one was willing to admit to that) and that being taken away would make the Yonko declare war against Luffy and his alley.
“You go ahead -yoi”, Marco said, an easy smile on his face, “You are healed as much as you can be, and I know you missed him. On top of that, I know you’ll be able to get to Zou to meet him.”
Blinking once, Ace started smiling, the mere knowledge that he would be seeing his little brother again enough to start preparing for that. Making sure he had everything and asked Marco, multiple times, if he was alright with that.
Flying over the waves on Striker II, Ace could feel the force of the water as he made his way closer to Zunisha. What was even stranger was the ship carrying Luffy’s flag, but no Luffy on board. As he called out, it was Sanji standing there, staring at him as if he had seen a ghost.
“A- Ace”, The blond stuttered, to which Ace nodded somewhat sheepishly. Knowing that the news of his demise had been published, so for him to be standing there was quite odd.
Sanji blinked a few times, “You died...”
Nodding again, pointing at the scar of his chest, “For all of two minutes. Marco and Hongo were able to bring me back but I was in a coma for a long time. I’m up and running now and wanted to make sure Luffy knew.”
He knew Luffy chose the right crew when Sanji's eyes narrowed, "That seems convenient and I don't know how to believe that. If you are who you say you are, where was it that we ran into you?"
Grinning wider, Ace recounted their meeting in Alabasta, including the words he shared with the crew about taking care of his little brother. It was that recounting which had them believing him, allowing him into the ship (which opened at the side, his baby brother sure had the most amazing ship he had ever seen) so he could store Striker II in there. Greeting Sanji, Nami and Chopper when they met him on the deck. Being introduced to Brook and Momo when they arrived to show themselves.
Offering to join them on Zou to see about helping where needed, mentioning that his haki was pinging with something that was happening on top of it all. Happy to learn that the Strawhats had learned haki since he last saw them. A good thing too or they would be eaten alive by the New World.
In the end it was a good thing he was there, as not only did Jack the Drought try to attack Zou and succeed, Big Mom interfered with the offer of Sanji being married to one of her kids. Shivering at the mere thought of the Yonko who wanted to be tied to everyone and everything through marriage, Ace scared the Big Mom Pirates away. Making sure they got out of there alive, but talling stories about ghosts, while protecting his little brother's crew until he arrived to take over.
When Luffy did arrive, the reunion was as tearful as he had hoped it would be, with Luffy only needing Sanji and Nami to confirm that he was who he said he was before he was hugged within an inch of his life.
To hear that Sabo was still around and had never died stumped him, until he found out that their blond brother had amnesia from the blast and was the one who ate the Mera Mera no mi. Ace had died after all, so of course his fruit spawned again. Not that he had lost his powers, but it had helped in making sure that people did believe he was death. A good thing too, with the marines slowly entering the New World and seeking to take over.
"That's... I didn't even know Sabo could still live, but it's nice to hear the three of us are still here", he told Luffy. Trying to deal with everything that was going on and hugging his brother back as he tried to think of a way to get in contact with Sabo to let him know.
Once Luffy calmed down, Ace was treated to a planning session with Trafalgar Law and Luffy (wincing each and every time as he was well aware that plans and Luffy never mixed).
When the choice was made to go to Wano and take the fight to Kaido, he was more than happy to call Marco and let him know. Knowing, the man would call the previous commanders and members of the fleet to see if anyone else wanted to join in on getting revenge for Oden. For Ace, it just meant more time with his brother, and that was all he could want right now.
The first time he saw Sabo again, it was in the newspaper at the notion that Burgess had found Baltigo and had tried to get Sabo and Dragon killed. Caring less about Dragon, Ace couldn't help but think this were three strikes against the Blackbeard Pirates for everything they had done against him and his family.
"Sabo is strong, I'm sure he'll be fine", Luffy assured him, which was comforting to say the least. Even if in Luffy's eyes they would always be his stronger older brothers, he knew that Sabo had been in Dressrosa, so Luffy had seen him fight. Additionally, Nico Robin had spent two years with the Revolutionary Army and was all too happy to share stories about Sabo and his partner, Koala, with them.
The full reunion, between all three of them, happened later on. When Ace was shown just how much Luffy had grown and what his devil fruit really entailed.
Sabo gaped for all but one second, before looking at Luffy for confirmation and hugging Ace close as soon as he was able to. Not willing, and perhaps not able, to let go of him.
"I missed you, asshole", he whispered.
Biting his lip to keep from crying, Ace hugged him tighter, "Missed you too..."
In true Luffy fashion, he jumped on the both of them to hug them within his rubbery arms and didn't plan on letting go. Crying like the baby he was, before all three of them were laughing. Knowing they had a second chance, when before it had been so bleak to think that there was someone out there who didn't know the other had survived.