Chapter Text
It was another bright day aboard the Thousand Sunny.
Everyone was doing what they usually did - Zoro was taking a nap under the sun.
Nami was drawing her maps.
Usopp was watering his weird plants.
Chopper was making some medicines.
Sanji was cooking something for his precious Nami-san and Robin-chan.
Franky was building something in his corner of the Sunny,
and Brook was playing "Bink's sake".
Ace was really fond of his crew.
It took him over 2 years to get close to them, get stronger together, and after he ate the flame-flame fruit, he knew he could protect them.
Sabo - his right hand man and co-captain was the greatest help of all. It was probably because they set out together, and grew up together.
They were now right in the middle of the grand line - anything could happen.
That was when they saw it.
A big, colossal ship - a size even bigger than marine ships.
It was the ship of a celestial dragon.
Ace's relaxed smile vanished.
His eyes narrowed.
He was already halfway to the figurehead before anyone else spotted it.
"We're taking that ship!" he yelled.
"Aye aye captain!" everyone replied.
Usopp rushed to the interior of the sunny and took aim.
A few minutes later they were raiding the interior of the celestial dragon's ship.
Everyone hurried onboard, fearlessly.
Ace couldn't stop smiling.
Not one of them hesitated, though they knew it was a risk. It was no ordinary ship, after all.
Sabo said it wouldn't make much difference since they had already challenged the World Government in their attempt to rescue Robin.
As everyone was killing the guards near the celestial dragon, Ace couldn't help thinking of how far they had come.
The adventures they all had together. The people they met. Ace was genuinely very happy and proud of his crew. The Straw Hat Pirates.
He thought back to when he first met Nami and they were talking about their Jolly roger.
"But captain, why strawhat?"
"Because someone important said they would sail under one."
That was the answer he gave to all his crewmates, who accepted it. No questions asked.
He smiled fondly at the memories of his precious brother from 3 years ago.
Cutting through guards, Ace noticed multiple shackles and chains.
Wait.
Shackles and chains?!?!
Oh.
"Everyone!" Ace yelled.
"There are slaves aboard this ship! Find them and free them!"
Everyone looked horrified as they raced to different corners of the ship. Robin aided everyone using her multiple eyes.
Sabo walked over from where he just beat up the Celestial Dragon, who yelled protests and threats.
"Are you sure, Ace? It is extreme to have slaves aboard a ship, even for a Celestial Dragon."
"Nothing is too extreme for a Celestial Dragon, Sabo. These creatures think everyone is beneath them. How can they be so-"
Ace was interrupted by Zoro's cry.
"Found them! Beneath the deck!"
Everyone raced towards his voice.
The scene before them left everyone in shock.
They were surrounded by darkness, the smell of death, and groans from all around.
Prison cells.
And every single cell contained children.
Every single one.
Ace's blood boiled. How could someone be that cruel?
Nami held her hand to her face. Usopp and chopper looked away.
Franky, Sanji and Zoro clenched their fists.
Robin closed her eyes.
Brook looked down.
Sabo stepped forward.
Taking charge instantly, he grabbed the unconscious guard's pockets and removed a bunch of keys.
He unlocked every key, with Chopper assisting him.
The room was enveloped with silence with small gasps of surprise.
Some kids looked no older than 12, while others looked about 9 or 10. Were they all that young? Or was it the malnourishment?
After a short while, every kid raced out.
All of them were severely malnourished, and stumbled as they ran out.
As his crewmates took charge of carrying them away, on chopper's orders, Ace inspected the cells.
The walls inside looked worn out. It was probably over a year since they were in here.
He checked all the cells, with Sabo at his side, quietly nodding at the details.
Suddenly, they noticed 2 kids at the last cell.
They paused and entered the cell after nodding to each other.
They both looked about 12, and very thin.
The boy shielded the girl, glaring at them both.
"Kid. We are not here to harm you." Sabo said gently, kneeling down.
The kid relaxed a bit, but did not drop his guard.
Ace looked at the raven haired boy. He looked extremely thin, thinner than the girl he was with.
That was when Ace noticed. He was clutching a strawhat to his chest.
A strawhat? Ace frowned. That reminded him of someone-
Sabo seemed to have noticed it too.
"What's your name, kid?" Sabo inquired.
The kid hesitated a bit, before answering.
"I'm L-Luffy."
For one impossible moment, the world went silent.
Ace's heart dropped. He saw red.
The keys slipped from Sabo's fingers.
"LUFFY???" They both yelled in horror.
The boy flinched.