Epilogue

"Tala, I'm really worried about you." Lloyd, my best friend for ten years now, inquires. He has a deep frown forming in his face.

"What now?" I calmly ask while readjusting my knapsack. 

After our history class was finished, Lloyd and I went out of the room together as usual.

"You always have a frown in your face these days." He comment.

I bite my lips. I don't really have a proper explanation for that. He is always there for me. I am thankful to have him. I do want to tell him my worries but I just can't put them into words.

It has been two days since something peculiar happened to me. It all started when Justin appeared on my room and I didn't noticed how or when did he got there.

"Have you..." I stop on my tracks. We are now on a waiting shed so it is fine. "Have you ever lost your memories?"

He raises both of his eyebrows. "That's a weird thing to ask."

I groan. "It's just that... In the past weeks I feel like I can't remember something."

Lloyd becomes more worried. "Are you sure?"

"We met on the beach two weeks ago, right?"

He nods. "Yeah."

"What did we talked about?"

He shrugg his shoulders. "Nothing much but since then, you look so troubled. I comforted you and that's it."

"That's the thing..." I sigh while rubbing my forehead. "I don't quite remember that happening."

"Memory gaps, maybe? There's a lot of causes for that. You didn't bump your head or anything?"

"No, no. I'm fine." I manage to gave him a smile.

"Talk to me if you remember something, okay?" He bite down his lips. "You do know that I care for you, right?"

I snort. "Now, don't get too mushy on me, Lloydie."

"Now that's the Tala I know." He chuckles while patting my head. "I'll go now."

I nod and watch him go away. He always just walk home from school since his house is just around the corner.

I am waiting with the other students in the shed for the school bus to arrive. I have a small talk here and there but nothing really important. I just want to be alone on my thoughts for the time being. As we board the bus, I sit in front with no one sitting with me since everyone preffered the back. I silently watch the surroundings ignoring the chatters of the people on the back.

I get out of the bus as my house is seen. As usual, school is boring. That is why I am so thankful when I am finally opening the door. I remove my shoes. Seems like my younger brother is the first one home since his rubber shoes is already on the rack.

I go to the kitchen and make some coffee for myself. That is what I exactly needed. It always has a way to calm down my nerves. After that, I go upstairs to my room and see a rat inside lying on my bed.

"Don't you have your own room?" I scowl.

"Yeah but I wanna talk to you, Tal." Justin grits his teeth.

It is not everyday that I see him so troubled. He is making a wry face. I am use to him annoying him not like this. So gloomy and unsure of himself.

"You feel it don't you? Like your missing something..." He asks.

I exhale loudly. "Not something, someone."

"And that's the point!" His face is showing a grave expression. "Who?"

The only thing that you can hear in the room is the sound my spoon is making while I whisk my coffee.

Justin and I both stare at each other. Neither know the answer behind that. We ask our parents if there is something unusual that happened in the passed days but they said no. We are left to wonder the mystery on how our memories doesn't seem to match out with the timeline.

That is the thing I have been asking for two days now. It is a weird creepy feeling. I keep on missing someone who I don't know. It is not only that, my brother is also experiencing the exact thing.

"What if we're abducted by aliens!?" Justin says, aghast. "Maybe they've ran some experiments and—"

I roll my eyes. My brother is back to normal as fast as that. "Please stop watching Discovery Channel at midnight."

"Don't you think this is freaky...?" He touch both of his shoulders. He is having the shivers by the looks of it.

"It is." I groan. "But stop it, Jus. We can't do anything. We both don't know what's happening..."

I sit on my desk and pull my notebooks out of my knapsack. I started doing my homework to distract myself.

There is nothing left for us to say. It will just gave me more headache than I am already experiencing. I put on my headphones and started listening to the songs of Coldplay. They are my favorite band. Maybe if I listen to them, it will clear my mind just a little.

But I cannot just really wash away that enigmatic mystery. Who is that someone we are missing? As if he just vanished out of the thin air and no one has remembered anything about him. But I do know something, he was important to me. He was a warm person and has the most beautiful eyes I've had ever seen. I feel like deep in my mind, I knew the answer on who is him but something is blocking it.

Who are you?

◾◾◾

Portgas D. Ace do not know what to expect when he entered the portal.

He saw a white void inside as if it was never ending. He thought that he might never get away and will just stay in there forever. But he close his eyes and have faith to her words that he will come back to his brothers.

The past weeks he had spent with the young girl, Tala, was surely a surreal time of his life. Something that will happen once in a lifetime. To be transported into another world and knowing that you are dead is not the greatest experiences out there but he managed because of her.

He surely did enjoy the time he spend with the girl and his younger brother. Both of them were generous to a fault. It was a dark time of his life but they were there to help him.

During those times with her, he formed a bond. It wasn't like the brotherly bonds he have with Sabo and Luffy. With her, it was simply friendship. It was a kind of friendship that blooms in the center of your heart. Something you know you will treasure forever and will always remember.

His mind was a mess but he didn't want to tell her. Not because she didn't trust her but because he doesn't want her to be hurt. It was obvious that she really did loved him deeply. But he don't know if it was platonic or romantic. The words she had said comforted him. Her sweet voice was a lullaby and it soothed his pain away creating a new him that was capable of recovering from his demons. She made him stronger emotionally than ever before.

He loved her in a way he himself do not understand. Even though their time together was short, he is going to miss her.

A sudden jolt awakened his body.

And when he opened his eyes, he was back on the battlefield.

◾◾◾

I sigh heavily. My nape was starting to get stiff because of my head us bent forward. I rub it in an attempt to stop the pain. I really despise homeworks but I do want some good grades so I need to deal with it.

After a while, I feel a hand at my shoulders and I flinch. It was Justin grinning ear to ear. His phone was in his hands.

"What is it?" I ask, annoyed.

"They just release a bonus chapter. It's about Ace." Justin said excitedly.

"Huh...?"

Portgas D. Ace. A character from my favorite anime series. For me, he is an unforgettable pirate even though he died in the story.

He was raised believing he doesn't deserved to live because of who his father was. He was then put in a public execution. His crew tried saving him. He was so close to freedom that he wanted. But in the end, he sacrificed himself for his brother.

But now why? Why am I feeling some sort of a deeper connection to him now?

"Hey, Justin. Doesn't his name ring a bell to you?"

He blink then snort. "Duh, of course. He's Luffy's brother. Are you stupid?"

"No..." I breath in. "It's nothing."

Justin hands me his phone. I shakily grabs it and started reading.

◾◾◾

It is chaos.

Gunfires are heard all over the place. The clashing of swords is seen. Everyone on both sides fiercely battles each other to death. The wounded and dead lay down as scarlet flowing blood comes out.

The Marines will do anything to bring down the pirates they raised a war on. For them, what they're doing is right. It was justice.

The Whitebeard Pirates and their allies, on the other hand, is here to rescue one of their own. They are known for never forgiving if an ally of them is killed, or in this case, executed.

Two brothers are in the midst of the battlefield. Both were determined to escape this hell.

Portgas D. Ace is the cause of all of this chaos. And thanks to the efforts of his younger brother Monkey D. Luffy, he is freed. And now, they run to their freedom after his honorary father stayed back to protect them.

Ace didn't like this at all. He didn't like the idea of his Pops sacrificing his life for them to escape when it was his fault in the first place on why they were in a war. But he respected his father's wishes. He will escape this and live.

But things don't always go exactly as planned.

Akainu, one of three Marine Admirals had taunts him. He insults his Pops. Pops who saved him, who gave him home, who gave him a reason to live.

"Take back what you said right now!" Ace halts from running and turned back. His brows are furrow as he give the admiral a death glare.

But Akainu didn't, he knew he had pressed the right buttons. He is smirking. He continue his taunting. Soon, Ace had enough.

The two clash their fist creating a gigantic explosion of fire and magma. It is Ace who was sent back flying and lay on the floor burned by Akainu's magma.

"You are only fire." Akainu scoffs. "I am magma which burned everything."

"Ace stop it now!" It was his brother, Luffy who pleaded him. He was crying. "Don't make me lose you the way we lose Sabo!"

A sudden jolt knock Ace. That is the name both he and Luffy do not call on these days. It feels like the wound that is healed reopened again because of his name. Sabo is someone he will never forget. His tattoo on his arm was the proof of it. A mix feeling wash over him unexpectedly. In his last words, he specifically asked him to protect their younger brother. It was the opposite of what he is doing right now.

I believe you will be back with your brothers. And when that happens, protect them.

In the middle of the chaos, a voice resounded in his head. It was a voice of a girl. Someone Ace do not know or remembered. But the way she uttered those words, id enough for him.

He is knock back on his senses. He is no match to Akainu if he kept overpowering his fire. If he died here, no one will be with Luffy. He will be alone and that was something his younger brother is scared of. That is something he is scared of.

For the first time in his life, he turned his back on a fight.

"Luffy, run!" Ace calls out.

It is well worth it if it was for his younger brother. He is not going to die here today. Screw his pride, his brother was at stake here.

Luffy nods and they both started running away.

Jinbei stays back behind and face off the admiral. He soon get a back up as Marco the Phoenix is freed from the sea prism cuffs. They did everything they can to stop him giving the brothers a chance to escape.

Soon, the pirates manage to get into ships. The main ship of the Whitebeard Pirates, the Moby Dick is destroyed so they are forced in paddle ships. Some even stole the marine's battleships.

Suddenly, a yellow submarine appeared at bay. Making other pirates look on who is the new pirates arriving on this hell.

"Straw Hat-ya! Come over here!" Trafalgar Law, the captain of Heart Pirates and one of the Eleven Supernovas, yelled.

"Woah!" Luffy exclaimed. "Torao!"

Ace look skeptical. "Who are you?"

"I'm gonna take you away from this place." Law declared. "I'm a doctor!"

"Really?" Luffy immediately jump into the submarine.

"Wait, Luffy!" Ace scolded, angrily.

"Don't worry, Ace. Torao is a nice guy." Luffy said.

Luffy has always been good when trusting people. Ace knows that. His brother knew when a person can be trusted or not.

"Why are you helping us?" Ace inquires.

Law yelled as Kizaru's beam was aim at them. "This is not the time!"

If this is not a desperate moment, Ace wouldn't jump into other pirate's ship to save his life. But his brother, obviously trusted the pirate. He trusts Luffy's judgement for him.

He jump.

◾◾◾

I didn't realize my mouth was wide open as I read the panels. I was shaking in shock. I blinked a few times and gulped.

My brother started laughing. "Okay now, Tala. There's still more."

"A-Ace survived...?"

"In another timeline. Let's say yes."

I nodded and started reading the next pages.

◾◾◾

Sabo is alive.

He is standing in front of Luffy and him.

"Yo! Luffy... Ace..." Sabo greets.

After hearing Luffy said his brother's name, Ivankov, a commander of the Revolutionary Army, told them the story of their now Chief-of-Staff. Back in Dawn Island, Dragon and him saved a boy after his ship was blown up by the Celestial Dragons. The boy then suffered from amnesia. Thus, not knowing anything about himself and trained under them.

Ace couldn't believed it at first. He thought it was just some kind of a weird coincidence. He don't want his hopes to be high up. He don't want Luffy to be hurt when they learned that it wasn't him.

But now, it is really his brother, Sabo.

He is taller now, maybe even taller than him. His outfit didn't change much. It is still the same long blue jacket, light blue pants, black boots and a cravat. His black top hat is still in his head after ten years.

Something is noticeable though, the scar on his eye. It looks like it was burned something Ace do not want to know the reason why.

"S-Sabo!" It is Luffy who's first to react. He immediately launch himself and graps his brother. "Wh-Where are you!? We thought you died! It's been ten years and—"

"I know, Lu." Sabo tighten his grip around him. "I had amnesia. I didn't even remember anything until I saw you two in the newspapers."

"That stupid amnesia of yours!" Ace grits his teeth and glares at him. His not-so-dead brother gulp.

Ace quickly crosses the distance between him and Sabo. Tears pour out of his eyes and snot is dripping from his nose. He hug the two of them.

"Damn it, Sabo. That stupid of you leaving us behind. You're the responsible one! Leaving me behind to raise Luffy! I..." Ace chokes. "I miss you, little brother."

"I miss you too, Ace." Sabo laughs in relief. "Wait— little brother?"

Ace is stunned too. He didn't know why he said that but somehow he remembered learning about it. As if there was someone who told him that he is the older brother.

"Of course, I am. I'm born on the first day of the year." He scoffs.

"Damn..." Sabo smiles wistfully. "Twentieth of March..."

After a whole five minutes of crying and Luffy babbling about his feelings, they let go of their grasp.

"I brought some sake." Sabo said revealing the bottle and three red cups.

"Let's renew our brotherhood!" Luffy exclaims in excitement.

They sit down and let Sabo pour the sake out.

Ace didn't remember the last time he has been so happy. He is with his brothers. That reason is enough. They are the first people who accepted him. His eyes glisten as he stares at the his two younger brothers. 

You are loved, Ace. Don't ever forget that.

There is that voice in his head again. It is really an enigma to him. The only thing he know is that she is important. Her voice was reassuring and have a charm on it.

"Ace!" Luffy gives him the same toothy grin he always have while he handed him the cup.

Ace is halted from his thought. He accepts the cup from his brother. This is a happy moment he didn't want to end because from his brooding.

"To brotherhood!" The three of them exclaimed.

Whoever is that voice in his head, she is right.

Thank you for loving me...

◾◾◾

"Tala, you okay there?" Justin asks in worry.

I touch my cheeks and they are wet. I didn't even realize that I am crying while reading. Relief wash over me and I don't know why. The heavy feeling that I am carrying for days now immediately went away.

"I'm fine, Justin." I laugh while I rubbed my eyes. "I'm just glad for Ace."

"Hey, do you think Ace is happy?"

"Of course, he is." I smile. "He is with his brothers now."

fin

◾◾◾

A/N: And now we're done folks! I just wanted to thank ALL of you for reading this story.

Two years ago when I was fourteen, I had a fever. While sleeping, I dreamed about ASL having a toast as adults (hence the last scene is like that). When I woke up, I was trying to find Ace in my room (probably delirious that time haha) I just decided to draw Ace coz I'm bored and then boom, story idea.

Ace has always been my favorite character. I don't know why. I just feel a connection to him. Probably empathy. He didn't deserve to die and I mourned him for a whole month. I really do want to give him the biggest hug if I ever really meet him.

Anyway, here's my drawing. I haven't touch it in two years. It's not yet finish and who knows when. I'm too lazy. The other one is a bonus of ASL that I did last month.

Ciao~!