The next morning, the bubbles of the Sabaody Archipelago refracted sunlight into shimmering rainbows.
Kael, who rarely woke up early, stood on the pier at Dock No. 1. The sea breeze ruffled his long black hair. For once, none of his usual entourage followed behind him.
He was alone.
A medium-sized merchant ship flying the chamber of commerce flag, one of Karon's assets, eased into the harbor. The gangplank dropped onto the dock. Several bodyguards in black suits saluted Kael.
A gentle figure stepped down first, and behind her bounced an energetic little runt.
"Rouge, long time no see," Kael greeted with a warm smile.
Portgas D. Rouge was as soft-spoken as ever. Time seemed unusually kind to her, though the corners of her eyes carried that quiet toughness only motherhood could forge.
"Kael, I'm really troubling you… you even sent people to pick us up," Rouge said gently, a little embarrassed.
"We're family. Don't say that," Kael replied, then let his gaze fall to the little guy beside her.
Five-year-old Ace still had a trace of baby fat. Freckles dotted his cheeks. A glaring bandage sat on his forehead.
His short black hair was a mess, but his eyes were bright, stubborn, and unyielding.
"Uncle Kael!" Ace lifted his chin and called out enthusiastically.
Kael crouched to meet his gaze and flicked his forehead with a finger. "Yo. Where'd you run wild this time? Who'd you pick a fight with to earn this souvenir?"
Ace rubbed his forehead and grinned, flashing neat little white teeth. "It wasn't a fight! I was exploring Mt. Colubo and I fell! Aunt Dadan carried me back, too!"
He spoke with wild hand gestures, completely ignoring the helpless look his mother gave him.
Ace sighed dramatically and hugged Kael's arm. "Uncle Kael, save me! Because of this, Mom grounded me for a whole month! I'm not allowed to go out!"
"A month?" Kael widened his eyes in mock shock. "That's brutal."
He ruffled Ace's hair. "Next time don't be so naughty. Don't make your mom worry all the time. Maybe when you go back, you'll make a few friends. Exploring together is safer, too."
They chatted as they walked through the lively streets toward Kael's villa.
It was Ace's first time in a place this bustling. His eyes practically weren't enough. He stared at the bubbles floating in the sky, the strange storefronts, everything.
When the mountain-built villa appeared, palace-like, Ace's mouth fell open into a perfect O.
"Waaah…" he dragged the sound out, completely stunned. "S so… so biiig!"
Inside, the decor was luxurious without being gaudy, dazzling him even more.
"Uncle Kael! Mom told me forever ago you're a big-time pirate!" Ace sprinted a full lap around the wide hall, then skidded to a stop in front of Kael, eyes shining with worship. "So big pirates all live in houses this huge? Sugoi!"
Kael laughed and dropped onto the couch. "What about you, Ace? What do you want to be when you grow up?"
That question lit a fuse.
Ace puffed out his tiny chest and declared loudly, "When I grow up, I'm going to sea and become a big pirate just like Uncle Kael!"
Rouge had just accepted the red tea Sakura offered. Her wrist jerked and the tea nearly spilled. Her expression was half laughter, half despair.
Kael, though, watched Ace with interest and didn't answer right away.
Ace frowned when Kael didn't respond. He pressed a finger to his chin and fell into deep thought.
The hall went quiet.
Then, like he'd solved some earth-shattering mystery, he slapped his palm and muttered, "Wait… that's not right… Uncle Kael is already a big pirate…"
He planted his hands on his hips, face dead serious, and proclaimed toward the future, "Then I'll be a Marine instead! I'm going to be the Marine King! Wahahaha!"
Kael took one sip of tea and instantly sprayed it out.
Marine HQ Admiral: Red Fist Ace.
Rouge was also completely defeated by her son's bizarre thought process. All she could do was shake her head.
Kael wiped his mouth, forced down his laughter, and patted Ace's head with solemn seriousness.
"Mm. Technically the Marines' highest rank is Fleet Admiral… but Marine King does sound cooler than Pirate King. Still, whether you become a pirate or a Marine, remember the most important thing."
His expression softened. "Don't make your mom worry again. Understand?"
Ace blinked, then nodded hard. He glanced at his mother, his eyes clear and steady.
"I promise!" He thumped his chest. "I'll protect Mom for sure! Unlike that bastard old man, just ditching us and going off to heaven like it's nothing!"
Kids spoke without filters.
Which also meant they cut the deepest.
Rouge's smile froze for a split second. Something unnameable flickered in the depths of her eyes, then quickly hid itself behind gentleness.
"Ace, don't talk about your father like that."
But the heavy atmosphere that should have followed never came.
"Hahahaha!"
Kael burst into thunderous laughter, laughing so hard he nearly folded over, tears welling up.
He scooped Ace up and planted him on his lap, then vigorously messed up his hair.
"Well said, Ace! When you become Marine King, go catch the Pirate King! Anyone who dares claim Pirate King, show their face and you delete them on sight!"
If Ace really became a Marine, Luffy a pirate, and Sabo a Revolutionary…
Wow. The Sea's Three Brothers. Cue the dramatic theme music.
Kael cleared his throat and put on a more serious face. "But Ace, whether you're aiming for Marine King or Pirate King, you can't do it without one thing."
"I know!" Ace answered instantly, hopping down from Kael's lap and standing straight. "Strength! Real strength!"
That little grown-up act made Rouge, Sakura, and Rin all chuckle.
"Oh?" Kael raised a brow. "So you've got resolve. Then tell me, where does your strength come from?"
Ace's face immediately filled with pride.
He puffed out his chest, lifted his chin high, and announced, "Of course I train! Not long ago, I found a legendary holy sword in Mt. Colubo! I'm teaching myself swordsmanship now!"
"A holy sword?" Kael asked, pretending to be curious.
Ace nodded hard and described it vividly. "Yeah! The whole blade was silver-white, and the hilt had these weird patterns…"
"Ace…"
Beside him, Rouge, who had been smiling gently the whole time, finally couldn't hold it in anymore. She pressed a hand to her forehead, utterly helpless.
"That wasn't a holy sword. That was a broken piece of water pipe from Dadan's bathroom."
The air froze.
Ace's proud expression stiffened, then visibly collapsed.
He whipped his head toward his mother, trying to argue, but under Rouge's gentle gaze, his momentum crumbled.
"I… it wasn't a pipe…"
His voice got smaller and smaller, until he finally turned his head away, puffed his cheeks, and sulked, his face swelling into two little buns.
Kael fought the urge to grin, shoulders trembling slightly.
His eyes swept the hall and landed on a silent figure on the couch in the corner.
Mihawk was holding a cup of red tea, calmly sipping.
Those hawk-like golden eyes of his were fixed on the crimson liquid swaying in the cup, tranquil as a blade resting in its sheath.
Kael said with total seriousness to the still-sulking Ace, "Swordsmanship… that's a deep art. Teaching yourself isn't easy."
He paused, then tipped his chin toward Mihawk.
"Perfect timing. That Mihawk big bro over there has always wanted to learn swordsmanship, but he never had the chance. Ace, think you can teach him?"
Ace's attention snapped over instantly.
He followed Kael's gesture and saw a man with a cold, stern face sitting there. The most eye-catching part was the enormous black cross beside him.
What… what a weird guy.
Ace's little brain worked fast.
Uncle Kael's friend meant he wasn't a bad guy.
And wanting to learn swordsmanship meant he had ambition.
Having concluded that, Ace's wounded pride recovered on the spot.
He puffed out his chest again, planted his hands on his hips, and marched over on short little legs with fierce momentum.
"Hey! Are you Mihawk big bro?" Ace craned his neck to ask.
Mihawk set down his tea and looked at the kid who barely reached his knee. Then, with a resigned look, he flicked his eyes toward Kael, who was clearly enjoying himself.
Ace didn't care. He continued enthusiastically, "Uncle Kael said you want to learn swordsmanship? No problem! I can teach you!"
He patted his tiny chest like a reliable mentor.
Kael lounged back on the sofa, relaxed and satisfied, watching the show. Even Robin lowered her book, looking over with interest.
Ace took Mihawk's silence as shyness, so he got even warmer.
He pointed at the gigantic cross and said in a very sympathetic tone, "Don't worry, Mihawk big bro. Once I teach you, you'll be able to protect yourself."
"Then you won't have to carry such a big cross everywhere, praying to the heavens every day that you'll stay safe."
"…"
He's so kind I could cry.
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