"FIRE FIST!" BOOM! A massive explosion lit up Nanohana's harbor.
"WHITE BLOW!" DOOON! Steam erupted everywhere as fire and smoke collided.
"Shishishi! Ace is having fun!" Luffy's eyes sparkled with stars. "FOOD DISTRICT IS THAT WAY!"
"THAT'S NOT WHY WE'RE HERE!" Nami punched him on the head, leaving a comical bump.
"But Namiiiii~" Luffy whined with his signature pout before his face lit up again. "Oh yeah! GOMU GOMU NO..."
"Wait, Luffy-" Sabo started.
"ROCKET!"
"GYAAAAAAAH!" Sabo's scream echoed as they launched through the air, his hat nearly flying off.
The rest of the crew watched in disbelief as their captain and the Revolutionary Army's second-in-command flew towards the chaos in the harbor.
"Should... should we follow them?" Chopper asked hesitantly.
Zoro sighed, already moving to lower the anchor. "No, they can take care of themself we need to get what need of the town before these three brother turn it upside down."
"This is not how I imagined our arrival in Alabasta," Vivi murmured, a mix of worry and amusement on her face.
Meanwhile in the battle:
"Hiken!" Ace grinned confidently as his fire fist surged forward.
"White Launcher!" Smoker countered.
CRASH!
"ACE! CATCH ME!"
"Huh?" Ace looked up. "LUFFY?! WAI-"
DOOON!
The three brothers crashed into a food stall, sending kebabs flying everywhere. Luffy immediately grabbed one mid-air with his mouth.
"Mmph! Delicious!"
"YOU IDIOT!" Both older brothers punched him, leaving two more bumps.
"What kind of reunion is this..." nearby civilians watched with dropped jaws and white eyes.
"Shishishi! Hi Ace!" Luffy beamed, completely unfazed by the collision.
"You idiot!" Ace bonked him on the head, though there was no real anger in it. "What are you doing here? And is that one of your crewmates?"
"Nope!" Luffy grinned wider, grabbing Sabo and pulling him closer. "It's Sabo! He remembers now!"
Ace froze, his eyes widening as he stared at the blonde man in the top hat. His legs trembled slightly as memories of that terrible day flooded back - the burning ship, the newspaper article, the weeks of denial followed by months of grief.
"S-Sabo?" Ace's voice cracked something that hadn't happened since they were children. "But... you died... we... we read about the explosion. Your boat..." His fists clenched, flames flickering around them unconsciously as emotions warred across his face.
"Not quite," Sabo smiled softly, removing his hat and showing the burn scar underneath. "Though I almost did. I lost my memories that day, but..." he glanced at Luffy with a mix of fondness and exasperation, "apparently getting hit with a 'Fist of Love' can cure amnesia."
Ace took an unsteady step forward, reaching out before pulling back, as if afraid Sabo would disappear if he touched him. "Ten years... for ten years we thought..."
"Ace," Sabo's voice was gentle, understanding the turmoil in his brother's eyes. "I'm really here."
"Shishishi! Group hug!" Luffy stretched his arms, wrapping them around both his brothers and pulling them together.
Ace's composure finally broke as he grabbed both his brothers, his shoulders shaking. "You bastard... making us think you were dead all this time..."
Before they could continue their reunion, a wall of smoke surrounded them. "Fire Fist Ace," Smoker's gruff voice cut through the haze. "And now Straw Hat Luffy... This is my lucky day."
"Smokey!" Luffy waved cheerfully. "Long time no see!"
"YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO GREET MARINES LIKE THAT!" Ace and Sabo shouted in unison.
"Straw Hat!" Smoker emerged from the smoke, only to pause at the bizarre scene.
Luffy was stuffing his face with kebabs, his cheeks stretched impossibly wide. Ace was trying to strangle him while simultaneously fighting back tears. Sabo was calmly dusting off his hat, though his eyes were suspiciously wet.
"STOP EATING AND FIGHT PROPERLY!" Smoker's teeth became shark-like in frustration.
"Oh! Smokey!" Luffy waved, bits of food flying everywhere. "Look! I found my brothers!"
"WE CAN SEE THAT!" The gathered Marines shouted with white eyes and dropped jaws.
"Brothers?" Hina appeared, blinking. "Hina is confused."
"Shishishi! Yeah! The cool fire one and the fancy hat one!"
"DON'T INTRODUCE US LIKE THAT!" Both brothers bonked him.
Suddenly, Luffy's expression changed. "Ah! I smell more food that way!"
"Focus on the fight!" Ace grabbed his rubbery cheek.
"Dragon Claw!" Sabo launched forward, his pipe coated in Haki as he cleared a path through Marines. "Though I wouldn't mind some tea..."
"NOT YOU TOO!" Ace's head grew comically large as he yelled.
DOOM!
The ground shook as more Marine reinforcements arrived.
"More Marines!" Luffy grinned, finally swallowing his food. "Hey Ace, Sabo! Let's do that thing!"
"What thing?" Both asked.
"You know! That cool combination move we did as kids!"
"WE NEVER DID ANY COMBINATION MOVES!"
"Oh right! Shishishi!"
"DON'T LAUGH IT OFF!"
For the first time in ten years, the three brothers stood side by side, ready to face whatever came their way - just like they'd promised all those years ago.
"Alright, let's show these Marines what the ASL brothers can do!" Ace grinned, flames dancing around his fists.
"ASL?" Sabo raised an eyebrow.
"Ace, Sabo, Luffy!" Luffy explained, stretching his arms. "Shishishi!"
"That's... not bad," Sabo admitted, twirling his pipe.
"White Launcher!" Smoker charged forward, his body turning to smoke.
"Gomu Gomu no..." Luffy wound up his arm.
"Hiken!" Ace's fist blazed with fire.
"Dragon's Breath!" Sabo's pipe glowed with Haki.
"PISTOL!" "FIRE FIST!" "STRIKE!"
The three attacks combined, creating a massive shockwave that sent Marines flying.
"GYAAAAH!" They screamed comically as they soared through the air.
"Hina impressed," Hina muttered, her eyes wide.
"Don't just stand there!" Smoker growled. "Capture them!"
"Yes sir!" The remaining Marines charged forward.
"Shishishi! This is fun!" Luffy laughed, dodging attacks left and right.
"You haven't changed at all, have you?" Ace sighed, though he was smiling.
"Less talking, more fighting!" Sabo called out, knocking out Marines with precise strikes.
As Ace and Sabo deal with the rest luffy attack Smoker.
"Straw Hat!" Smoker growled, his jitte clashing with Luffy's Haki-enhanced fist. "You've gotten stronger, but you're still not getting away!"
Luffy grinned as he dodged another of Smoker's attacks, but his expression suddenly turned serious. He could sense more Marines approaching, and while he was enjoying the fight, he knew it was time to wrap things up.
"Smokey, you're strong, but..." Luffy straightened up, his straw hat casting a shadow over his eyes. "I need to go now."
A wave of dark energy suddenly erupted from Luffy, his Conqueror's Haki spreading across the battlefield like a tidal wave. The approaching Marine reinforcements collapsed instantly, their eyes rolling back as they fell unconscious. The remaining Marines on the battlefield followed suit, dropping like flies.
Even Smoker and Hina weren't immune to the pressure, both falling to their knees as the overwhelming force washed over them. Sweat dripped down their faces as they struggled against the invisible weight.
Luffy walked past Smoker, pausing briefly beside him. "Get stronger, Smokey. Next time, let's have an even better fight!"
With that, Luffy turned to his brothers, who were watching with proud smirks. "Now we can catch up! Shishishi!"
The three brothers departed, leaving behind a field of unconscious Marines and two high-ranking officers still trying to process the immense power they'd just witnessed.
The three brothers made their way through the city, eventually finding a secluded spot on a hillside overlooking the harbor. They sat down, just like they used to do as kids, though they were much bigger now.
[][[][][]][
Ace stared at Sabo, flames flickering around his shoulders as emotions burned in his eyes. "You bastard... do you have any idea how many sake cups we offered to your 'grave'?!"
"Ace..." Sabo's grip tightened on his pipe, his own eyes shadowed by his hat. "I..."
"SHISHISHI!" Luffy suddenly stretched his arms around both of them. "Sabo's back! We should have a feast!"
"THIS ISN'T THE TIME FOR FOOD!" Both older brothers punched him, leaving comical bumps.
"But I'm hungry~" Luffy whined, his stomach growling loudly.
Ace's serious expression cracked as he let out a snort, which turned into a laugh. Soon all three brothers were laughing, the tension breaking like a summer storm.
"You haven't changed at all, have you Lu?" Sabo wiped tears of laughter from his eyes.
"Nope! Shishishi!"
"Still the same crybaby who couldn't throw a punch," Ace smirked, dodging Luffy's rubber fist.
"I'm stronger now!" Luffy protested. "I can kick both your butts!"
"Oh?" Sabo twirled his pipe with a dangerous grin. "Want to test that theory?"
"Bring it on!" Ace's fists ignited.
"YEAH!" Luffy wound up his arm.
The three brothers squared off, just like they used to in the forests of Dawn Island, each wearing matching grins that promised chaos.
"Gomu Gomu no..." "Hiken!" "Dragon..."
BOOM! CRASH! BANG!
The hillside erupted in a spectacular display of fire, rubber, and Haki as the three strongest brothers in the world celebrated their reunion the only way they knew how - by trying to beat each other up while laughing their heads off.
After their playful brawl, the three brothers lay sprawled on the scorched hillside, panting and grinning.
"Shishishi! I totally won!" Luffy declared, despite sporting several burns and bruises.
"In your dreams!" Ace scoffed, his hat askew. "I definitely had more hits!"
"You're both delusional," Sabo adjusted his cracked goggles. "My pipe clearly connected more times!"
They looked at each other's disheveled state before bursting into laughter again.
Sabo turned to Luffy, his expression curious yet serious. "Lu, who trained you to use Haki? And how did you know I was alive? That Conqueror's Haki you used back there... it wasn't amateur level."
"Shishishi!" Luffy grinned, adjusting his straw hat. "It's a mystery!"
"DON'T GIVE US THAT!" both older brothers bonked him on the head.
Luffy rubbed his bumps, still grinning. "Well... I saw the future!"
Ace and Sabo exchanged skeptical looks.
"The future?" Ace raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
"Yep! I saw lots of stuff! Like how Sabo was alive and working with Dad, and..." Luffy's expression suddenly turned serious as he looked at Ace. "And I saw what happens if you chase Blackbeard."
Ace's eyes widened, while Sabo looked between them with concern.
"What do you mean, Lu?" Sabo asked carefully.
Luffy's voice trembled as he spoke, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles turned white. "Because Blackbeard killed one of Ace's crew, he started chasing him, and when he found him..." Luffy's whole body shook with emotion. "Blackbeard was also after me, so Ace fought him and lost... and Blackbeard gave him to the Marines..."
Tears started streaming down Luffy's face as he continued, his voice breaking. "I... really tried... sniff... to save... Ace... sniff... but... but... Ace... sniff... died..."
Ace and Sabo were frozen in shock, watching their usually cheerful little brother break down in front of them. Ace felt his heart clench at the raw pain in Luffy's voice.
"Luffy..." Ace moved closer to his crying brother.
"I won't let it happen again!" Luffy suddenly shouted through his tears, looking up at Ace with fierce determination. "I won't lose my brother again! That's why... that's why I needed both my brothers here! Together we're stronger! Together we can beat him!"
Sabo wrapped an arm around Luffy's shoulders, while Ace sat there, processing the weight of what he'd just heard. The future Luffy had seen... the pain his little brother had endured... it was all because of his pursuit of revenge.
Ace's eyes widened as a realization hit him. "Lu, you said I chased Blackbeard because he killed one of our crewmates..." He paused, looking directly at Luffy. "But Thatch, the one he tried to kill... he survived by a miracle!"
"EH?!" Luffy's tears suddenly stopped, his eyes bulging out comically in typical Luffy fashion. "REALLY?!"
"Yeah," Ace nodded, a small smile forming on his face. "That bastard stabbed Thatch in the back trying to steal a Devil Fruit, but Marco found him just in time. Our doctors worked non-stop for three days, and that stubborn cook refused to die. He's still recovering, but he's alive."
"SHISHISHI!" Luffy's face split into his signature grin, tears forgotten. "That's amazing! In the future, he died! This is much better!"
Sabo couldn't help but chuckle at the sudden mood swing. "So the future's already changing, huh?"
"But," Ace's expression turned serious again, "Blackbeard is still out there, and he has the Dark-Dark fruit now. He's still dangerous."
"SHISHISHI! Yeah! This time we'll beat him together!" Luffy jumped up, his energy completely restored. "Ace is super strong, Sabo is super strong, and I'm super strong too! There's no way we can lose!"
"Oi, oi," Sabo adjusted his hat, grinning. "Don't get too excited yet, Lu. We need a plan first."
"Plan?" Luffy tilted his head, picking his nose. "What for? We just need to punch him really hard!"
"YOU IDIOT!" Both Ace and Sabo bonked him on the head simultaneously.
"OUCH!" Luffy rubbed the growing bumps. "What was that for?!"
"This is exactly why you need your big brothers!" Ace sighed, but couldn't hide his fond smile. "You can't just rush in without thinking!"
"But Aceeeee," Luffy whined, "thinking makes my head hurt!"
"That's because your brain is made of rubber too," Sabo teased, dodging Luffy's stretchy punch.
"MEAN!" Luffy pouted, but then his stomach growled loudly. "Ah! I'm hungry! SANJI! MEAT!"
"Ah! Right! We're not on Merry!" Luffy laughed, rubbing his belly. "Oi, Ace! Let's go hunting! I want some crocodile meat!"
"You never change, do you?" Ace grinned, standing up. "Fine, but I bet I can catch a bigger one than you!"
"NO WAY! I'M GONNA CATCH THE BIGGEST ONE!" Luffy jumped up, already running towards the forest.
"OI!" Sabo bonked both of them with his pipe, leaving matching bumps. "We're in a DESERT city! There aren't any forests to hunt in, you idiots!"
"Oh yeah! Shishishi!" Luffy laughed, rubbing his head.
"Right..." Ace coughed, trying to maintain his dignity despite the obvious bump.
"Besides," Sabo adjusted his hat with a smirk, "I saw some pretty good restaurants in town. My treat."
"REALLY?!" Luffy's eyes turned to meat shapes. "FOOD! Let's go! Let's go!"
"Wait," Ace grabbed Luffy's stretching arm before he could rocket off. "Won't the Marines be looking for us?"
"SHISHISHI! Don't worry! I knocked them all out!"
"That's not the point..." Sabo sighed but then grinned mischievously. "Though I suppose we could use disguises..."
Ten minutes later:
"THIS IS THE WORST DISGUISE EVER!" Ace shouted with shark teeth as they sat in a restaurant, wearing fake mustaches that were falling off.
"Shishishi! Mine's cool!" Luffy's had already fallen into his soup.
"At least try to be subtle..." Sabo muttered, though his mustache was crooked.
"MORE MEAT!" Luffy called out, his cheeks stuffed like a hamster.
"STOP ORDERING SO MUCH!" Both brothers yelled as the pile of plates grew impossibly high.
The other customers watched with dropped jaws as the three "mysterious" men devoured enough food for an army, their pathetic disguises fooling no one.
"Those are definitely the guys from earlier..." A civilian whispered.
"Shhh! Don't make eye contact!" Another responded.
"More please!" All three brothers called out in unison, their plates somehow already empty again.
The poor restaurant owner could only cry tears of joy at his suddenly booming business, even as he wondered if his kitchen could keep up with these monsters' appetites.
Back on the Going Merry, the Straw Hat crew, reach the harbor.
"Alright, listen up!" Nami gathered everyone on Merry's deck. "We need to prepare for crossing the desert!"
"And avoid those three walking disasters..." Usopp muttered, glancing at the smoke still rising from parts of the city.
"Vivi and I will get desert clothes for everyone," Nami continued, ignoring him. "Sanji-kun, you and Usopp handle supplies."
"HAI, NAMI-SWAAAAN~!" Sanji twirled with hearts in his eyes.
"Why do I have to go with the love-cook..." Usopp grumbled.
"To carry everything, obviously," Nami replied with a sweet smile that promised debt if he complained.
"I'll gather information about Crocodile's movements," Robin spoke up, her arms crossed. "With Luffy-san's... changing the future, Crocodile's plan has likely shifted."
"Good thinking," Nami nodded. "We need to know if he's changed his plans."
"Um..." Vivi stepped forward, still slightly uncertain around Robin despite knowing she was an ally now. "Robin-san, could you also locate the rebel army? I need to tell Kohza the truth about who's really behind this civil war."
Robin smiled mysteriously. "Of course, Princess-san."
"Just try not to get caught up in any explosions!" Nami called out as they prepared to split up. "We've had enough chaos for one day!"
BOOM!
A distant explosion rocked the harbor, followed by familiar laughter.
"SHISHISHI!"
"YOU IDIOT!"
"NOT THE RESTAURANT!"
The crew collectively face-palmed.
"Maybe we should hurry..." Usopp suggested weakly.
"Agreed," everyone responded in unison.
As they dispersed into the city, more explosions and shouts echoed in the distance, accompanied by the sounds of Marines running around in panic.
"Those three..." Nami sighed, but couldn't help smiling. Their captain's joy at reuniting with his brothers was infectious, even if it meant half the city might end up destroyed.
"At least they're having fun," Vivi giggled.
"Too much fun," Nami grumbled, but her smile remained. "Come on, let's get those clothes before they burn down all the shops!"
"Wait!" Chopper suddenly called out. "What about me and Zoro?"
"Quack!" The duck flapped his wings indignantly.
"Oh right..." Nami turned back, then noticed Zoro was already walking in a completely wrong direction. "OI! THE CITY'S THIS WAY!"
"I knew that!" Zoro snapped, somehow having ended up facing the ocean.
"You stay on the ship!" Everyone shouted at him with shark teeth.
"Tch," Zoro crossed his arms. "I was just testing you..."
"LIAR!"
"I'll stay with Zoro!" Chopper volunteered. "Someone needs to make sure he doesn't get lost trying to guard Merry!"
"I DON'T GET LOST!"
"You got lost going from the bow to the stern yesterday..." Usopp muttered.
"WHAT WAS THAT?!"
"NOTHING!" Usopp hid behind Sanji.
"Karoo, you come with us," Vivi patted her duck's head. "We'll need help carrying all the clothes!"
"Quack!" Karoo saluted with his wing.
BOOM!
Another explosion rocked the harbor.
"ACE SET THE BILL ON FIRE!"
"IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!"
"SHISHISHI! FREE FOOD!"
"THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS!"
The crew sweatdropped collectively.
"Let's... let's just hurry," Nami rubbed her temples. "Before those three brothers bankrupt every restaurant in Alabasta..."
"Or burn them down," Usopp added.
"Or both," everyone agreed with resigned expressions.
As they finally dispersed into the city, Zoro was already somehow tangled in the rigging despite not moving from his spot.
"HOW DID YOU EVEN DO THAT?!" Chopper screamed with white eyes.
"The ropes moved," Zoro stated seriously.
"THEY DID NOT!"
Meanwhile, In Crocodile's hidden office at Rain Dinners Casino:
"Sir!" A frantic Baroque Works agent burst in. "Reports from Nanohana! Fire Fist Ace, Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff, and Straw Hat Luffy are in Alabasta! They're... they're brothers, sir!"
CRACK!
Crocodile's grip shattered his glass of wine. "What did you say?"
"Look!" The agent held up three wanted posters with shaking hands. "They're calling themselves the ASL brothers! They destroyed half of Nanohana's harbor and knocked out two Marine captains!"
"Kuhahaha..." Crocodile's laugh was dark as sand swirled around him. "So the Hero of the Marines has three criminal grandsons? How amusing."
"Sir," Mr. 1 stepped forward. "The operation in Alubarna is proceeding as planned, but with these developments..."
"We continue," Crocodile stood, his hook gleaming in the dim light. "The Marines will be too focused on those three troublemakers to notice our movements. Though we'll need to accelerate our timeline - they'll likely send Vice Admirals or even an Admiral now."
"And the Straw Hats?"
"The Straw Hats..." Crocodile exhaled a cloud of cigar smoke, his hook tapping against his desk. "With what I've gathered, their captain is an idiot, but Miss All-Sunday's joining them complicates things. And now with the Revolutionary Army's second-in-command And the Whitebeard second division captain here."
"They'll likely head to Alubarna," Mr. 1 observed.
"Perfect," Crocodile's grin turned predatory. "Let them come. I'll bury them all there and build my new country from their graves. Kuhahaha."
"Your orders, sir?"
" Send word to our agents in the capital - it's time for the final phase." Crocodile stood, sand swirling menacingly around him. "Those three brothers think they can interfere with my plans? I'll show them the true meaning of despair in this desert kingdom."
"Yes, sir." Mr. 1 bowed before leaving.
Crocodile turned to the window overlooking his casino, his expression darkening. "Come to Alubarna, Straw Hat. Bring your precious brothers. I'll make sure this desert becomes your tomb."