I own nothing but the idea.

The first chapter is the weakest as it's just set up. It's all uphill from here.

"I want to write Sabo a letter."

Ace startles. Dropping his gaze from the glittering blanket of stars over Alabasta to his baby brother, a net of sadness, regret, and self loathing squeezes his heart for just a moment. He couldn't have heard that right.

Luffy turns to him, expression simple yet, serious. "It was his dream to write a book about all the adventures he had so I want to write him about all our adventures. That way, he isn't left out." He gives a small smile, only half its regular size (large on anyone else, almost fragile on his rubber face), and the shadow of loss behind warm hazelnut makes Ace want to strangle someone; probably himself (he wasn't good enough on his own, he can't fix this, if only he had been there) but preferably that damn Tenryuubito.

Ace doesn't think about Sabo often. It always comes with overwhelming waves of agony (Why didn't I just go get him? How could Sabo just be gone?) and anger (Why would he try to leave us behind? How could that Tentryuubito just shoot a child? Why wasn't I there to protect my brother?!)

Staring at Luffy, Ace already knows what his answer will be. Despite his guilt – despite this being the last thing he wants to do – he will always try to do right by his little brother. Without Sabo, he has to be the nice brother now. Without Sabo, Ace has to be strong enough for two people. Without Sabo, Luffy was his sole reason to live.

He thinks briefly of Pops and Marco and Thatch (and the net squeezes because Teach was his responsibility and he'd lost another brother because he's just so useless) –

He loves them all. He really does. But it's the thought of loosing Luffy, the miraculous ball of sunshine who chose to love him despite all his hatred, unconditionally and unreservedly, that causes Ace to feel as if the world just crumbled out from beneath him.

So even though he doesn't want to, he gives a small nod and straightens up. "Anyone on your crew have spare paper?"

Luffy's smile brightens ten notches and Ace knows he's done the right thing. "Nami should have some."

And with that, Ace heads off to find his brother's greedy navigator and hopes she doesn't take all his money for the few sheets of paper they'll need. After all, they have a lot to tell their lost brother.