New target 7 (ASL x Reader)

  "ACE! HAVE YOU SEEN (Y/N)?" Sabo called up to the older boy, said ebony haired boy look down from the tree he was climbing to stare into Sabo's eyes. Ace shook his head to tell Sabo he had not seen the girl that day, and curiously, he slipped down the tree to join Sabo on the ground.

 "No, why?" Ace asked, almost agitated. Perhaps (Y/n) was sick, and if so, he may need to go take care of her. The Orphanage didn't supply sufficient medical treatment, and so Ace often took (Y/n) to Makino for help. 

 "Can't find her anywhere. Think she is still at the Orphanage?" Sabo asked curiously, Ace's eyes narrowed dangerously as he thought things through. They needed to check on her, to make sure she was not hurt. 

 "We should go check, in case we have to kick someones ass." Ace replied, but soon enough Luffy came racing towards them in a flurry of panic, tears and snot flying in the wind behind him.

 "ACE! SABO! COME QUICK, (Y/N)'S GOING TO BE ADOPTED BY SOMEONE! WE HAVE TO HURRY!" Ace and Sabo where quick, sprinting off and leaving the slower 7 year old behind in the dust. 

 Ace was faster than Sabo, and with his determination fueling him, he was like a tank ready to charge through anything. No one would take his (Y/n) from him. He'd kill anyone who tried to separate him from his friends and family.

 It wasn't long before he and Sabo came to a stop, seeing large men and a ton of people crowding around the orphanage. This was strange, why was her adoption attracting so much attention. Ace paused to listen to the chattering of the people around him.

 "A little girl? She's being adopted by a who?" Someone whispered from among the crowd of strangers, their curiosity was answered by their companion.

 "I heard she's being adopted by a King."

 Ace had heard enough, pushing and climbing his way through the crowd he made it to see the pathway in front of the Orphanage. But all he caught sight of was a head of (h/c) hair being ushered onto a ship. 

 He felt his blood rush to his face, anger filling his veins. How could this be happening? Shoving people aside, Ace tried to make his way to the ship as quickly as he possibly could but was unable to make it in time. 

 The ship was already setting sail by the time they reached the docks, he tried to get to her, he really did. He even swam as far as he could after the ship, but it was too late. He was too late. And now she was gone. His promise to keep her safe had been broken, she had been right. Something bad was going to happen.

 And that wasn't even the end of it.

  ~time skip~

 Ace sat there staring out of the horizon, like he had with (Y/n) only a few days ago. But now, now she was gone, and perhaps he'd never see her again. Perhaps she'd forget all about Him, Luffy and Sabo. Perhaps she'd soon forget all the memories they shared, and this little island.

 These simple and plain days spent with him and the others drowned out by the beauty and glamour of royalty. 

 She'd be living as a Princess now, and he wouldn't even know where to start looking for her. And perhaps she wouldn't even want to leave if he ever did find her.

 "Ace! Did you find-...Ace?" Sabo stopped short as he saw the tears rolling down Ace's eyes. Realization hit the blonde and he fell silent. 

 "Ace..." Sabo started, looking as if he wanted to say something, but he cut himself off. What could he say? They had just lost one of their closest friends, knowing she didn't want to leave in the first place, without even getting to say goodbye.

 And as he joined Ace, staring out over the horizon with tears gathering in his blue eyes, he couldn't help but ponder over that simple question. The question he knew Ace was thinking of too...

 Would they ever see her again?