One Piece one shots.

Child! Ace x Child!Reader. A child's promise.

Agonized sobs floated unnoticed into the air, as the broken soul of a mourning child shattered on the ground about her.

No one seemed to notice when she left the hut and sat by herself on the grassy cliff face. No one seemed to notice when she cried and jerked in her sleep. No one seemed to hear the breathless sobs and wails she let slip as she sat alone.

That's because nobody listened. Nobody saw. Nobody cared.

It had been a month since she lost her older brother. A long,gruelling month. Filled with nothing but unheard cries and unseen misery.

Why was it this way? Sabo was only ten... he was only a kid! A boy who was so desperate to escape and be free, he felt the need to pack up and sail off without so much as a 'see ya later.'

The nine year old cried harder, so much that it became a struggle to breathe. Her throat absolutely burned, and her chest strained painfully as she didn't even try to contain her caged emotions.

She curled up into a ball, hugging her knees to her chest and burying her head in her knees. Almost instantaneously, her tears soaked through her shorts.

"I want my brother back..." She whispered into her trembling legs. Before, she whipped up her head and screamed with all the remaining soul and strength her broken body had left.

"I WANT MY BROTHER BACK!!"

Nothing. Her plea seemed to fade immediately into the rolling, blue waves. That was, until she felt a hand on her shoulder. Her head snapped around to face the person, when her breath caught in her throat.

There stood Ace, eyes watering as he tried to keep a tight grip on his tears.

"We all do." He whispered softly.

Not a second later, she felt someone lean against her other arm. She turned to see Luffy, gently leaning his head against her arm, sniffling as he too, tried not to cry.

She smiled weakly, and wrapped her arm around Luffy's back, Ace sitting beside her and reaching over to tenderly rub her back.

"We all have to live and keep Sabo's memory going. We have to become pirates! And sail the seas, gaining more freedom then anyone has ever known!"

The young girl nodded, arm wrapping around Ace as she pulled both her brothers closer. And soon enough, all of the exhausted youngsters, slipped into a peaceful sleep.

~ later ~

_____'s blurry eyes slowly fell open, struggling to adjust to the seemingly abrupt darkness. When her eyes finally focused, she was struck by the beauty of night.

The long grass swayed gently in the cool, but not cold, breeze. Millions of stars hung in the sky, glittering like millions of diamonds.

A cluster of fire flies hung in the air, shifting and moving like golden liquid. The dark ocean was still, and the only noise was the chirp of near by crickets. ______ had never seen anything like this before. It was beyond amazing...

She was jolted from her awe by a close whisper.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" She turned and looked at Ace, who offered a warm smile. A smile she happily returned along with a nod. Looking down, she noticed Luffy's head in her lap, one hand clutching at the fabric of her shorts as he slept peacefully.

"He showed me this place... Sabo."

Ace mumbled in a hushed tone. ______ nodded. Unable to speak past the lump in her throat. With a disappointed sigh, Ace slowly stood up.

"We best get back. Dadan is sure to be angry..."

Sighing as well, the young girl waited as Ace picked Luffy out of her lap and set him on his back. Criss crossing his arms around his neck.

______ couldn't help but think of Sabo as the three slowly made their way back to the hut. She couldn't help the tears that once again spilled down her face, or the shivers that shook her body.

Suddenly, she felt a small, warm hand take her own. She looked over to see Ace, holding her hand. His other supporting Luffy as he moved forward, never taking his eyes away from the path, so he didn't trip.

"It's ok, ______." The usually cocky boy uttered.

"Ace... I'm scared... what if... what if the people who hurt Sabo... hurt us to?" It was a silly fear, she knew. But the same dream always occurred to her. The dream of being hunted by those who killed her brother...

"They won't. I won't let them." Ace states, his posture straightening.

"He may not of been here to hear it, but I promised Sabo I'd protect you. I won't let anything hurt you." Ace turned to _____ for a second to give her a serious face.

"Ever."

The young girl simply smile, squeezing his hand as she turned forward to keep her eyes on the path forward.

-authors note-
Okay! This one was actually quite upsetting to write. Especially when I read over the finished version. *stares intensely into distance.* Anyway, I wrote it, despite the major feels and hope you guys enjoyed! (Also, like the picture? I almost squealed like a child at the sight of it )