Chương 9: Chapter 9: A Bond Forged in Brotherhood
The forest around Foosha Village was alive with the sounds of rustling leaves and distant waves crashing against the shore. In their treehouse hideout, tucked high above the ground, Vulcan, Ace, Sabo, and Luffy sat in a circle, the air between them thick with excitement. The four boys had shared countless adventures, explored every corner of the forest, and tested each other's strength, but today felt different.
Today, something more significant was about to happen.
Vulcan leaned back against the sturdy wooden beams of their treehouse, watching as Ace paced around, grinning from ear to ear. Sabo, seated nearby, chuckled at Ace's energy, while Luffy, barely able to sit still, beamed with anticipation. It was clear that a decision had been made—one that would change their lives forever.
"Alright," Ace said, stopping in front of them with his arms crossed, "it's time we make it official."
Sabo raised an eyebrow, already knowing where this was going. "You mean...?"
"Yeah," Ace said, his grin widening. "We've talked about it enough. It's time we swear an oath to each other. From this day forward, we're brothers!"
Luffy's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Brothers? For real?"
Ace nodded firmly, his usual confidence brimming over. "Not just for now, but forever. No matter what happens, we'll always be brothers."
Vulcan, who had been quiet for most of the conversation, glanced around at his younger companions. He had always felt protective of Ace and Sabo, and now Luffy had wormed his way into their lives with his infectious energy and relentless spirit. The thought of formalizing their bond—something stronger than friendship—made sense to him. They had already been through so much together. This was just the next step.
Sabo stood up and walked over to Ace, placing a hand on his shoulder. "So, we're going to make it official, huh? How do we do that?"
Ace pulled something from behind his back—a small, simple bottle of sake. "We drink together," Ace explained, holding the bottle up for everyone to see. "We'll each take a drink, and when we do, we'll swear to be brothers for life."
Vulcan's eyes softened as he watched Ace's determination. This was important to him. For years, Ace had been driven by the need to prove himself, to show the world that he was more than just a kid with big dreams. This was his way of creating something permanent, something no one could take away.
Luffy, already bouncing on his feet, looked eager to get started. "I wanna drink first!"
Sabo laughed, shaking his head. "Calm down, Luffy. There's no rush. We're doing this together."
A Sacred Oath
The four boys gathered in a tight circle around the small fire that crackled in the middle of their hideout. The flames flickered, casting warm shadows across their faces as the sun began to dip below the horizon. The bottle of sake sat in the center, its significance not lost on any of them.
Ace grabbed the bottle, his expression serious now. He looked at each of them in turn—first at Vulcan, then Sabo, and finally Luffy—before speaking.
"I swear," Ace began, his voice low but filled with conviction, "to always be by your side. No matter what happens, no matter where we go, we'll always have each other's backs. From this day on, we're brothers."
He handed the bottle to Sabo, who smiled softly as he took it.
"I swear too," Sabo said, his tone more gentle but just as resolute. "We'll be brothers forever. No one will break this bond, no matter what happens."
Sabo passed the bottle to Vulcan, who accepted it with a calm nod. For him, the bond he shared with Ace, Sabo, and Luffy had already been growing for years, but making it official—swearing an oath—meant more than just words. It was a promise he would keep for the rest of his life.
"I swear," Vulcan said, his voice steady, "that I'll always protect you. No matter what happens, you'll always have me by your side."
Finally, the bottle found its way into Luffy's eager hands. He grinned as he held it up, practically vibrating with excitement.
"I swear I'll always stick with you guys!" Luffy said, his voice filled with determination. "We'll all be pirates, and I'll be the King of the Pirates! No one's gonna get in our way!"
The brothers couldn't help but laugh at Luffy's exuberance, but beneath the laughter was a deep sense of connection. As Luffy finished speaking, they each took a drink from the bottle, one by one, sealing their oath.
Brothers in Blood
When the bottle was empty, Ace placed it gently on the ground. For a moment, the boys sat in silence, letting the weight of their promise settle over them. They weren't just friends or companions anymore—they were brothers, bound not by blood but by something far deeper: loyalty, trust, and the shared dream of freedom.
Sabo leaned back against the wall of the treehouse, looking up at the stars as they began to appear in the darkening sky. "I've never had a family like this before," he admitted quietly, his tone softer than usual. "Not one I chose, anyway."
Ace nodded, his gaze focused on the flames. "Neither have I."
Luffy, always full of energy, scooted closer to the fire, his grin never fading. "We're all gonna be pirates! And no one can stop us now that we're brothers!"
Vulcan, sitting with his legs crossed, looked at the three boys around him. He had always seen himself as the steady presence, the one who made sure they didn't stray too far into danger. But this moment—the creation of their brotherhood—was just as important to him as it was to the others.
"You're right," Vulcan said, his voice quiet but firm. "From now on, no matter where life takes us, we'll always have each other."
Ace smiled at that, his usual fire tempered by the warmth of the moment. "Yeah. No matter what."
Sabo, leaning his head back against the wall, nodded in agreement. "We'll be unstoppable."
Luffy, already looking ahead to the future, punched his fist into the air. "And I'll be the best pirate ever!"
The brothers laughed, their voices echoing through the quiet forest. But underneath the laughter was a sense of unspoken understanding. They knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy. There would be challenges—dangers they couldn't even imagine yet. But none of that mattered right now.
Because in this moment, they were together.
The Night of the Brotherhood
As the fire began to die down, casting the forest in flickering shadows, the boys remained in the treehouse, talking about the future, about their dreams, and about the adventures they would one day have. Ace spoke of sailing the seas and becoming stronger than anyone who dared to challenge him. Sabo dreamed of freedom, of a life beyond the walls of the Goa Kingdom. Luffy, ever determined, swore he would become the Pirate King.
Vulcan listened to them, his calm presence grounding their wild imaginations. But even he couldn't deny the pull of adventure. He had spent years protecting Ace and Sabo, watching them grow stronger, but now, with Luffy in the mix, the bond between them felt even more solidified.
As the moon rose high into the sky, the brothers sat together, their hearts light with the knowledge that no matter what happened next, they would face it together.
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