#my Ace playlist has been pretty much squared away for months but I'm still working on Sabo's

[starlightbelle]

I'm going to be ill. "Ashes - Part 2" by the Struts is SUCH a Sabo song. 😭

Especially the second verse onwards, but it paints a very vivid picture in my mind about Sabo grappling with the grief of losing Ace.

I guess now this is how the story ends I lost my [brother] and I lost a friend Lord, help me now Life will never be the same [Memories] going up in flames with no way out I've been shaking, taking, faking it to escape But life on the ceiling, losing feeling is not the best place

Verse one:: The parts in brackets I changed from the original lyrics to reflect their brotherhood better. Think: Sabo's numbness after regaining his memories and trying to live with it but he can't escape his grief.

I wanna sing like we did back then So out of place, yeah, we didn't fit in Dancing like we were the only ones high Never again will I feel so alive Wanna drink, you'd only have champagne Get out of my face, I'm seeing yours again Spinning around like you're there in my arms I'm keeping your memory alive

Verse two:: If I were at a better place with my art skills, I'd make an animatic of this. This second verse would be a montage of them as kids, the sake cups, etc.

Cause I can remember When we held the world in our hands (yeah) We were everything, two names on a beating heart We lived our life while the others were making plans (yeah) We held every breath and made every day our last We burned like fire, now everything's turned to ashes We burned like fire, now everything's turned to ashes Oh, yeah

Chorus:: It just fits so well, you can feel the longing in the lyrics for the happier times of their childhood, really just the times when Ace was there, when Ace was alive. They were wild and restless and reckless as children but tried to live without regrets

You were taken from me but I can still see that smile And I know that you'll tell me "move on," but it's taking a while I find myself laughing at things you would say And how through the bad times, you'd say it's okay You're living in me now and that's where you'll stay

Verse three:: This verse was the one that made me literally pause and listen like that spongebob thinking gif...

"you're living in me now and that's where you'll stay" Sabo claiming the Flame-Flame Fruit for himself and inheriting Ace's will...referring to his own flames as if they were Ace himself?? When I tell you I'm on the verge of tears typing this....

I'll always remember When we held the world in our hands (yeah) We were everything, two names on a beating heart I'll miss you forever when no one else understands (yeah) I'll hold every breath and save everyday that was ours We burned like fire, now everything's turned to ashes We burned like fire, now everything's burned to ashes To ashes To ashes Oh, oh

Final chorus:: Repetition of the chorus, but this time with a change in lyrics. "We lived our life while the others were making plans" changes now to "I'll miss you forever when no one else understands." 😭😭😭 Sabo finally regaining his memories of his brother at the absolute worst time possible, when it's already too late to save his brother...his best friend...

Please, please listen to this wonderful song and tell me I'm not alone in this. It may be the most Sabo song I've ever heard..