The Fire Fist, Portgaz D Ace is the adoptive brother of Luffy and the son of Gold Roger in One Piece. He’s a fierce, formidable fighter with the power of the Flame-Flame Fruit, and fights for the Whitebeard Pirates. There’s so much more to the character though, as Ace has both a complex history and grievous destiny in the events of One Piece.
Spoiler warning, as this will contain events throughout the span of One Piece. In short, turn back now and catch up on Mangaplus, Shonen Jump, or Viz. For those caught up or those that don’t care, onto the show!
Who is Fire Fist Ace?
Portgaz D. Ace is a young pirate from the East Blue. He set out from his small town of Windmill Village as a kid, initially the captain of his own Spade Pirates. It isn’t long until he makes a move against Whitebeard, Emperor of the Sea. He works up to the commander spot for Whitebeard’s Second Division, which he serves until his death. Ace is, much like his Flame-Flame Fruit, a fiery, hotheaded person.
He’s devoted to his friends and family though, much like Luffy. Ace even shares the trait of falling asleep during meals, though he hasn’t trained himself to eat while sleeping like his brother. Also like Luffy, he can be a goofy guy when with people he enjoys being around or just new friends, like with Yamato and Tama. Ace makes friends wherever he goes, and is the integral flame that lights a torch of freedom for the One Piece world.
Ace’s Birth
A feat never seen before or since, Portgaz D Rouge, mother of Ace, held her baby in her womb for twenty months. She had to struggle and fight to keep him in, desperately struggling to save him from the Navy after Roger’s death. She did it too, and at twenty months, after the Navy drops their surveillance, a baby is born. Portgaz D Rouge gives him the name his father chose, then passes on, killed by the strain on her body. Ace carries the name his father wanted, but takes his mother’s last name as a tribute.
Who are Ace’s Brothers?
Ace has no biological brothers, but two adopted ones. Both Monkey D Luffy and Sabo are Ace’s spiritual brothers, as they all exchange sake cups while young. Initially Ace rejects Luffy and frequently ignores him, wandering off to meet Sabo. The young rubber boy earns their respect though, and they all become incredibly close. Until Sabo’s unfortunate “death”, they were planning on going to sea as pirates together. His death just drives Ace more, and he trains even harder.
When Ace and Luffy meet again later, it was like they were never apart. They exchange jabs, talk, and joke like best friends, and see each other off with high hopes along with a Vivre Card from Ace. It’s this bond that eventually brings Luffy to Marineford.
Whitebeard’s Son
When Ace originally sets out with his Spade Pirates, he attempts to take down the Whitebeard Pirates pretty early into his career. It’s a ballsy move and pays off with Ace insisting he’ll stay and fight while his crew can escape. He earns the Emperor’s respect though, and after a time joins the crew. Everyone in the crew, no matter what is considered a son of Whitebeard, and Ace considers him a father more than Roger.
This is how the Navy kickstarts the war at Marineford, when Ace is taken prisoner by Blackbeard. Teach turns Ace in for a trade to the Navy so he can get Warlord of the Sea status, especially since they’re a Warlord short with Crocodile’s defeat. Now, Ace is a prisoner of the Navy, all set for execution not long after his brother’s incident at Sabaody Archipelago.
Why is Ace After Blackbeard?
Despite the multiple insistences from Whitebeard and others that he not, Ace chases down Teach for justice. Teach was under Ace’s Second Division, and is guilty of murdering Thatch, the leader of the First Division. Thatch held the Dark-Dark Fruit, and Teach finally kills him to take the power for himself. It’s a vicious attack, and Ace is determined to bring his former subordinates to face judgment. Unfortunately, Ace isn’t quite as ready as he believes.
Ace is brought down quickly despite his Flame-Flame Fruit powers. Teach is already surprisingly resourceful with his powers, and uses them to suppress Ace’s fire, which leads him to a bargain with the Navy. Ace goes off to Impel Down while awaiting execution, cellmates with the likes of Jimbei, First Son of the Sea. He gets an earful from Garp as well, who asks where he went wrong raising Ace, which is giving Garp far too much credit since he barely raised the boy.
The Marineford War
The day of execution arrives and the Navy gathers massive forces at their Marineford base. The Admirals are all there, with multiple Vice-Admirals and others supporting them. As Ace is at the execution platform, Sengoku monologues about his family history until the pirates begin to arrive. Ace has to watch helplessly as all of his friends fight or die, just to free him from the Navy. He begs them to stop, to leave him behind, but they shrug it off.
When Luffy shows up it becomes entirely different, as his brother fights his way forward alongside Whitebeard to save Ace. Once he frees Ace, they’re finally able to fight side by side once more. Each showing off with explosive powers from their Devil Fruits, they make quick work through the battlefield. It looks like they’re about to make it out when tragedy strikes with Akainu’s entrance.
The Flame-Flame Fruit
Ace’s powers come from the Flame-Flame Fruit, which is a Logia-type Devil Fruit. The user becomes a being made of flames at will, with the ability to create and manipulate fire. Ace uses his powers in the coolest ways, from covering his punches with flames to the Flame Emperor technique. This technique builds pillars of raging fire, then makes mini-supernovas in his hands, and yet it’s still not enough.
How Does Ace Die?
Unfortunately, magma is hotter than fire. When Luffy is in danger of a fatal shot from Akainu, Ace jumps in the way to save his brother. Akainu turns him into an extra crispy donut, punching a hole straight through Ace’s chest. He knows there’s no way to save himself. Most of his vital organs are gone, and those that aren’t are burnt to hell. Ace is a dead man walking now as he falls into Luffy’s arms, and tells his brother his one regret.
The single thing that Ace regrets not seeing while he was alive, is his brother as the King of Pirates. Luffy is overcome with shock and grief as Ace dies in his arms. Now, it’s up to others to carry on his will as his friends and crewmates help Luffy make it out safely.
Ace’s Will Lives On
Devil Fruits can have a will of their own, and that’s only one way Ace will live on. News of his death brings memories rushing back to the amnesiac Chief of Staff for the Revolutionaries, Sabo. Two years later, news of a tournament in Dressrosa attracts Luffy and Sabo. Ace may not know it, but he’s responsible for reuniting them in one of the happiest meetings the series sees. Sabo takes Luffy’s place and wins the Flame-Flame Fruit. Now, Ace’s fire lives on with Sabo, who uses the Fire Fist technique as a tribute to his late brother.
Ace also holds the Will of D, and like all with the initial, exists to cause trouble. In his case, he’s the match that lights the fuse of revolution, crumbling faith in the Navy and emboldening pirates everywhere. Now, his brothers Monkey D Luffy and Sabo continue on his dream of freedom for everyone, with a stronger will than ever.
Ace’s Legacy
One of One Piece’s most popular characters of all time, Ace is an icon. His Flame-Flame Fruit is one of the most powerful to exist, even a target of Blackbeard from the start of Marineford. Ace even left behind a smolder of revolution during his visit to Wano a few years before, as he met Yamato and Tama while there. He shares food with them, and promises to come back one day to free them. Luffy carries out that promise in his stead, and lives up to his brother’s legacy.
Ace’s will still lives on in the manga, now well into the Egghead Island arc. There are likely to be many more who knew the notorious Fire Fist Ace, and will flashbacks of Ace will surely happen a few more times in the coming arcs. Meanwhile, Sabo is making damn good use of his Devil Fruit with an attack on the Gorosei. Ace’s spirit is still alive and well in the world of One Piece, and won’t be leaving any time soon.
