Chapter 588: Sabo's Ocean

Arc: Post-War · Saga: Summit War · Released: 2010-05-24 (est.)

Summary

The ASL childhood flashback continues. On the day the World Aristocrats arrive at Goa, a massive World Government ship (lion figurehead, Celestial-Dragon sails) reaches the harbor as the townsfolk worship the chance to meet “someone so holy”; the child Sabo, out in his own little boat under a pirate flag, dreams aloud of one day captaining such a ship — and is fired on (pp. 4–5). Cut to Mt. Corvo/Dadan’s house: Luffy is being held back from running to Trash Mountain to search for the missing Ace and Dadan, insisting “Ace isn’t dead!!” (p. 6). The Celestial Dragon Saint Jalmac is named — he shot Sabo’s boat because the boy hoisted a pirate flag and “crossed his ship’s path,” and ignores his retainer’s warning that a child is aboard; Sabo’s boat explodes (p. 7). Back at Dadan’s, Ace kicks the door open carrying the burned, unconscious Dadan on his back — both survived the fire (pp. 8–9). Ace and Luffy reunite; Ace explains they hid by the river, beat Bluejam, and that he stole medicine in town to keep Dadan alive (pp. 10–11). Garp and Dadan discuss Ace’s refusal-to-run nature, comparing him to his father Roger — Garp admits a Navy man couldn’t bring himself to hate the boy (“the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”, pp. 12–13). Then Dogura returns with terrible news: he saw the boat that was shot — it was Sabo’s (pp. 14–15). Ace flies into a rage to go avenge Sabo and is wrestled down; Dadan tells him “your father died and changed the entire era — become as big a man as him first… it’s this nation, this world, that killed Sabo,” while Luffy sobs (pp. 16–17). Finally a farewell letter Sabo mailed before setting sail arrives: he’s worried about his brothers, calls their bond his greatest treasure, asks Ace whether he or Ace is the elder brother, and promises the three will meet again at sea someday (pp. 18–19). Luffy weeps over the letter: “Take care of him. But he’s still our little brother.”

New reveals

• The shooter is named — Saint Jalmac, a Celestial Dragon. The World Noble aboard the visiting WG ship fired on Sabo’s boat because the boy flew a pirate flag and crossed the ship’s path: “If he hoisted a pirate flag, that makes him a pirate. Besides… how dare that lowly peasant cross my ship’s path!” Told “Saint Jalmac! There’s a child on that boat!”, he fires anyway; the boat is destroyed (p. 7).
• Ace and Dadan survived the fire. They hid in the middle forest by the river where the flames couldn’t reach (which is why Dadan is “burned all over”); on the night of the fire they beat Bluejam, and Ace went into town and stole medicine to keep the dying Dadan alive (pp. 9–11).
• The boat that was shot was Sabo’s. Dogura witnessed the cannon-fire and brings the news; Luffy punches him, refusing to believe it (“You liar!!”), but it’s confirmed — the “happy” Sabo had raised a pirate flag and gone to sea alone precisely because hoodlums like them “all have a place we don’t want to go back to” (pp. 14–15).
• Roger characterization (Garp ↔ Dadan). Roger would stand his ground and fight; “one time he destroyed the entire army of a nation… just because they talked bad about his friend”; “society saw him as a great criminal, but his friends trusted him completely”; he was “especially afraid of losing his loved ones”; Ace grew up much the same way. Garp: “I’m a Navy soldier and I still couldn’t bring myself to hate Ace. That’s why I took Ace under my wing… Even if he hates his father, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” (pp. 12–13).
• Dadan’s charge. Restraining the suicidal Ace: “Your father died and changed the entire era! Become as big a man as him before you even think about getting yourself killed!! It’s this nation that killed Sabo! It’s this world!!” (pp. 16–17).
• Sabo’s farewell letter. Mailed before he set sail: he’s worried about Ace and Luffy after the fire but knows they’re okay; “It might be weird to have two oldest brothers and one little brother, but the bond we share is the greatest treasure I have.” He vows to grow stronger and become a pirate, telling them his destination is “anywhere but here,” and promises reunion: “This ocean is vast and free! We’ll meet again someday!… We brothers should all become pirates one of these days! Then we can meet again somewhere out there.” He signs off telling Ace to take care of “still weak and a crybaby” Luffy (pp. 18–19).

Foreshadowing seeds planted

Mentions / appearances

• Characters: Luffy (child; refuses to believe Sabo dead, weeps over the letter), Ace (child; survived the fire, carried the burned Dadan home, tries to avenge Sabo and is restrained), Sabo (child; his boat is destroyed by a Celestial Dragon — presumed dead; his farewell letter is read), Dadan (badly burned; restrains Ace; the “become as big a man as your father” speech), Dogura (Dadan-Family bandit; witnessed the shooting, brings the news), Garp (in conversation with Dadan; compares Ace to Roger; “took Ace under my wing”), Saint Jalmac (named here, not yet shown — the Celestial Dragon who fired on Sabo’s boat; named & voiced off-panel p.7, the on-panel figure who answers “there’s a child on that boat!” is his retainer) , Bluejam (mentioned — Ace and Dadan “managed to beat Bluejam” on the night of the fire), Roger (discussed, not shown — Ace’s father; “destroyed the entire army of a nation”).
• Crews / groups: Bluejam Pirates, Dadan Family (Mt. Corvo bandits), Marines (Garp), Goa aristocracy / World Aristocrats’ welcoming ceremony.
• Locations: Goa Kingdom (the harbor + the World Aristocrats’ arrival ceremony), Mt. Corvo (Dadan’s house), Gray Terminal (“Trash Mountain,” the fire’s aftermath), East Blue.
• World-Building: Celestial Dragons / World Aristocrats (Saint Jalmac murders a child with impunity for “crossing his ship’s path”).

Notable panels

• Pages 1–2 — Two-page B&W chapter-title spread (title: “Sabo’s Ocean”). Decorative Alice-in-Wonderland “Mad Hatter tea party” art: Nami in a frilly black dress on the floor beside a “B” suitcase, a blond butler figure (Sanji) carrying a cake, a skeleton (Brook), a giant toad, top-hat/dormouse figures, the banner “Would you like another cup of tea?”. One-off title-page art, not a cover serial; no color spread in cache.
• Page 4 — The World Government ship arrives at Goa (lion figurehead, Celestial-Dragon sails): “The government ship is here!”
• Page 5 — The crowd worships the chance to meet a World Noble; Sabo: “I’d love to be the captain of a big ship like that someday.” → “BOOM…!!!”
• Page 7 — Saint Jalmac named; “how dare that lowly peasant cross my ship’s path!”; ignores “there’s a child on that boat” and fires — Sabo’s boat explodes.
• Page 9 — Ace kicks the door open carrying the burned, unconscious Boss Dadan on his back: “BOSS!! / ACE!! / DOOM!!”
• Page 10 — Ace headbutts the crying Luffy (“How dare you kill me off, you idiot!”) and explains how he and Dadan survived.
• Page 13 — Garp on Roger: “Society saw him as a great criminal, but his friends trusted him completely… the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
• Pages 16–17 — Ace wrestled down as he screams “I’m gonna avenge Sabo!!”; Dadan’s “your father died and changed the entire era… it’s this world that killed Sabo” speech; Luffy sobbing “SABO!!”
• Pages 18–19 — Sabo’s farewell letter (“We’ll meet again someday!”); Luffy weeping over it: “Take care of him. But he’s still our little brother.”
• Page 20 — Not part of this chapter: the title page of the next chapter (Chapter 589: “Will of the Winds”) was captured in this folder.

Open questions raised

• Did Sabo truly die when Saint Jalmac destroyed his boat? (No body is shown; his letter promises reunion.)
• Will the three sworn brothers ever meet again at sea as Sabo’s letter vows?
• What will Ace’s grief and rage at “this nation, this world” — and Garp’s “apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” warning — make of him?