A long time ago, in a secret place, there lived a colony of wicked wights. These creatures hated mankind and were responsible for every misfortune and evil in the world. One day, the most wicked wight created something worthy of its disposition: A mirror of ice which reflected everything it saw in a twisted, perverted way.
The wights delighted in their new toy, and carried it high above the Earth, cackling at how disgusting all the beautiful things appeared in the mirror. The higher they held it, the more they could reflect, and so they climbed high into the sky. But there, where they barely touched the clouds, the mirror slipped from their grasp. It fell to Earth and was dashed into countless splinters, quickly scattered by the wind.
To this day, the shards of the mirror remain in the human realm. If a person's eye is pierced by one, they will never see the world the same again. But worse yet is if a person's heart is pierced, for their heart will become as cold as the ice on the mountaintop.

"—That's not true, is it?"

Ace lowered the tome he held to see Luffy staring at him with wide eyes.

"It's just a story, right?" Luffy added, clutching the comforter to him. Though he was now thirteen years of age and nearly ready to hit another growth spurt (or so he insisted), he had not yet grown out of being read to at bedtime.

Ace grinned, setting the book in his lap and ruffling Luffy's dark hair, a mop which a comb could never tame. "Of course it is," he said. Luffy smiled and reached up to mess with Ace's hair in turn (so similar to his own in color and tidiness). "I'll read you a different story next time, something less scary."

Luffy tapped Ace's head with a fist, frowning. "It wasn't scary! It just wasn't funny or happy!"

"Well, how about that one with the magic mirror and poison apple tomorrow?" Ace suggested. Luffy brightened and nodded.

"Okay, then. For now, get to sleep."

"I'm not—" Luffy yawned. "Not tired."

Ace set the book on the floor next to Luffy's bed, below the small table which held Luffy's old straw hat. "G'night, shrimp, see you tomorrow."

"I'm not a shrimp . . ."

Ace stood and turned off the light as he left the room, leaving the door open a crack. He descended the tiny, creaking staircase and into the little kitchen, where someone already sat at the table, its leaves hanging on either side.

"Hey, Sabo," he said, sitting across from him. "He's asleep."

Sabo looked up from his book—one of many resting on the table. His fair complexion matched neither Luffy's wheatish skin nor Ace's rosy, freckled tone, though his hair was wavy like Ace's, and his eyes round like Luffy's.

"That's good, then," he said, glancing to the stairs with a smile.

"He didn't seem to like the story I read him, though," Ace added, shifting where he sat.

Sabo gave him a stern look.

"Hey, how was I to know?" Ace said with a careless shrug. "I thought it was interesting. That one with the mirror shards . . . you know it?"

"Oh, that one," Sabo said with a nod. "I don't remember what happens, but I think I see why he wouldn't like it."

"Yeah." Ace glanced to the books with an exaggerated sigh. "What're we studying tonight?"

"Properties of matter."

"Now, consider this . . ." Ace leaned forward in a serious manner. "What if we just . . . skipped studying?"

Sabo rested his hand on his chin. "What if we didn't?"

"Then our night would be boring as hell."

"Ace, come on," Sabo said in exasperation. "I don't like it, either, but as long as we can't afford school, we need to educate ourselves."

"Yeah, but it's boring."

"You're pretty good at it."

"Doesn't make it less boring."

"True." Sabo pushed a book towards him. "Get to reading. We're doing this for Luffy, remember?"

"I know, I know," Ace said, reluctantly taking the book. "Helps us with exams once we get into school, which helps us find real jobs, which puts more food on the table for Luffy."

"There you go," Sabo said, grinning. "Although . . . I wonder if we could take jobs as wrestling instructors?"

Ace snickered. "Hey, we may be tough, but I don't think we're qualified to teach anyone unless we can take down the old man one day."

Sabo ducked his head, laughing. "Like anyone could take him down!"

Ace cleared his throat. "'I put you boys through this training so you can join the navy!'" he said gruffly in an excellent imitation of their grandfather. "'You need to be big and strong young men! Drink your teeth, brush your sleep, and get eight hours of milk—'"

"Stop!" Sabo exclaimed through his laughter, holding up a shaking hand.

"Pretty good, huh?" Ace said proudly, dropping the imitation.

"Too good," Sabo said, straightening back up as he recovered. "Really, though—"

"Yeah, yeah," Ace said, waving a hand. He opened up his book to the chapter and began skimming the text with Sabo.

They were perhaps halfway through their studies when the faint creaking of the stairs made them look up. Luffy poked his head around the corner and instantly pulled back when he saw them looking.

"Luffy, we know you're there," Ace said. "What's up?"

Luffy poked his head back around with a sheepish look. "I just wanted to sit in front of the fireplace," he mumbled. "I can't sleep."

"Oh," Ace said in surprise. "Alright, then. We'll light it up as soon as we're done studying—"

"Which happens to be right now," Sabo interrupted, shoving his book aside. Ace threw him an indignant look, which went ignored as Sabo continued, "Come on out to the living room, I'll get the matches."

"You're such a hypocrite," Ace hissed as Luffy shuffled into the room, following Sabo. He sighed and shoved his book away, standing to follow his brothers.

Sabo crumpled up some papers, throwing them into the fireplace, and struck a match, setting the paper alight and letting the flames spread to the wood. When he straightened up and turned around, he found Ace and Luffy already settled down, Luffy's head resting on Ace's lap.

"What?" Ace said when Sabo scowled. "We got here first."

Sabo stalked to the couch, sat down, and pulled Luffy's legs into his lap, dancing his fingers over the soles of his feet. Luffy shrieked and sat up, flinging his legs around and smacking Sabo's face.

"Serves you right," Ace muttered with a snicker.

"Oh, sorry," Luffy exclaimed.

Sabo removed Luffy's foot from his face and got comfortable on the couch. Luffy grabbed his brothers' shoulders with each arm and pulled them closer to him.

"That's better," he said firmly. "You guys are warm."

Ace pulled down the blanket from the top of the couch, draping it over Luffy, who adjusted it to himself and leaned back against the cushions. The fire was going strong. Sabo smoothed out his T-shirt.

"Oh . . ."

Ace glanced over at Sabo's soft noise and looked between them to see that Luffy had already fallen asleep.

"That was fast," he whispered. "Can you take him upstairs?"

"In a bit," Sabo murmured.

Ace adjusted the blanket around Luffy.

"Remember all the trouble he got into when he was little?" Sabo whispered.

Ace smiled. "He's still little, and he still gets into trouble."

"You know what I mean. Stealing food, falling out of trees . . ."

"He still does that."

Sabo rolled his eyes. "Fine. Okay. Nothing's changed."

Ace grinned. "And nothing will, until we get proper jobs."

Sabo leaned against the cushions, glancing at Luffy. "Winter's on its way. How much do we have saved up?"

"Enough to last us till the old man visits," Ace murmured. "He said he'd come by in March or April."

"What a great grandpa we have," Sabo muttered.

He watched the fire licking up the logs and curling away old news.

When Ace glanced at him again, he found that he'd fallen asleep, head resting on Luffy's.

"Oh, come on," he muttered in exasperation. "You were supposed to take him upstairs."

He stood and went to the fireplace. Once he'd extinguished the flames, he went back to the couch, fully intending to get Luffy up to bed and wake Sabo so they could finish studying.

Morning found the three of them fast asleep on the couch.

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