I genuinely got mad at this. Not because this is what I wanted- I'd be happier if Ace was alive. But that's not the point. Ace died, proving that even those we love will pass. That it's inevitable and we can only pick ourselves up after the pieces have broken away. We can still cry and lament and regret but we cannot change the past. So when I saw Ace walk over, not in a dream state, I felt WORSE because it undermined the entire importance of that time. I sob about Ace to this day. I'm rewatching all of One Piece with a friend I managed to convince into watching it. He doesn't understand that every time I see Ace again I start getting sad; he's been spoiled of the death. But every time he asks what I would give for Ace to be alive I tell him nothing, because it was something necessary. Not only for Luffy, for far FAR more people Ace was important and his passing inspirits their growth. If Ace hadn't passed away Sabo may likely have never gotten his memory back, as he's seen news about Ace in the past and not changed. If Ace hadn't passed Shanks wouldn't have taken action in the war, perhaps resulting in more people dying. Ace's death brought Jimbei closer to Luffy. If Ace hadn't died Tama likely would have just been told by Luffy that his brother hadn't forgotten her and we may not have half the Wano Arc we currently do. It's a necessary evil.
