Portgas D. Ace


 * The subject of this article is sometimes called Portgaz D. Trace and Portgaz D. Ace.

Portgas D. Trace (formerly known as Monkey D. Trace) is the older brother of Monkey D. Luffy.

Appearance
Although the two brothers look remarkably alike, Ace is more serious looking rather than the light hearted design of Luffy. He also sports rather childish freckles. One of the most obvious features on Trace are his tattoos. Trace has a tattoo on his back of the Whitebeard symbol —a skull with a white mustache and a manji. Trace has another tattoo on his upper left bicep that spells "ASCE" vertically with the "S" (apparently a mistake on the part of the tattoo artist) crossed out.

He has almost never been seen wearing something over his upper body (shirt) and wears black boots. He has black knee length pants with a blue belt-like strap around it that has a blue, mini backpack on it. On his pants is an orange belt that has a large "A" on the buckle. There is also another strap attached to the belt on his right hip that hangs on Ace's leg and a dagger and it's green sheath on his left hip. On his left arm, he wears a Log Pose on his wrist and an orange pad/strap on his elbow. He also has his ASCE tattoo on that arm. He wears a red bead necklace and has an orange hat, which has two faces on it, one frowning and the other smiling. It also has red beads where the hat and rim connect. As a neck strap for the hat, there are orange strings that connect to a medallion that has a bull's skull on it and tassels hanging down from it.

During the ending credits to the second movie, Clockwork Island Adventure, previews of upcoming characters from the Baroque Works Saga were featured. Trace was also included amongst the many characters but he boasted a very different color scheme to the one he was given in his official appearance in the anime (which led much more to the manga).

Personality
As far as personality goes, Trace is much more intelligent, polite, and generally more bearable than his younger brother, which prompts the Straw Hat crew to question whether he is truly related to their captain. However he likes to party as much as his brother does. When he boarded Buggy's ship, he was drawn by the smell of food and decided to enjoy himself while he was there.

There are two running gags about him; the first is where he falls asleep while eating leaving everyone around him wondering if he dropped dead, the second is he does a "Dine and Dash" routine wherever he goes.

Crew
Trace is a loyal crewman and commands the Second Division of the Whitebeard Pirates. So far, Trace hasn't been shown interacting with his crew, but appears to hold great respect for his captain, Whitebeard. As far as Trace is concerned, his captain is the greatest pirate alive, and even goes so far as to describe Whitebeard as a type of father figure.

Whitebeard seemed unconcerned about Ace's hunt for Blackbeard, and remained grounded that it is Trace's duty to kill the traitor, regardless of the heavy warnings he's received from Shanks.

However, Whitebeard has recently shown regard for Ace's life due to current events in the One Piece world. The crew is planning to invade Impel Down in order to save Ace, who was imprisoned after his capture at the hands of Blackbeard.

Enemies
Trace's main enemy is Blackbeard, whom he was sent to kill for killing Thatch. However, as Shanks stated, Trace is strong and young but the fact he was appointed as Whitebeard's 2nd commander worried him due to "that trust and reputation" getting in the way. Shanks concluded that now is not the time to pitch the two against each other, suggesting Trace isn't ready to face Blackbeard yet.

Trace also fought evenly with Smoker, who even Luffy has yet to beat. The elements of their Logia Devil Fruits canceled each other out, and neither of them were able to gain the upper hand.

Though once enemies with Shichibukai member Jinbei, they now respect each other deeply.

Monkey D. Luffy
Trace and his brother, Luffy, are very close. Trace tends to portray a typical good-big-brother behavior, such as asking the crew to keep an eye on his little brother. He also ensured Luffy had a way of meeting up with him by giving him a Biblicard. They respect each other's choices despite how different they are and understand that the other is very strong, so they can usually take care of themselves. Luffy believes that if he grew worried about him and rushed to help, Trace's ego wouldn't allow it, so he initially left him. However, when he learned he was captured and due for execution, Luffy, when he finally had a ship to leave Amazon Lily, regretfully decided to save Trace instead of reuniting with his nakama upon seeing the Biblicard burnt to a tenth of its original size. Even though they are loving brothers, Luffy often makes Trace angry and worried by doing something reckless. One example was when Boa Hancock visited Trace's cell and told him that Luffy broke into the prison. Even near his death, Trace grew angry with Luffy's reckless infiltration into Impel Down.

Monkey D. Dragon
According to his speech to Garp it would seem that Dragon is actually his father. Ace states he does not know his father Dragon or at least, has no kind memories of him, so he does not care so much for that half of his blood, since he abandoned him (and Luffy), and he considers Whitebeard his father over Dragon. However, he seems fully aware of the fact that Dragon is the world's most wanted man, so in that respect uses that as an explanation as to why he and Luffy chose their respective paths in life. However, it is implied that Dragon does have some care for Ace's well being, as Ivakov is seen stating that the Marines made a very big mistake, as this could also provoke Dragon into battle as well.

Portgas
In contrast to his brother, Trace apparently knew who his mother was and owed a great deal to her. He uses "Portgas", his mother's name, over "Monkey" his father's family name for this reason.

Monkey D. Garp
Though respectful it seems of his grandfather, he denounces that he and Luffy could ever have become Marines. He disagrees with Garp on their father and remains grounded on the idea that becoming Marines would not have been possible with their father's blood in their veins.

Abilities and Powers
Tr ce left his hometown 3 years before Luffy when he was already very strong and skilled. His younger brother Luffy has never beaten him in any fight they had, despite Luffy having the power of a Devil Fruit already. He was also trained by Garp, who is responsible for training Luffy to his current level of power. Another note of Ace's strength was his ability to take Blackbeard's punches (without resorting to his Devil Fruit powers) and being able to immediately retaliate, as noted by Van Auger. Van Auger also noted that a Whitebeard Pirates Commander's basic combat abilities are quite fearsome making his status as a Whitebeard Pirates commander well-deserved. He also carries a knife.

Trace has eaten the Devil Fruit Mera Mera no Mi (メラメラの実, Flame-Flame Fruit/Flare-Flare Fruit), a Logia or elemental type fruit, giving him pyrokinetic abilities and his reputation as "Fire Fist Ace" ("Trace Heatfist" in the 4Kids dub). Ace also displays his immense power by destroying a handful of Baroque Works ships with ease. For some reason, Trace does not seem to mind his inability to swim, despite the risk that destroying the Billions' ships could have left him in the ocean. Also when he turned up on Drum Island, that day no snow fell at all on the island.

During the Arabasta filler arc, Nami says that Trace's bounty is one that makes bounty hunters all over the world drool and other pirates envious, however this is non-canon. Aside from the powers granted by the Devil Fruit he consumed, Trace also possesses immense physical strength, but doesn't display it to the same extent as Luffy or Garp being his powers of the Logia-type.

His reputation must also be quite infamous if the World Government granted Blackbeard the position of Shichibukai after capturing him to make a name for himself among other pirates. He is also a capable navigator as he is seen carrying a Log Pose.

He fought equal with Jinbei in the past, nearly killing each other at the time.

He is one of the few people to be able to take a "baptizing" in boiling water in Impel Down without flinching, which is considered an impressive feat.

The Path to Piracy
Born as Monkey D. Trace, sometime after their father abandoned them, Trace changed his surname to Portgas, after his mother, a sign of loyalty to her and hatred for his father. Little is known about Trace's past, other then he was trained by Garp, alongside his brother Luffy, then were left in the care of a friend during their early years. Three years before the current storyline, Trace left Luffy's hometown and began his life as a pirate, at some point consuming the Mera Mera no Mi.

While it is unknown when events set before the storyline commenced, what is known is at some point his journey led him to the New World and ranks of Whitebeard and his pirates, whom he joined at one point when he was on the brink of death (it is unclear if this is when he fought with Jimbei). He became the commander of the second division alongside his subordinate Blackbeard. Then one day, Blackbeard killed his crewmate in order to obtain the Yami Yami no Mi devil fruit, which he had his sights on, and fled. Since Ace was his commander and the Whitebeard pirates live by a code which means they must avenge a fallen comrade, Trace began to track down Blackbeard to finish him off.

Reunion with Luffy
Trace was first seen in the present storyline on Drum Island, where he left a message for Luffy to meet him in 10 days in the city of Nanohana Arabasta. He is formally introduced in the Arabastan city of Nanohana; he was seen sleeping in the Spice Bean restaurant (giving the impression to everyone present that he had dropped dead). As he finishes his meal, he is spotted by Smoker who attempts to arrest him. However, shortly before Smoker and he begin to fight each other, both men are sent flying into the wall behind them by Luffy's "Gomu Gomu no Rocket" attack.

After picking himself up, he spots Luffy eating, only to be knocked down by Smoker, who then attempts to arrest Luffy. After Luffy dashes out of the restaurant with Smoker in hot pursuit, Trace catches up with Luffy in time to save him from being arrested by Smoker. His interference allows Luffy to escape while he deals with Smoker himself. Later after seeing off Smoker, Trace meets up with Luffy to offer him a chance to join Whitebeard (which Luffy refuses). Ace leaves them a Biblicard which apparently would allow the two to meet up again.

Ace later appears during the Jaya arc, where he hopped on Buggy the Clown's ship for food and promised to show him the way to Luffy.

The Hunt for Blackbeard
Trace was also later given a mini-arc in the chapter titles of the manga where, after parting ways with Buggy's crew, he infiltrates a Marine base to deliver a letter to the parents of a milk maiden who saved his life.

Despite all the efforts from Shanks to convince Whitebeard to recall Trace, Trace meets up with Blackbeard and engages him in battle. Blackbeard triumphs and presumably turns the defeated Trace over to the government. Trace was sent to the worst prison in the One Piece World, Impel Down.

Although never directly finding out what happened to Trace, Luffy discovered the truth in another way. After discovering about Biblicards from pirate Lola the Proposer, he discovered that Trace's paper was the same. But as Luffy stared at it, he saw it burning, a sign that Trace's life-force is slowly fading away. Unaware of the depth of Trace's peril, he assumed that he could deal with it himself, and that he would not want any help.

It has recently been revealed that Ace has been sentenced to a public execution. It is going to take place a week from when Luffy woke up after the mushrooms got burned off of his body on Amazon Lily. It will take place in the plaza of Marineford, the home town of Marine Headquarters.

Waiting for Execution
He is next seen, with chains (presumably made of Seastone) on his feet and arms, in his holding cell in Impel Down. There he was visited by Garp who asks if he was still alive. Trace responds by panting a bit and calling him "old man" He apparently asked Garp to kill him, but the Vice-Admiral told him that even with his death, Whitebeard wouldn't stop his advances, stating that they had angered the "Ruler of the Seas". The two of them talk about Trace's past, and about his father.

Trace is later seen talking with Shichibukai member Jinbei, who so happens to share the same cell with him. Jinbei explains that he owes a great deal to Whitebeard, because in the past, his home, Fishman Island came under continuous attacks by pirates and marines alike. Some Fishmen were even kidnapped and sold as slaves because of this. But when Whitebeard announced the island as his territory, the attacks stopped from both sides. Thus, Jinbei wishes to stop the war for fear of Whitebeard's safety. However, they are interrupted by Crocodile, who apparently was placed in a cell opposite theirs, and chuckled that many pirates, that are "Silver Medallists" have a grudge against Whitebeard and the late Pirate King: Gold Roger, after they defeated them, and wish to kill Whitebeard or see him killed. Boa Hancock later visits him in his cell and (while causing a scene) cryptically informs Trace that Luffy is in Impel Down trying to save him much to Trace's dismay. Trace is later seen muttering for Luffy to stay away. He begins struggling against his chains during Luffy's fight with Magellan and demanding to know what is happening from the guards. They blankly tell him that nothing is happening. It was revealed that Ace is actually in Level 6, Eternal Hell. Jimbei mentions that Boa might have been lying about Luffy, but Trace angrily rejects this and then apologizes. He revealed that Luffy has always done crazy things to make him worry, and what's happening right now is exactly the sort of thing Luffy would do.

When the time for Trace's execution has arrived, the jailers begin to make preparations for his transfer. He is shown to be with Magellan and Domino and a few other jailers as he is about to be taken into custody. Magellan managed to take Trace to Level 1 with the lift and Trace, after hearing a report that Luffy was on Level 6 and was about to be assaulted with sleeping gas, attempted to escape back to the lift. Magellan immediately captures him and tells him to stop resisting since Luffy, as a pirate, was doomed the minute he stepped into Impel Down. Trace reveals that he'd hoped that it was a lie and silently asks Luffy why he came. Trace is seen being handed over to the Marines and has evidently been taken from Impel Down to Marineford since the Biblicard no longer points directly up from Level 6.

As six hours approach to Trace's execution Trace is last seen on the deck of the Marine battleship escorting him to Marineford, chained to a chair and given one last chance to look at the sky before his execution. The battleships are last seen before the Gates of Justice, requesting permission to open them and advance to their ultimate destination.

Major Battles

 * Trace vs. Luffy (Childhood)
 * Trace vs. Jinbei (past battle, unseen)
 * Trace vs. Smoker
 * Trace vs. Billions fleet
 * Trace vs. Jesus Burgess and Van Auger
 * Trace vs. Blackbeard

Filler Battles

 * Trace vs. Scorpion

Merchandise
Trace has been a choice character in many forms of merchandise. He has been featured in the series of models Portrait of Pirates and in the One Piece Full Color R Gashapon series.

Trace has also featured on several keychains/cellphone straps sets, including the One Piece Desert Kingdom Mascot Keychain/Cellphone Strap collection, alongside his brother Luffy.

Translation and Dub Issues
Trace's manji is very similar to a swastika. To avoid confusion between the two symbols and avoid slander for being a Nazi, this was changed to crossbones in the shape of a "cross" in the original Japanese anime and later in the manga also. This change was also done in the Shonen Jump serialization of the English manga, but was left unedited in the actual volumes. Because of the increase in the number of anime and manga being adapted for sale outside of Japan, this has become a common occurrence amongst mangaka and publishers alike to avoid the manji symbol.

Trace's back tattoo is left intact in the English version of the dub despite 4Kids previous edits to crosses. At the same time Trace also promotes his tattoo to Luffy, something which is truly considered odd by 4Kids standards. In the 4Kids version of the anime, Trace's shoulder tattoo signifying his name is edited out, as he is referred to there as "Portgaz D. Trace", though in the FUNimation dub it is retained. He appears in One Piece Grand Adventure, once again without the tattoo on his arm.

Trivia

 * Trace carries the initial letter D in his name. He was the second D character to be listed under their true name (Gol D. Roger was prior listed as Gold) and the fourth to make a physical appearance.
 * Though not considered canon, a scene of Trace ditching Buggy can be seen at the end of Trace's ending for the game One Piece: Grand Battle 3. After entering a bar and feasting on food, Trace (currently asleep) wakes up and realizes he has forgotten something and runs out of the bar - leaving Buggy with the [[image:bsymbol.gif]]380,000 bill.
 * Trace's surname may be a reference to the real life pirate Bartholomew Portugues, however this is unconfirmed by Oda.
 * Trace has been the center of several myths within the fandom.
 * Trace's hat bares two "smilies" as decorations like those used as Jolly Rogers by pirates such as Doflamingo and Trafalgar Law.
 * Travis Willingham, who voices Trace in the Funimation dub of One Piece is also well-known for his voicing of Colonel Roy Mustang from Full Metal Alchemist, who is, coincidentally, the "Flame Alchemist".
 * Trace shares the same birthday with series creator Eiichiro Oda (January 1).

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