i think Ace was one of, if not the most, lovable supporting protagonists in One Piece (which is saying a lot, considering how many there are) and also one of the coolest. He was some of the only family Luffy had, or at least knew he had. He was Luffy's big brother, and how he died reflected this. He did what any good brother should and took a smoldering hot fist through the chest for his little brother. As a person who had been the subject of a manhunt at birth, you'd expect him to be a heartless monster who's committed horrible crimes, but he's incredibly noble. He was born the son of the most notorious criminal, but that's not his fault, but he ends up paying for it all the same. Also, the reactions to his death (Luffy's specifically) are absolutely heartbreaking
