Chapter Text
The world was not prepared to watch someone die right before their eyes on screen. Sure, it was war, but the Marine made sure to censor many things, leaving it alienated to the true terrors that happened around the globe.
For years, they have been told that evil lied upon those who wished to become pirates, they were the demons that brought misfortune and misery to your average good citizen. But, watching the entire war from the perspective of a young pirate, an infamous rookie, made most viewers doubt this notion. Straw Hat Luffy was a pirate whose bounty amounted to 300 million berries, and had challenged the World Government many times, in the face of Enies Lobby and Tenryuubitos. Still, wasn’t this boy just trying to rescue his brother?
At the beginning, people were trashing and booing Straw Hat’s fights against the navy. However, when Akainu and some vice admiral began hurting anyone in their vicinity just because there was a chance they striked a pirate nearby, they began to question the marines’ morality. It wasn’t everybody, some still came around the idea that killing a hundred marines for the sake of killing 5 pirates was palatable.
Watching Whitebeard appear on screen was frightening. The plazas which projected Marineford’s war went silent and anxious, eager to finally see the monster in action, hoping it to be tamed. Yet, at the end, when the man died, the audience couldn’t help feeling somber, especially parents. Whitebeard’s speech reflected the reality of a guardian, a mother and a father’s worry for their children and how, after so much shit they put them through, at the end of the day the parents will still love them. Somehow, a monster made them remember how parenthood was: tough, exhausting and accomplishing. For those orphaned and for those from broken homes, a feeling of longing bloomed, making them want to be part of Whitebeard’s family. Instead of a devil’s ship, it sounded more like a place to belong.
When Fire Fist was broken free of his chains, the reaction was mixed. Like with Whitebeard, some people feared what kind of havoc the son of the Pirate King could do, what harm could he bring upon them. Others breathed in relief, silently cheering Straw Hat who struggled and fought so hard for someone that didn’t even share blood. There was something about the kid that made them want to keep watching, that drew their attention and sympathy.
The escape was extremely tense, the admirals were quick on their feet to reach the pair of brothers, and Whitebeard had to sacrifice himself for his sons. What the civilians didn’t expect was for the boy to stay with Whitebeard, helping him hold the strongest marines in a single place. The world saw how the boy stayed behind to put his brother at ease, even though Edward Newgate met his end soon afterwards. What Straw Hat Luffy did was to give him a proper resting place, killing Black Beard Teach, who wanted to put his hands on Whitebeard’s devil fruit. Through all his actions, from Straw Hat's desperate attempt to save his brother, from his talks with allies and foes likewise, to his sunny and warm smiles, Monkey D. Luffy was slowly morphing his image of evil to that of a young boy who seeked to save his older brother. He didn’t even kill the marines, just knocked them out.
What put the audience on edge was the talk between Fire Fist and Akainu. There were pools going on, whether which admiral would kill Whitebeard’s second division commander, though were forgotten once Straw Hat blocked the admiral’s attack. They couldn't see very well what the blow did, but guessed it hurt. Another pool was held, betting on the trio of brothers (there was another one in the Revolutionary Army!) plus Surgeon of Death Trafalgar Law would be able to escape. The majority voted for ‘no’, though the desire was ‘yes’.
No was the correct answer. When people saw Monkey D. Luffy fall to his knees, what used to be a small portion of people wanting them to escape, became all of the viewers. The boy lay lifeless in the arms of his older brother, looking very small. It hurt to watch, some turned their heads away from the screen, imagining their family being in the same situation.
It was terrifying, and heartbreaking to watch.
Portugas D. Ace, second division commander of the White Beard Pirates, bounty of 550 million berrie, looked just like a person who lost their family, their most important thing in the world. He screamed, the anguish and desperation echoing on the eerily silent plazas, crying brokenly through a hoarse voice, with a pain so great even the ones who never lost a loved one could feel in their hearts. Red Hair Shanks was another surprise, the young emperor breaking down right in front of their eyes, holding Monkey D. Luffy’s hand as if it was his own child.
They were pirates, and they were so human.
The morbid cherry on the cake was the famous second-in-command Sabo, of the revolutionaries. The man slowly walked to the scene, feet dragging on the floor as if in refusal, protesting to the mind’s wish and for a moment, it was thought he would set the entire place ablaze, to protest against such injustice and murder, because that wasn’t an execution. Thus, starting another war based on revenge.
But none of those things happen, because the revolutionary kneeled beside the pirates and became a hurricane of grief, leaving all of his trademark elegance behind.
He screamed.
The transmission ends with two older brothers holding onto the one that went ahead, and didn’t wait for them.
In the middle of the crowd, a hooded figure clenched his fists and swore to give aid to a certain crew of dreamers, alongside the construction of a beautiful grave.
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Fuusha Village was presented a weird looking den den mushi a week prior. The mayor was suspicious at first, as the stranger who gave them this present was no familiar face, but after seeing it was harmless and only showed the news in real time, he told the villagers to build a drive-in theater downtown. Surprisingly, not only it showed pirates' activities, but marines too, acts of corruption and bribery. The mayor never liked the navy, so he let the villagers do such things.
They got the news that Luffy got imprisoned, and was on his way to break out. Woop Slap gave an order to the villagers; they were going to take turns watching the modified den den mushi, awaiting news. No one complained or went against that command, all of them were worried for their kid. Makino, the poor woman, had a hard time sleeping and was a regular on the watching.
Then, it broadcasted Marineford. The brutality made Woop Slap and Makino keep the children away, as there was no censorship with the weird den den mushi. The villagers sneered at anyone entering Luffy’s way, cheered whenever he won a fight and cried in relief when he reached Ace. Only Makino and Woop Slap knew the older boy, but just by Luffy caring for him, the village cared for him too. The two laughed and cried when Sabo showed up, asking themselves how the boy was alive, though entirely grateful for whatever entity allowed him to survive.
Dadan and the bandits went down the mountain and settled nearby the villagers and, albeit being met with hostility at first, quickly warmed up after a round of drinks and conversations. She was the one who cried the hardest when Ace, Sabo and Luffy were on the screen together, but she would never admit it.
The mood became somber and heavy when Luffy shielded Ace from Akainu’s attack. It gave them goosebumps, a bad feeling on their guts. They were right for feeling their way, as Luffy fell to his knees. The villagers thought Luffy tripped, though Dadan and the mayor vividly noticed the blood pooling around his torso. Shankingly, pleas were made and all the bandits dropped their weapons in shock, coming closer to the screen. There, they saw and faintly heard Ace talking to Luffy, or tried to as everyone’s eyes were filled with tears. Makino was shaking her head left and right, in disbelief that her Luffy, the boy who was always full of life and energy, who she taught how to talk and walk and used to grip her skirt, clingy as he was, was giving his last breaths. Dadan was already shouting for anyone to help him, as if her scream could reach the battlefield. No one blamed or scolded her for that, they were all too focused on praying for Luffy’s life.
And when they saw their boy close his eyes, no one could look at the screen anymore.
People have different ways to grieve, some try to deny what happened, others isolate themselves or are thrown into a fit of rage. There are some that even forget the event, for the sake of protecting their shattered mind. However, it was undeniable that all of them were desolate, misery planted on their hearts with its roots stubbornly refusing to let go. Never had the village shed so many tears as this day, and it would be forever remembered as the day the Sun stopped shining brightly as before.
Dadan couldn’t wait to see Garp, and beat him up until he was no longer recognizable. But, for now, she had a barwoman to comfort.
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Zoro opened his eyes in a nursing bed, the sunlight gently basking his face, as if saying ‘good morning’. As memories of Sabaody flooded his brain, the swordsman screamed for the name of his captain, making the sitting figure by the bedside stumble and fall. The girl's complaint fell on deaf ears, since all Zoro could think of was Luffy’s command.
“Grow strong, will ya? I trust you to take care of them, Zoro?”
And of course he would, Luffy didn’t even have to ask! The first mate ensured the safety of the crewmembers, so that the captain could lead them to their dreams without worry. The Strawhats worked as an engine, each of them moving as an irreplaceable gear. They had each other to rely on and Luffy knew that. So, why did he ask Zoro?
Why did Luffy push them away?
The answers would come with or without consent, and for that…
“Where are my swords?”
“Not giving back!” Screeched the pink-haired girl, whose ghosts traversed the swordsman’s body. His conflicted mind became more jumbled as the memory of Luffy repeated.
For days Zoro looked for his swords, asking himself the same three questions. They had a talk about not carrying the burden alone, for Roger’s sake! Moreover, on the back of his mind, there was a voice calling him weak.
Goth ghost girl, in the end, took pity on him and gave them back.
Only for the first mate to get lost on the island and engage in meaningless battles with apes. For the hours that Zoro did not find the seaside, his slashes grew more merciless and powerful, nonetheless desperate. The stampede would continue for an indefinite amount of days, if Mihawk hadn’t showed up.
“Why are you here?” Zoro asked in gritted teeth, barely containing the adrenaline pumping his blood, telling him to keep moving and running and looking for Luffy, his captain-
“I have resided on this island for a very long time. Why are you here?”
Zoro refused to answer, as he himself did not know.
“I imagine the reason is the same for all the Strawhats, save for Straw Hat Luffy. It would explain why he was in Marineford with other people.”
The first mate's breath hitched. “Have you seen Luffy?! How is he?! Is he okay?” All anger and fury within Zoro’s chest vanished. To hell the reason his captain did that, all he wanted to know was whether Luffy was okay.
Mihawk stared deep into Zoro’s eyes, face unreadable.
“Straw Hat Luffy entered a war to save his brother, Portgas D. Ace, in Marineford. In the end of the battle, he lost his life defending said sibling.”
The world was spinning and the sky engulfed the floor in a battle of dominance, there weren’t left and right anymore. Just.
Water.
Zoro felt he was underwater.
He couldn’t quite comprehend and absorb Mihawk’s declaration. Distantly, Zoro heard someone screaming in denial, a chant of ‘no’s’ and ‘lies’, but it was all muffled by the buzzing in his head. His knees hit something hard, colorful gloops of green and red.
Water entered his lungs, he was drowning.
But Zoro couldn’t drown, he had a captain to save. He was the best swimmer of the crew, he made sure of that.
So why was it so hard to breathe?
Zoro wasn’t scared of death; the world was cruel, though that never stopped him from moving forwards and entering losing battles. If he lost his life then so be it.
But.
An image of Luffy laughing surged.
To live a life without his captain? To endure the following days with the knowledge that the man he trusted and cherished the most was gone, and he didn’t do a single thing to help? That he failed such a man?
That terrified Zoro.
Wasn’t Luffy breathing and smiling down at him, engulfing meat in one go and joining Zoro’s watch-over turns just a few days ago? The smell of rubber and straw was fresh, like he just talked to him. How could that lively person be dead? It didn’t make sense! Wasn’t his captain to be taken by the storm at the end of their dreams, after Sunny set sail around the world on countless islands they wouldn’t even remember their names?
Just a year ago there was a dinghy shared between two idiots, heading to nowhere and everywhere, supplied by dreams and thirst for adventure. It was extremely uncomfortable, there was no coverage for the sun, and it was perfect. Like Zoro finally found his place in the world.
So, it was impossible for Luffy to be dead. There was no way Luffy died and Zoro wasn’t by his side, on his deathbed too. Fuck being the strongest swordsman, he just wanted to see Luffy become Pirate King and would sacrifice everything for it.
How could Zoro not be there? Who was by his side? Was he alone? Lying on the ground like he was nothing to the world, like he didn’t mean everything to Zoro?
Kuraigana, an island filled with ruins of an old empire, woke up the next morning with sword slashes marking every corner, and afar a scream resonated, uttering the name of a dead man.
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Weatheria’s green plains greeted a troubled new occupant. Nami was sure that it was her Luffy who had knocked the Strawhats down, as she caught a glimpse of Arlong’s bite scar on him.
Still, she was doubtful. As one of the oldest Strawhats, Nami had been able to read Luffy’s intentions to an extent, expecting the wildest and most dangerous decisions from him. Her captain had been used to endangering everybody’s lives for the sake of adventure, and Nami was in charge of putting the captain in line. However, the last few interactions she had with future Luffy had been strange, and a little out of the ordinary to say the least. It was like looking at a map with the knowledge of its contents, but upon closer inspection it is noticed that the islands are in the wrong place.
She wanted to spend more time with this Luffy, to get to know more about this captain that traveled the world and seen more wonders than any of the Strawhats. Even if the map was slightly off, the man was still the one who put his hand on fire for the Strawhats, who listened to her cry for help even when she tried to push him away.
Now was her turn to do that.
Weatheria was a navigator’s wet dream. It was a place where meteorologists and inventors put their minds together to understand the weather, creating devices to control it. Nami had seen bubbles with rain clouds inside it and a rope that dictated the speed and direction of wind. In spite of her worries, Nami decided that her way of helping Luffy was going to be through learning how to be a better navigator, so that she could take her captain anywhere he wanted. If there was one obstacle between her captain and an adventure, it sure as hell wouldn’t be the weather.
She deeply regretted her decision with the arrival of a newspaper.
Nami was an independent woman. She had dreams, and always a goal in mind, as well as the drive and plans to accomplish it. For a long time, Nami navigated alone through the seas, the desire to buy her village back being her only companion. It didn’t matter how much she had to spend, be it money, her childhood or entire life to fulfill said wish, even if Cocoyasi’s villagers hated her till the end. As such, the loneliness plaguing her chest was a feeling Nami thought as normal for a woman like her, who knew how to get by.
After Arlong was defeated, she came to understand that it was a flimsy excuse for the lack of trust Nami had in people. Wariness towards everyone wasn’t a consequence nor a necessity for being self-reliant, rather it came from fear of being betrayed by someone. Especially from a person she came to trust.
Luffy once told her being alone was the worst, and she couldn’t agree more. What was harder on her journey pre-Strawhats wasn’t stealing and submitting to men more stupid than a brick, but the thought that, had she ever died, no one would grieve her except her sister, who would live on without knowing Nami passed away since there would be nobody to retrieve her corpse.
She would die alone at sea, with no grave or flowers to her name.
And so, Nami could see traces of the person she used to be in future Luffy: a person incapable of fully trusting others for fear they would leave them soon. The Strawhats would never let go of Luffy, so the abandonment he saw was the end of a life.
Death.
Which was what her captain met at Marineford.
Nami had been searching for every single piece of news from the crew, coming across Luffy’s arrest to Impel Down’s break out, trying to find a way to help. She had been able to contact Lola and Vivi, but they were too far to arrive on time.
When word of war first appeared on page, Nami spent hours anxiously waiting for the next newspaper, hoping for Luffy’s safety. While waiting, she stole one of Weatheria’s devices to go to Marineford, though was convinced otherwise by the old men, since there wouldn’t be much she could do to help. There was a high chance she was going to become a burden, and that was the last thing Nami wanted.
She should have left the island. The next day, a newspaper arrived, with the body of someone who promised the world to her, one for her to draw and to map.
The journal crumpled into a mess as her rain of tears striked it. The elders kneeled, attempting to comfort her, but there was no way they could fix her storm of sorrow, no way they could study her thunderous mind and navigate around it. Because the man who gave her dream back to her was dead.
For the first time since arrival, Nami cursed the artificial island, livid towards the fact it displayed a beautiful weather, when it should be rain and tornadoes dancing on the sky as the sun just died.
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Usopp has been running for his life ever since he arrived in the Boin Archipelago. Really, had he known he had so much lung capacity to keep going like that, he would have never created “I can’t enter this one island” diseases. The priority would be lunging on the nearest and tallest tree until someone pulled him out of it.
Heracles was an unusual figure to befriend. The man would physically assault Usopp to save him from an incoming animal’s attack, and although it annoyed the sniper to no end, it was familiar and a little comforting. It reminded him of one rubber captain.
Usopp and Luffy were always close. Perhaps due to their close age and shared sense of humor, but it was undeniable they had great chemistry since day one. After their fallout in Enies Lobby, the two came to see the other in a new light that was aware of their position as sniper and captain, though never forgetting to joke around. It wasn’t that they had drifted apart, just that there was a new type of respect mixed in their friendship.
So when Luffy had a smile that carried something else besides glee when Usopp cracked a good joke, the sniper went on high alert. Being the Strawhat’s sharpshooter, he had a discerning eye when it came to changes in the crew’s demeanor. Luffy carried the same look Usopp did as Kaya’s health declined, afraid her destiny would be the same as his mom’s.
Before Usopp could enquire his friend of what was wrong, the captain pushed him away to a dangerous, carnivorous island. Usopp may be a coward and weaker than his friends, but when it came to his nakama, he would never avoid an emotional, even uncomfortable, conversation.
Heracles kept telling Usopp to eat, to no avail. How could he, when Luffy looked so sad it made Usopp fear he would break? How, when Sunny whispered on his dreams to keep an eye out for his captain, as Mini Merry silently wept. His stomach burned and his legs ran a little slower, but Usopp kept running because that was all he could do.
So when a seagull arrived at the island, Usopp used all his strength to snatch the newspaper from the bird. It was a good thing the island would be long due opening its mouth to feast, because when Usopp fell to the ground, the world lost its color.
His best friend, dead.
What attracted people to his captain, like moths on a lightbulb, wasn’t his strength. It was his eyes full of trust and belief. Usopp spilt lies like waterfalls spilt water, making up adventurers and spinning tales to his captain’s ears, who took them at face value. In the beginning, Usopp thought Luffy to be naive and dumb for believing and hanging on to his every word, painting them as his past accomplishments. Later on, he changes his mind as the sniper comes to understand what the twinkling on Luffy’s eyes meant.
It was belief in Usopp, in his capability of turning whatever he said into reality if he ever wished. Of course, the army of 8 thousand men was far-fetched, though Luffy never disregarded it as impossible for Usopp. This whole-hearted trust, full confidence in Usopp’s potential left him anxious, afraid even. The sniper feared he would never live up to his captain’s expectations, until he talked to Zoro about it.
It was a strange conversation, as one night the swordsman just sat by his side on the crow’s nest and said nothing. Usopp didn’t know what came to him, but he believed Zoro would understand since the man had many responsibilities being the First Mate and all. Despite it, all he received was a shrug of shoulders and a short “That doesn’t seem like Luffy at all.”
And when Usopp tried to conjure a disappointed face on his friend’s face, nothing came to mind, except the times they failed to catch dinner. Deep down, Usopp knows Luffy would never feel let down by him or say anything on the matter, but Usopp worries and worries until a headache and a pain on the stomach take place. So he made devices, fixed up Merry and learned to fight to show Luffy didn’t make a mistake by choosing him and, for a split second, Usopp considered training in this treacherous island to get stronger, turning all those expectations into truths.
But now? He would never be able to do that, as his captain was dead.
Just like his mom, who one day he woke up to and her body wasn’t warm anymore.
Did Luffy feel the same as his mom in his last moments, waiting for a person to arrive until their last breath? Was he lonely? Disappointed? What could Usopp have done for him? Had he failed again to provide comfort for a dying person, as Usopp was not enough of a grounding presence, a reliable person?
The salty tears served as a meal as Usopp shouted that the world was lying, that it was wrong.
It must be, and that was the hard, solid truth of reality.
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Sanji stared at the sunrise with bitterness on his tongue, and it wasn’t because of his cigar. Several okamas surrounded the rock he was sitting on. However, the cook was too worried for his captain to feel any sort of discomfort towards them. The okamas tried to persuade him into joining them and meeting their temporary queen, but Sanji didn’t relent. Instead, he smoked several packs to the point he was coughing and his mind was becoming light-headed.
Some okamas noticed the destructive behavior and confiscated his cigars, prompting Sanji to run after them. They led him to a very feminine castle, to which he met their queen. Sanji saw an opportunity and challenged the temporary queen to a duel, requesting his escape had he ever won. It irked the cook how the okama preached about finding his true self while pushing a certain image on him. It hit too close to Germa 66, where he was supposed to fit shoes that weren’t his size, and was punished for it.
Sanji was told to be himself and, in truth, he didn’t know who that person was. All Blue was his dream, Zeff was his dad, and he would never hit a woman, those were undeniable facts about him. But sometimes, Sanji looked in the mirror and only saw a failure. Which was why being with the Strawhats was great, as they made him feel comfortable in his own skin and would do anything to keep it safe.
He envied Zoro in that regard; both had a tendency to sacrifice themselves for the crew, but while Zoro had a duty, being First Mate and all, Sanji did it for more selfish reasons. Zoro knew who he was and Sanji didn’t. It was frustrating, and maddening at times. Nevertheless, there was mutual respect and understanding that the safety of the Strawhats was on them, alongside Luffy. Speaking of which, he needed to beat his idiot of a captain for taking so much responsibility on his shoulders, for nor leaning on them and trusting their strength.
Sanji had to leave that island, and quickly. The pink sky was giving him diabetes and nausea. So what he discovered was that he liked frilly clothing and make up? And that wearing dresses wasn't an attack to his masculinity and manhood? Maybe what Judge and some cooks in Baratie taught him about being a man was wrong, but that wasn’t a story Sanji was going to tell.
On the day he tried out highells, he was pleasantly surprised they weren’t that hard to wear, since his balance was good and the okama chose a pair that didn’t hurt his feet. Moreover, they could become a deadly weapon.
On the flip side, this was also the day his world was flipped over and well, destroyed.
A red haired okama inquired Sanji for his well being, reaching a hand towards him, the cook flinched. Feeling a dampness on his cheeks, Sanji brushed his fingers and met a wet mess. Sanji didn’t notice he was crying.
He didn’t notice how brutally he was kicking the sand until it became glass. He didn’t notice his legs getting shredded by said glass. He didn’t notice the temporary queen trying to soothe his wails and despairing shouts until he spit blood. The pain from a damaged throat didn’t even come close to his loss.
He didn’t notice when a beautiful lady with purple hair and voluptuous curves arrived, Sanji couldn’t even offer any of his gentlemanly acts.
That was the first and only time Sanji’s heart couldn’t be moved by the presence of a feminine body. It was too broken to do anything.
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Chopper had a good nose. He is always the first to detect the smell of blood, which frequently accompanies the Strawhats’ natural scent. As a doctor, the reindeer was developing a way to discern someone’s body type by the smell. It would come in hand in the middle of a war with nameless people.
Sometimes, Chopper could smell emotions too, such as sadness. It was a salty, moist scent, much like tears.
That was how his captain smelled before using haki on them, so Chopper couldn’t even bring himself to be mad at Luffy. Ever since Luffy told them about the truth, how the future isn’t so bright, there was pain beneath his smiles, and Chopper wanted to help. He was the crew’s medic!
Chopper asked Robin how one could cure a heartbreak, and she caressed his head in a gentle manner, a silent answer as well as an apology with the words “I don’t know” non-verbalized. Despite it, the reindeer would not give up and look for ways to aid his captain. But, before that, he would help settle a war between humans and birds. It took some time, needed wounds to reopen, though Chopper managed it.
As the doctor of the Strawhats, Chopper had a lot of work, especially with the Monster Trio, as they disregard their wounds with ease. Consequently, the reindeer was also brushed off and treated like a kid when he was just two years younger than Usopp and Luffy.
It angered him.
Thus, settling the fight between the animals and the tribe felt extremely gratifying. He finally did an important and difficult thing all by himself and succeeded! Chopper wanted to tell the crew right away, they would all be proud of him. He looked forward to Robin’s compliment, for some unknown reason.
Maybe it was due to the fact that she reminded him of a mother, if he ever had a loving one. Her multiple hands treading his fur were similar to moms of his old herd grooming their children.
While Chopper oversaw the peaceful interactions birds and humans were having, a newspaper dropped from the sky and, for a long time, he just looked at the front page and stared.
Sixth degree burn. Chopper read in only one book about it, as the general public knows only up to the third degree. It traversed Luffy’s torso, exposing…nothing. It was all charred and black. The combination of the wounds on his body should have killed him with pain shock.
But Luffy had to survive. He always did.
Chopper refused to read the headline.
He had two paws and determination, surely Chopper could fly at this instant to Marineford and work tirelessly to heal Luffy. With the right treatment, Luffy would be right up, eating and talking to Chopper about everything and nothing, beaming that sunny smile that made the reindeer feel all giddy and warm inside. He was a doctor who would find the cure for all diseases in the world, of course he could heal some burns.
Birds flocked Chopper to comfort his crying figure. The humans were discussing if any of his wounds opened up, as his cry was one of pain. They desperately looked for salves to soothe him, but Chopper knew the truth: the gaping hole Hiruluk left on his heart was once again opened by Luffy, who tore it open and left it bleeding.
A blue nose couldn’t stop sniffling, and darkness was kind to Chopper, hugging him to oblivion.
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It was fun to mess around with the guards as they were easily riled up. Robin had been taken as a prisoner for the sake of helping a little girl, being locked up in a very chilling cell. It was worth it, though. Sora was a smart and strong girl, Robin would never forgive herself had she let that child be hurt right in front of her. The kid had sparkly and shiny eyes, just like her captain.
When Luffy was swapped with his future counterpart, Robin felt the shift by the waves of loneliness her captain emitted. There wasn’t pure happiness in his emotions anymore, as they were stained with painful memories that turned feelings into a complex mess. She had been that way too, and wondered: what happened to their sunshine?
The archeologist worked up theories, coming up with a few ideas that bordered fantasy, that being time or dimension travel. She hit the nail on the head, and as much as speculation being proved right should bring her joy, all it did was weigh a cold stone on her gut. Because with that answer, more dreaded questions sprouted. Why are you lonely? How did we let this happen to you? Is there any way we can help?
Would you let us?
Death was a constant in Robin’s life. For a long time, she fantasized meeting her end to finally be reunited with Ohara’s archeologists and her mom, but a thirst for knowledge held her down. It fueled her with energy to keep moving and running, and when her legs stopped working, too tired to indulge in survival, Luffy showed up and made them sprint. He gave her a life that breathed for the sake of breathing, one that allowed her to enjoy pages of a book because its content was interesting, not because it distracted from the wretched mess that came being Nico Robin, the devil’s child. Ohara had the biggest library in the world, but its whole collection wouldn’t fit the written gratefulness she felt for the Strawhats.
Coincidentally, she was arrested at the same time the revolutionaries broke the prisoners out, offering her a place in the army. Of course, she refused, though was still treated with kindness and respect. So much so that they called her Light of the Revolution.
Her time with the revolutionaries showed how many people had similar stories as her, fueled only by rage that consumed them altogether that maybe, was destroying them bit by bit and there was nothing she could do. They did not have a friend who would hold their hands and unclench their fists, smoothing out the crescent moons already dented on their palms. For the time being, she hoped. A cause always brings people together.
It was at night that one of the older members of the revolutionaries knocked at her door, bringing the worst news of her life. She was part of the group that raided Marineford, and while Robin would have jumped at the opportunity to join, the archeologist was too malnutritioned and on the brink of frostbite to take part. The woman quietly expressed her condolences, and left Robin alone with a hot cup of coffee.
The frontpage of the book showcased the deceased body of her captain, as if he was just part of some shocking news and not the beak of hope of Robin’s whole world, that there was kindness and mercy for living tragedies.
Why must all good things come to an end, when the bad takes war and blood to be rid of?
But Luffy wasn’t a thing, he was a person. The first thought that comes to mind as she received the news was that the sound of his sandals would never be heard again from the library. And, for some reason, that’s what broke her out of stupor and made her cry. What would the future hold for her, for her nakama? She was living in a world where she would talk about Luffy like she talked about Ohara, in the past tense with bitterness and sadness intertwined with the words.
As one of oldest and wisest of the Strawhats, Robin had the duty to support the crew when maturity and experience lacked. But, there weren't any instructions on how to deal with grief in a better, healthy way. It never gets old, and it never gets better.
You just learn to live with it.
For the first time, Robin didn’t want to learn.
Evidence points to one truth. Yet, the picture on the frontpage of Luffy, lying so helplessly on his brothers’ arms, seemed like a lie. His body must have been cold.
Which was impossible, because her captain shone the brightest than any person in the universe.
Against Robin’s wish, her mind pierced together what could have happened perfectly. A younger brother enters a war to save his family, despite the thousand enemies and weapons aimed at his neck. Through the break out, the boy gives his all, believing nothing could ever top the price of his older brother’s life. In the end, his life is asked too and he willingly offers it. Even if it held dreams and hopes, even if it held the love of countless people.
Oh, Luffy.
Robin wanted to grieve and shut herself from the world that burned her most important people away, but she had nakama now that could use her shoulder.
For Luffy, she would take care of them.
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Vegapunk’s abandoned factory was fascinating, to say the least. Franky’s mechanic gland was tingling with excitement! The equipment and machines were no longer functioning, still, their structure was top notch.
Although Karakuri Island was a winter island, with ice damaging his system, that shichibukai sent him to the greatest inventor’s birthplace, so Franky had yet to complain. However, as much as every invention amazed him, he ought to meet up with the Strawhats.
Back at Water 7, Franky was the leader of a handful gang, constantly worrying about keeping the town that Tom loved safe. Sometimes, it was exhausting, having to fill in the shoes of someone so great, whose death Franky blamed himself for. Iceburg took some of that burden, so overall, it wasn’t so bad.
Guilt was a feeling he knew very well, and Franky could recognize it in the eyes of a person almost instantly. It wasn’t super, but he didn’t know what to do about it except living well for the sake of the deceased.
His captain tried it, Franky would give him credit for it. However, Luffy mirrored Franky way too much whenever the shipwright visited Tom’s grave.
Franky was pretty sure that had he ever died, he would never blame his captain for it. It was his decision to join the crew, not Luffy’s. Franky was a pervert (in the sense that he had no shame for his mechanical body and bared himself to the world), but he was no fool. What happened on Sabaody would be a stain in the crew’s history, and before it could grow into an ugly wound and fester its roots in their relationship, they had to tackle it.
The plan was cut short by a newspaper containing a bloodied and smiley face. Of someone who gave their life to save another, like a coin exchange.
Just like Tom.
As Franky stared at his captain’s face, he saw no traces of that guilt holding him down, and that was the relief in the middle of grief.
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Brook stretched his arms under the morning sun, as it gently entered the room he was in. He wondered if his nakama were watching the same sunshine, basking on its kind rays and warming their insides. Hope of reunion bloomed in his heart (even if he didn’t have one yohohoho!), a talk reserved for his captain.
The musician felt compelled to put aside his needs and wants for the sake of the impoverished people who had been put through abuse, by writing songs and lyrics. Brook had been cooking up some ideas, though reaching a certain type of creativity block with the absence of his friends.
Luffy described loneliness as worse than death, and Brook couldn’t agree more. Dreams and nightmares plagued Brook’s mind when he was sailing aimlessly on the sea, a strong wish to just end everything to finally join his crewmates. The musician hadn’t given up in the end, being responsible to carry the crew’s farewell wishes to Laboon. Only his love for the whale held his soul on the planet, until the Strawhats came.
Interactions didn’t come easily to Brook, having to get used to customs and slangs from the current era, all the changes weighing on Brook’s bones and cracking its content due to its weight. The amount of pirates sailing was incomparable to the past, as in his time not many carried a jolly roger. Brook heard the story of that one rookie, Gol D. Roger, and felt inspired. A single man was capable of creating a new era, igniting the flame on many people’s hearts, rising hot air for dreams and ambitions reaching the skies. The musician didn’t doubt the deed couldn’t be repeated by his current captain, though.
That aside, after tasting salvation, Brook had been living in fear of it happening again, for his nakama to abandon him in the realms of life. It was what made the skeleton grip his pen a bit too tight, no words or songs coming out, turning his 60 degrees joke into 180 as he face-planted on the floor.
Such issues whispered ugly what-ifs in his mind, but something changed upon hearing the tale of the future. Brook felt remorseful and angry at his future counterpart, leaving their young captain to search for the One Piece alone. What he would never say out loud was the sense of relief to discover Brook was capable of dying, passing away in order for Luffy to live. That had been the musician’s secret and second dream: to perish by the hands of destiny as his soul shielded someone he cherished. Call it childish or immature, Brook no longer attached himself to the streams of age and time. Such elements could not be applied to him having died twice, the first by disease and the second by loneliness.
What was unexpected, however, was for his hatted captain to bring upon a mysterious force on the Strawhats, ordering his nakama to live. The gesture was typical captain fashion, doing what he thinks is best for the crew. Still, Brook couldn’t help feeling wronged as no one should be closer to death and danger before Brook, who had already lived plenty.
Brook noticed a piece of newspaper on the floor, bringing forth his nightmare to reality.
This time, the lyrics and songs flowed on paper, as Brook composed his broken soul in sheet music.
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In the world left by Joy Boy, a promise or return had been woven. The warrior had many siblings, all of whom were powerful enough to shake the island and tear the skies in half. Upon seeing their potential of destruction, the Sea made a deal with the creators, to seal Joy Boy’s siblings into fruits, locking their power temporarily and scattering them around the globe. But, one met a different destiny, that being Joy Boy themself.
They were a creature made to defile and break rules, even if they were imposed by the creators. The Sea, however, loved Joy Boy with no small amount, as the Sun God let her roam the world like she pleased: free and untamed. So, instead of erasing his entire self and sealing his power on a fruit, she begged the gods to split Nika in half.
A hat and a fruit. The fruit contained Joy Boy’s strength and power, while the hat was his legacy: the key to liberate an era, to create a new one for the sake of being “interesting” and “fun”. Anyone who wore the hat, and was accepted by Joy Boy, was guaranteed to bring forth a new age.
However, it had one major flaw. In exchange for bringing a new era, only one hat, Luffy and Law could remain on the realm.
Law, having died once and returned, knew deep down how it was a necessity for the present to continue weaving without their presence. It wasn’t their timeline, and it sure as hell wasn’t their place to stay. So, the versions of Luffy and Law of a different future were no longer, and dissipated in a cloud of light.
Thus, a captain who lost his crew had been lost by the very same ones. And, in his place, a man ignorant to a tale of blood and despair had woken up. Not a man who dreamed of death for the sake of reunion.
But a boy, who wished to become Pirate King.
He opened his eyes to a man he did not recognise, but made his chest fill with complex and intense emotions. Such feelings were spilling in the form of tears - and dried by the stranger, with gentleness the man himself did now know he was capable of.
Luffy laughed. “How weird…I don’t know why I want to cry when I look at you. I don’t even know you! But I know I love you a lot.”
Law smiled. “Yeah, me too.”