Overcoming Blood

by Echo0112358

What if not only Ace was the son of the Late Pirate King, but Luffy was as well? What if Sabo was the son of the Great Revolutionary Dragon? A twist on the original tale that will have the ASL brothers heading out on their adventures much earlier than anticipated, and facing trials they could scarcely imagine. Can they get past their parent's, and make a name all their own?

1. Prologue

A world ruled by blood.

They say that blood runs deep, or that it is thicker than water. In this particular world, these principles are the very foundation from which society functions. In this setting, blood, is supposedly the deciding factor; this substance, too many people, is allowed to dictate one's whole existence, their essence, their being. Though some believe that the soul of a person is the true determining factor of someone's character, many others are simply to close minded for such ideologies.

Blood determines birth.

Birth determines status.

Status determines quality of life.

Quality of life determines who you are in this world, and most importantly, who you are not.

These mantras have, in truth, taken root deep in the hearts of those who believe them true. Marines use them to justify their "Ultimate Justice". The World Government, has them to support their holds on other countries, and factions. The World Nobles most of all hold these four principles to simply prove their superiority over others, and subdue all those who they believe to be beneath them. For one born to a high ranking family, blood is a gift. For someone born in the slums, it is a curse. In this world of strictly black and white, good and evil, blood can both bless and condemn someone. There, most simply, only two things, right and wrong. The shadow a parent can cast simply by association can be hard move out from under.

This is not a story about the common preconceptions of "good" triumphing over a predetermined "evil", or a story of traditional proportions; this is a story about three people darkened by the hulking figures of their ancestors, and a struggle to overcome societal viewpoints of their forefather's legacies. Can these brothers prove that the sins of the father are truly not the sins of the son, or will the flow of time drag them down the same way it did their parents? Can they overcome the effects of this world, ruled by blood?

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece, only the story and the plot. :)

A/N: Wanted to save the note for the end to help with dramatic effect. This idea has been in my head for a while and I just that, what the hell, lets just write this. Ace will still be the son of Roger, but now so will Luffy, even with the age difference; Sabo will be the son of Dragon even though in the original he was a noble, trust me his new back story will be explained. Hoped you enjoyed the prologue enough to wait for the first chapter... Review :)...