Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece

Dragon Empress Merry,Let the New Era Begin!

Smoke filled the clear night sky in the South Blue as the eight year old girl watched the remains of the Thousand Sunny burn from the shore of the Island. The Sunny continued sailing even as the flames started consuming the mast.

Once the fire made it to the grinning Jolly Roger wearing the straw hat she felt all the strength in her legs leave. She closed her eyes as if this was just some horrible nightmare she could wake up from only... when she opened her eyes the Sunny was still burning, she was still on the shore of this Island, and seven of her friends lifeless bodies were layed out in front of her. That's when the sobbing began.

"I'm sorry. I'm...im so sorry." She managed to say as she clung to her newly given straw hat with a red rib ion.

Unbeknownst to her a figure was quickly closing in on her. "What's the matter girl, miss your friends already?"

Her body instinctively stiffened at the deep male voice. "Don't worry little girl. I'll make sure you see them real soon."

Hearing the sound of the pistol being pulled back the girl tightened the grip on her strawhat and turned to face the monster waiting for her.

10 YEARS LATER

Bleu Island South Blue

Alver knew that tonight was going to be perfect. He managed to get reservations at the most renowned restaurant in Cordon village. The sunset turned the sky into a canvas of marvelous warm colors creating the perfect mood. Lastly the woman holding onto his arm has been his friend since they were children, and it wasn't until he became a marine last year that he gained the courage to ask her out.

He looked over to Mira. Her short and curly strawberry blond hair was worn down. Her warm chocolaty brown eyes were perfectly complemented by her strapless forest green dress that undoubtedly showed off her figure.

Oh yeah there was no way she was going to say no to his question tonight.

Speaking of which he quickly placed a hand over his coat pocket once more and released a sigh of relief feeling the tiny square box still there.

Once at the restaurant Bella Notte the host lead Alver and Mira passed the line of waiting people. Ignoring all the snide comments from the line Alver just smirked and continued walking, giving them a good glance at the words Petty Officer written on his white coat.

The dining room was surrounded by glass walls allowing the customers to enjoy the sunset while they ate. The floor was white marble tile with golden flakes while the ceiling had a mosaic painting with gold trimming.

"Here we are!" The host lead them to their table by the glass wall. Alver went and helped Mira into her seat.

"Thank you Alver! Your such a gentlemen!" She complemented him and seeing her smile he could have just brought the ring out right then and there.

Meanwhile sleeping at the table right behind them surrounded by a multitude of dirty dishes was an 18 year old woman. Her head was laying down on the table as a simple strawhat with a red ribbon covered her face.

Something was wrong. Ever since the waitress left them with their menus Alver couldn't help but notice how Mira took an immediate interest in the table cloth, or the frown that didn't seem to leave her face.

"Is everything all right my love?" He asked in which Mira quickly responded with a smile. "Yes! I'm so happy you got time off from work!"

He returned her smile and then looked directly at her eyes. "But?"

Seeing her stiffen Alver knew his assumption was right. "It's just every time you leave for work I'm afraid. I'm afraid that I'm going to be greeted with that news that..that you...died just like"

Alver didn't need her to finish the sentence to understand what she was trying to say. To be honest he didn't blame her for worrying so much. After all it had only been 10 years since many marines were lost in the Strawhat massacre. Marines just like Mira's father.

He wiped away the tears forming in her eyes and held her hands. "Ever since the history of the void century was revealed at Raftel the mystery that once drove the pirate era faded."

He kissed her hands." With the death of the former pirate king no one is here to spark that drive again."

Pulling her hands he brought her in for a kiss. "With the world government and celestial dragons gone the Marines work under Marshall law now. The new pirate king has sworn his allegiance to us."

Rubbing her hands he gave her a big smile. "The pirate era is dead my love. No marine will be sent to tell you the news that I was killed."

Even though Alver knew he could never completely diminish her fear, but just seeing that genuine smile return to her face was a great start for him.

Meanwhile one of the waiters went over to the table with the sleeping woman to wake her up. Once she was awake the waiter handed her a bill and she frantically started patting her pants pockets. That was until she heard five words spoken at the table in front of her.

"The pirate era is dead."

"Your wrong." Alver turned and found the voice belonging to a woman at the table behind him.

With her attire consisting of a plain short sleeved purple shirt and tan skinny jeans he was surprised this woman was even allowed in the restaurant. "Wrong about what exactly?" He asked.

"The pirate era, it's not dead." She stated a-matter-o-factly.

Feeling Mira begin to stiffen again Alver let go of her hands and took a deep relaxing breath. "I'm sorry to burst and delusion you might have but you don't see any rouge pirate crews sailing around the Blues since the pirate king allied himself with the Marines."

The woman grinned. "But he's not the pirate king."

For a moment Alver found himself speechless. Just who the hell was this woman. He's never heard a more tenacious comment about the pirate king in the last 10 years. "Of course he is, he killed the former pirate king."

"Yeah well so did Gol D Rogers executioners. Did that make them pirate king?" She asked.

"Well...no but..."

"And as for there being no rouge pirates sailing anymore..." The woman interrupted him. "How would you know when you've never even left the South Blue?"

Alver felt his jaw clench. How the hell could she possibly know that, and how dare she belittle him like this. "You've disrespected me, and infront of my date nonetheless." He began as he stood up. "You'll pay...

"No way!" She beamed. "Your offering to pay for my meal, thank you!"

Next thing Alver knew, she got up and walked over to Mira and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You have yourself a real gentlemen. He's really cocky but a gentlemen nonetheless."

With that the woman proceeded to leave the restaurant. "Enjoy your meals, and thanks again for paying for mine!"

As she looked over to give them one last grin Alver got a good look at her. Her sea green eyes, her shoulder length light brown hair with bangs that sweeped to the left, and her two swords that clipped to her belt. It brought Alver back to all the wanted posters that hung on a wall back at his base. However it was the strawhat that rested on top of her head that cemented his realization.

SON OF A BITCH

Just like that Alver ran after her. Fortunately he managed to catch up with her right outside the resturant.

"STAY RIGHT THERE DRAGON EMPRESS!" He yelled and surprisingly enough she stopped in her tracks.

He could just imagine the look of horror on the rouge pirates face at being recognized by a Marine. However he was shocked to find that when she turned to look at him she was beaming. "Wow I really was named Dragon Empress!"

"Alver!" He heard Mira call and found her trying to get through the crowd of people now surrounding Dragon Empress and him.

"Alver what's going on?" Mira asked as she finally managed to get to him.

"You see that woman over there?" He asked pointing to the still beaming Dragon Empress. "She's a rouge pirate with a bounty of 100 million berries."

"100 million berries!" She said dumbfounded. "Why?"

He was debating whether or not he should tell her. Alver had only been in the marines for about a year and he never expected to run into a survivor of the Strawhat massacre. The massacre that took Mira's father. Admiral Kristoff Argeneau.

He looked at Mira and made his decision. "It doesn't matter why my love. What does though is that pirates have traumatized your family for generations, but today this rouge pirates bounty will pay for the wedding of your dreams. The wedding you deserve."

Mira's eyes widened. "My..my wedding?"

Alver pulled her in for a kiss. "I was going to wait till after dinner, but I can't wait anymore."

He would have pulled out the ring but he stilled had a rouge to take care of. So instead he pulled out his pistol and pointed it at the rouge.

"Look I'd love a good sparring match." Dragon Empress said as it seemed she finally got over her name. "But I promised my friend I'd be back before dark." She said pointing to the lowering sun.

Even so Alver just pulled back the clutch of the pistol. "Sorry but you and your friend aren't going anywhere."

Dragon Empress sighed. "Fine but do you mind if I make this quick?" She asked unsheathing her swords.

It didn't matter to Alver. He still remembered the day he went over to Mira's house only to find her bawling in their old treehouse her father had helped them build. There was no way in hell he was letting this rouge go.

He pulled the trigger and it was like everything in the world slowed down. For a minute there it looked like the rouges arms combusted into flames that started to surround the swords. Wait no... her arms had combusted into flames that were now surrounding her swords. HOLY SHIT!

Next thing he knew his bullet had passed through her like she was fire, and then she charged towards him.

"DRAGON..." she shouted bringing her swords into an X formation. "RAGE!" And she swung.

"Alver!" Mira screamed as she watched him collapse on the ground. His shirt was steaming from the wound he received on his chest. She took off his coat and button up shirt to find a steaming X right on his chest. Meanwhile the people in the crowd where still staring at the rouge pirate who did this.

"She really is the Dragon Empress. The one who ate the Flame Flame fruit." Someone in the crowd said but Mira didn't really pay attention.

"Someone...please help me...please help me get him to the hospital." She croaked our in between tears. Two men from the crowd came and lifted the unconscious Alver up.

"He should be fine after a day or two." She heard the rouge say. "I knocked him out but I made sure not to hit any vital organs. Plus now he'll have a really awesome scar!"

Impulsively Mira grabbed Alvers pistol and pointed it at her. That's when she saw the strawhat and it finally hit her. The reason Alver didn't tell her.

"That hat." She said. "You got it from the captain of the crew who killed my father. YOU KNEW THE BASTARD DIDN'T YOU!?"

She pulled the trigger, but just like before it went trough the rouge.

"The strawhats didn't kill anyone on Cullen Island. That was the bastard who now calls himself the pirate king." The rouge finally spoke.

"WHY THE HELL SHOULD I BELIEVE YOU?!" Mira shouted as she pulled the trigger over and over again.

Tears were blurring her vision enough that she didn't even notice the rouge moving until she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Because...I was there."

Hearing the familiar pain that she heared in her voice for the past 10 years Mira fell to her knees and sobbed.

With that the rouge began to leave only stopping when someone asked. " Who the hell are you?"

She turned and grinned. "My name is Monkey D Merry, and I'm living proof the pirate era hasn't died." And just like that she was gone.

Just as the sun had finally set and the moon began to rise Merry made it to the shore of the island. She walked toward the dingy in which her skeletal buddy was napping in.

"See, I told you I'd be back before dark." She said waking Brook up.

"Yohoho welcome back captain." He replied as he got out to help her push the dingy into the ocean and they got on.

After a few minutes of sailing Brook finally asked. "So did you find us a Chief there?"

"No but don't worry Brook..." She began as she layed up against the mast and covered her face with her hat. "The world is a big place, and I'm not backing out of my promise that easily."

"I know Merry, your not that type of person." Brook said as he brought out an acoustic guitar and started strumming.

Oh I like to sing this song,

When I feel as low as the ground.

I got a smile on my face because,

I know tomorrow's around.

When the day is finally done,

And the moon replaces the sun,

I smile cause i know in my heart it's not really gone.

All the challenges we've been through.

All the promises we made.

All the laughs we shared together,

Are in my heart always.

Oh I like to sing this song,

So someday you'd sing along.

Oh I'm waiting for that day,

Just waiting for that day,

I can't wait for the day until...

We can sing...along.

Brook sang as he watched his captain drift off to sleep. He went over and kissed her on the top of her head. "Goodnight little Merry, sweet dreams."

The next day on Mordor island

South Blue

A sixteen year old girl was sleeping in a hammock in her hut a knocking came from her door.

To be continued

A/N

Meet Merry, and everyones favorite Skeleton Brook. Like the Summary says, I'm accepting oc's for the crew. Hope you all enjoy!

Name:Age:Gender:position on the crew:Did they eat a fruit, if so which fruit:apperence:Personality:Strengths:Weakness:History:Extra Info I might need: