In the history of the world, there have been four men who have defied the entire world.
The first was Fisher Tiger, who captured victory against those who enslaved his people, and crushed their power by himself. The second was Gold Roger, the first Pirate King, who with his dyeing words, created an era. The Third was Monkey D. Dragon, the father of the Revolution.
But greatest of all was the fourth.
To pirates, he was a king. To Marines, he was a monster. To his friends, loyal to death, to his enemies, a nightmare. He was Monkey D. Luffy, the Second Pirate King. And today, he was going to die.
Thousands had flooded the square to see this. Before his execution platform stood four admirals, and before them stood the most elite of the world government. Kings from across the world were their, pirates of all the seas stood in the crowd, disguised. Even the Celestial Dragons were present, for it was said that none hated the King so much as them.
His smile was unnerving to the executioners. They had seen smiles before, this was unlike any. Some pirates smiled terrified smiles, trying to be brave in the face of death. Some had contented smile, ready for death after a painful life. And some had sly smiles, smiles that were often followed by rescue attempts by their crews.
This was none of these. Just a smile. A lazy smile. You'd think that the Pirate King was just going to the beach.
"So, you guys gonna let me go?" He idly asked one of the executioners. The man shook his head. "Worth a shot." The king replied. He sat down on the platform, awaiting his doom.
What happened next was close to unbelievable.
"Pirate King!" a voice from the crowd screamed. "Did you find it?"
As soon as the words left his lips, marines began advancing on him.
"Sure." The king called back. "Couldn't do much with it, though. My Navigator is sort of a hoarder."
The Dragons were outraged. Sheltered as they were, they knew what was about to happen.
"So I left the whole thing…"
The executioner raised his blade. This nightmare could not start again!
"I left the whole thing in that place."
The blade fell.
"GO CLAIM IT!!!!"
The World Government could fight. They could hunt down every pirate in the world, they could slay every man, woman and child who spoke the name of the second king. But they had no power over what he had just created.
The Second Pirate Era had begun.
"It won't work."
"It will totally work!"
The argument was carried out by two boys, standing on top of a huge wooden ramp. On the top of said ramp sat a winged device, with a long tail and exposed machinery in front. A plane.
"Let me see if I can spell this out for you." The first boy began. "Across the world, the World Government and Wave Republic are working day and night to make this technology work. They have the greatest minds in the entire world on their sides, but neither one has managed to create more than one fleet. And they're the ones succeeding at it. Face it, Vic, if you aren't working for one of them, you will Never build a flight engine."
"Vulco Shmitt did it."
"You aren't Vulco Shmitt."
"Shut up, Sarner!" The second boy snarled. He was a pale lad, with a mess of black hair atop his head, and every inch of him filthy with soot. He wore a pair of overalls, splattered with oil stains, and a belt covered with tools. A pair of goggles adorned his forehead.
"I worked out the bugs from the last time. It's sure to fly now!" Vic continued.
"Which is what you said the last twelve times!" Sarner yelled, utterly exasperated. He was dressed a bit similarly, a boy with messy blond hair and blue eyes. "Look, you're my friend, Vic, and I am trying to keep you from killing yourself."
"You'll change your tune when you see this." Vic guaranteed. He climbed into the cockpit of the device. He immediately began flipping switches inside, and the engine hummed to life. The propellers began to spin.
"Call the press, Sarner, I'm gonna be huge!"
"Sure. But I think I should call a doctor first. You ok with that?"
"Shut up, Sarner." Vic mumbled. The plane began to roll down the track slowly…the accelerated to breakneck speed.
Come on…I'm gonna get past gliding today…He thought. The plane sped down the track, flying off the edge….and shot straight forward, flying over the forested mountain at a vertical slope.
"Yes!" Vic yelled. He had gotten passed the first hurdle, his flight engine could start a glide. Of course, it had done the same thing the last time as well. As he flew over the forest below, and toward town, Vic decided to put his plane to the ultimate test….gaining altitude. He flipped a switch within the cockpit, pulled up, and….nothing happened.
Confused, he flipped the switch a few more times. Still nothing. Then he heard a strange, puttering noise from the back.
Oh no…
The plane began accelerating very fast, strait towards the village. Vic tried to steer, knowing it was pointless, and the plane plummeted right into the middle of town. Villagers scattered all over the place to avoid the mechanical missile hurtling towards town. It tore through several stalls, sending produce flying everywhere, until it finally stopped at the statue in the middle of town. Both shattered, and Vic was sent flying, landing face first in a pile of hay.
Struggling for balance, Vic pulled himself to his feet.
"Ok. Apparently the engine has no setting other than really, really fast, and the plane won't steer while it's on." He mumbled to himself. "Damn, why does that keep happening?! Maybe if I- "
"Tesla D. Vic!" a deep voice rang out. Vic turned white with fear. He knew that voice.
"Report to my office. We have to discuss this." Boomed the Mayor.
The two sat in silence in the dark office, the elder with an expression somewhere between confusion and rage, and the younger seemingly unsure as to whether he should look casual or defiant. Finally, the Mayor spoke.
"What happened today?" He asked casually. Vic immediately launched into an explanation.
"Well, I thought that by tying the steering controls partially into the flight unit I could-"
"That is not what I mean, Vic." The Mayor interrupted. "We have talked about this before, haven't we?"
"I can't remember…you were pretty vague. Anyway, I'm gonna fix this with the Skytalon Mark 14 – "
"There will be no 'Mark 14', Vic. This is the third time I have told you, no more planes!"
"What kind of attitude is that?!" Vic exploded. "What about all of that stuff you said about 'moving forward' when you were campaigning last month?"
"That was about produce." The mayor responded, wincing at the earlier comment. Though the town had elections, no one ever ran except him. Really, people were happy with his leadership, and there was no reason for him to campaign. He just enjoyed speaking.
"Vic, I know what you are going through. When I was young, I also had a hard time deciding what to do with my life. Did you know that before you were born – "
"The World Government controlled everything and the military ran the town." Vic finished for him sarcastically.
"Yes…" Said the Mayor, a bit taken aback. "But when it fell into chaos, it was I that took the reigns, and our pleasant little farming island has been happily independent ever since. Aeronautics is the territory of big government, why would we need it here. Your talents would be better put to use-"
"Maintaining the great clock tower, right?" Vic responded automatically. "Mister Harbo, I don't want to spend my entire life in a tower, I want to be free! To travel the world, like Vulco Shmitt, or Strawhat-"
"DON'T YOU DARE FINISH THAT SENTENCE!!" Mayor Harbo yelled. "For you father's sake, I am willing to tolerate you devotion to that rogue Shmitt, but never idolize the Second King! That man brought chaos to the entire world, and that is nothing to be proud of!" He would have likely continued if not for an urgent knock at the door.
A man blundered in, well dressed and well shaved. He was looking around in a state of panic.
"Mister Harbo? Th – there's a man here to see you…from the World Government." Not a moment after he finished the sentence did the stoutest man that Vic had ever seen waddle into the room. He war a military uniform, and had a white handlebar mustache that dominated his otherwise uninteresting face.
"Greetings." The dwarf spoke. "I am Lieutenant Lawron Blannery. Do I have the pleasure of addressing the mayor of this fine island?"
"You do." Harbo said, a bit nervous.
"I represent the Reformation of Justice, an effort made by the World Government to re – unite her stray kingdoms. I am certain the wise mayor has a moment for me?"
"I do," The mayor said, cautiously. "But I am not certain I can accept this. Pastori has been neutral for almost ten years, and has prospered through it. We can trade with any island, free of tariffs, and-"
"And very exposed to danger." Blannery interrupted. "I noted upon entering that this town does not have much of a garrison. Are you aware that the Wave Republic has been hiring pirates, allowing them to pillage and plunder to their hearts content against anyone not loyal to them?"
"Yes. I have also heard of the Warlords." The mayor responded coldly. Vic had never seen him talk like this to an adult before.
Blannery seemed confused. "Let me explain – "
"No, let me explain." Harbo interrupted. "We have survived just fine up until now, and I will not bow to threats. Pastori remains neutral. This discussion is over." There was something Vic had never heard before in his voice…a cold rage that terrified everyone in the room.
"Well…"the captain started. "Our offer remains open should you change your mind."
"Don't wait too long." The mayor growled. The captain left the room with something between terror and rage.
"Get out of here." Harbo mumbled to Vic. Following the captain's example, Vic made himself scarce.
"Stop working on planes. Ha! He starts threatening navy captains but I'm not allowed to work on planes?" Vic grumbled as he reached the stairs of the clock tower. It was impressive, to say the least, by far the largest of its kind in the East Blue. But to Vic, it felt very small, confining his great ambition.
"So, how did the flight go?" Sarner asked sarcastically as Vic walked in.
"No one cares what you think, Sarner." Vic snarled.
"I'm just saying, it's not realistic to think you'll actually get something to fly."
"Oh, and your dream is, Mr. King of the Pirates?"
"That's different." Sarner said. "Building a plane is about genius. Being king of the pirates is about dreams."
"Heh." Vic chuckled. "Tell you what. I'll become the worlds greatest Aeronaught, and you become King of the Pirates. They'll speak our names for generations!"
"Yeah," Sarner laughed. "Don't know how that will happen here, though. Nothing ever happens in this – "
BOOM!!
A cannonball tore through the clock. Both boys panicked. As Vic looked through the window, he saw it. A ship floating in the bay…and a crew of murderers descending from it.
They reached the shore, laughing madly as terrified townsfolk ran for cover. Then, their captain approached. He was a tall man, lean and wicked looking, with sunken cheeks and bags under his eyes. A four foot long sword sat across his back. The mayor stepped forward to meet him.
"What is your business here, pirate!?" Harbo demanded, looking as if he was trying to look braver than he was.
"What do you think, old man?" The captain cackled. "But see, I'm not a pirate. Look." He pointed to his mast. Under a rather generic jolly roger flew a flag marked with a pillar of crossing swords.
"My name is One Stroke Lillack, and I am a privateer for the Wave Republic."
"Well, then I would make yourself scarce." The mayor blustered. "Just today, a World Government officer was here, and –"
"Who do you think told us about this Island, old man?" Lillack interrupted. The mayor went white as a ghost.
"Oh yes," the rogue continued. "The World Government has a price on my head. But every once in a while, they give us a tip about a neutral island with no defenses, a punishment for those who don't join them. In other word, I'm gettin' paid by both sides!"
"No clever words?" He asked the stunned mayor. "Fine." Quick as lightning, he had drawn his blade, and struck the old man down.
"Alright!" He yelled. "Let's get looting!" His ravenous minions needed no second bidding. They charged among the people, taking everything they could, slaying those who would not comply, all while their captain laughed like a jackal. "Freedom for all living things! Brought upon a dragon's wings!" He sang loudly, a drunken parody of the Wave Republic anthem.
In the clock tower, the two young mechanics watched with horror. Sarner spoke first.
"We have to do something." He said. Vic looked stunned.
"What are we gonna do against all of those guys?!" He yelled. "There's gotta be like fifty of them!"
"What would Monkey D. Luffy and Vulco Shmitt do?" Sarner responded. Vic seemed like he was about to reply, but stopped, suddenly lost in thought. He looked around the room, his yes suddenly settling on the wreaked flight engine from earlier that day.
"Hey Sarner…" he asked. "Wanna help me with something?"
"I'd like to thank you all for your cooperation." Lillack chuckled. Before him stood the whole town, terrified and defenseless before his mob. "It's always a shame to spill unnecessary blood. Now before I go, I have to do a little courtesy call to my boss." He cleared his throat.
"On behalf of the Wave Republic, justice has been served!" his whole crew laughed uproariously, their captain loudest of all.
"But seriously, you rubes can't possibly think neutrality is viable, can you?" Lillack continued. He failed to notice the influx of smoke coming from the top of the shattered clock tower. "Here, let me give you some advice. Nothing in this world matters except power. The strong take it, and the weak give it up. There is nothing else to it. Nothing! And as soon as you realize that, you'll be-"
At that moment, a heavily smoking object came flying out of the clock tower. It spun wildly through the air, a chugging, puttering sound blaring in all directions from it. It's turbulent flight through the sky ended as it suddenly curved downward, exploding in a giant blast of fire. Right in the middle of a group of pirates.
"What the hell just happened!?" Lillack screamed. He was reasonably shocked, about half of his men had just been sent flying, and were likely not going to be of use to him.
"An accident, perhaps." One of his crew asserted. "Maybe there was a mechanism in the tower that blew out…some kind of furnace we hit with our cannon."
"No accident." Two voices said in unison, as two forms exited the smoking form of the tower. Lillack stared at them in rage.
"Who're the corpses who just pulled that!?!?" he screeched.
As the smoke cleared, two boys stood in the doorway. Both held what looked like huge Swiss army knives with…sword handles?
"We are the Mechanics of Pastori!" Sarner announced. "And this is our town!"
"Yeah, so we'll give you a chance to run!" Vic taunted.
Lillack just stared for a moment. Then, he began to chuckle. Then laugh. A terrible screeching laugh.
"Kids." He snarled. "Half my force got taken out by KIDS!" He laughed even louder.
"Yeah, and we'll take the other half out too!" yelled Vic, hoping he sounded convincing.
"Oh, I don't think you understand." Lillack said through his teeth, a mad smile on his face. "See, I can never let this get out, this can't have happened. So now, everyone in this village has to die!" Screams rang out.
"But," he continued. "Since you boys asked so nicely…" he turned to his remaining crew and smiled. "I think I'll do you the honor of ending you two myself!" He began to charge them, and on his sword.
Sarner looked at Vic. All of the brawls the two of them had had as kids were about to pay off. Lillack finally reached them, sword draw. He sliced downward.
"Multitool Srike! Wrench!" Lillack found that his sword had been blocked by a wrench that had sprouted out of the device that Sarner was holding. The boy was struggling to hold him back, but even so, Lillack was stunned that a child had stopped his blade. He didn't have much time to think about it, though.
"Multitool Strike! Hammer!" A huge mallet had now sprouted from Vic's weapon, which he used to hit the man as hard as he could in the stomach.
Lillack stumbled backward, clutching his gut, thanking Kaazan that they didn't have the sense to push the attack.
"Kid." He wheezed at the two of them. "Who the hell are you?"
Neither knew who was being addressed, so Sarner answered first.
"My name is Albert D. Sarner, and I'm gonna be King of the Pirates!" he proclaimed.
"King…a noble ambition…." Lillack mumbled. "You win…I'll leave."
This seemed to good to be true. They had won! Vic turned to look as their defeated opponent…and noticed something. He was frantically making motions with his off hand toward his ship.
BOOM!
A cannonball tore out of the galley, directly toward the three of them. Lillack laughed, running backward…and tripping on a stray piece of rubble, stunning himself. The cannon hit it's mark, toppling the clock tower on the tree of them.
Vic awakened with a start. He was in a bed in the town doctor's house. Two World Government Marines stood at the door. In front of him sat the doctor, and he saw Mayor Harbo on a bed beside him. His left arm screamed with pain.
"You're awake." The doctor stated. Vic looked at him dumbly.
"What happened?" the boy asked.
"After the clock tower fell, a World Government ship arrived. They cleaned up the rest of the pirates, but…well, we're a World Government province now."
"Why did – ahhhh!" he yelled. "Why does my arm hut so much?"
The doctor sighed, as if unsure what to say. "It's…it's called a phantom pain."
"What does that mean?!" Vic demanded, sitting up…and then he realized.
The doctor faltered. "Your arm…it was buried under too much wreckage…it was becoming gangrenous…If you had kept it you wouldn't have lived."
Vic stared blankly at his shoulder. He never imagined this…but….
"What about Sarner!?" he suddenly yelled.
The doctor sighed, looking away. "He…the navy took him…gave him a burial at sea…"
"NO!" Vic yelled. "You're lying! He can't be dead! He – he was going to be the Pirate King!" The guards advanced at this, then backed off upon more thought.
"I'm sorry, Vic." The doctor mumbled. He left the room, taking the marines with him.
Vic screamed for the next few hours. He screamed until his throat felt like it burned. He screamed and screamed and screamed. Then he cried. But through his tears his drive began to grow.
"Fine." He snarled. "If you can't do it…if they've taken the chance from you… then I will." He stuck his left fist in the air and yelled.
"I WILL BE KING OF THE PIRATES!!!!!"
Seven Years Later
Vic sat atop the flight ramp. He hadn't been able to make as many fights as before, the marine officials were harsher with the destruction that they caused. But this was different. It was time.
"Hey you!" A voice yelled from below. Several Marines stood at the bottom of the ramp, and a few more were climbing it. When they reached the top, one addressed him rudely.
"How many times…flight over this island is illegal. Do you want us to take you to jail?"
"One little problem with that." Vic responded. "That's a law. Pirates don't care about laws."
"Why you…" one of the officers pulled out a nightstick and attempted to strike him with it, only to have it caught by Vic's right hand.
"Hey officer."
The man tensed as he say Vic's left fist ball up.
"Wanna see my greatest creation? Okay!" His fist shot up.
"Pressure 1…Iron Hammer!"
All the marines atop the ramp seemed as if they were hit by an explosion. Four men went flying back, hitting the ground hard.
Vic waved to them with a steel left hand. Not desiring any more trouble, he jumped into the cockpit of the Skytalon mark Twenty, and started the engine.
The plane shot down the ramp, ripping into the sky like a missile. It tore across the clouds, gaining altitude that put the other planes he had built to shame. Vic lowered his goggles over his head, and smiled.
"Time to fufill both of our dreams." He said.
So yes, I am doing a Next Gen one piece story. And, like all of it's kind, I will be allowing people to give me characters for it. As so:
Name: (Full Name)
Age:
Gender:
Specialty/Position: (Thief, Marksman, Navigator, Swordsman? What is your Character good at and what would their position on the crew be?)
Race: (for this, Human, Fishman, mermaid, Giant, Skypian, Amazon, or Okama )
Devil Fruit/Weapon/Attacks: (Devil Fruit are not required. Please make a list of attacks/weapons used)
Physical Appearance: (Be as descriptive as possible, please)
History: (Again, descriptive is good)
Personality: (Include positive traits, negative traits, hobbies, fears and whatever else you can think about.
Likes:
Dislikes:
Dream:
Other: (Anything else you can think to add)
A word of warning:
1)I am looking for fun backstories, first and foremost.
2)Don't feel like your character needs to have a devil fruit, either. Remember, Zoro has no devil fruit.
3)Ussop is mu favorite character. Do not be afraid to give me a character that is not a monster.
4) At present, submit whatever you'd like, but I seek a devil fruitless swordsman.
Ok, that's all. Remember to review!