Ok, so this legitimately came to me when I was in the van, suffering in the heat, waiting for my mom to hurry up and come out of the store. It was originally supposed to be a one shot but now it has 6 chapters (PLANNED that is, NOT WRITTEN COMPLETELY YET), if you include the prologue and the final.

Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece.

The Different Paths We Chose – By Serenity de la Luna

Summary:

The way Garp views his grandson's lives. From their births to Ace's death and the Strawhats revival. The paths they chose… and the things that separated them. The things that made them who they were and his pride in them. His unwavering love for them. No matter what path they may have chosen.

Prologue:

Looking at it now, Garp can't honestly say he's not proud of them. No matter what someone says about them, he'll always be able to look said person in the eyes and say, "Yes, I am proud of them. I'm proud of their strength, their resolve and I am proud of the people they've become. They are better human beings than more than half the people who have power in this world."

But despite being proud, he can't help but wish that they made better choices, despite knowing that it was it circumstances in which the world was made and works that forced their hands in their choices. It was the corruption of the world that forced them to grow up early, it was the corruption that showed them the darkest of the hearts of people and it was the corruption that forced them to do what they've done.

He wanted them to be strong, proud marines. They wanted to be free, and the only way they found to be free was to be strong, proud pirates. They believed that a pirate flag was one of conviction, a pledge to risk everything to be free and happy. They wanted him to understand what they wanted, how they felt in their oppressed world. He understood what they wanted all too well. It was because he understood that he pushed them hard. That was why he tied them to balloons and into the sky, tossed them into canyons, made them fight gorillas and wolves, sent them to survive in the dark, dangerous forest and hit them over the head, when they spoke of their dreams and called them stupid. It was part of his way of letting them know he somewhat supported their dreams, even if they didn't know that.

Garp's not as much of an idiot as people believe. He wanted them safe but he knew they needed to be strong enough to handle everything the world would throw at them. From the prejudice to the slavery to the oppression to the pure hatred that came from being born to their respective parents. Strong enough to handle the world that subjugates others and condemns them for the deeds and the choices of their predecessors.

He raised them to be independent and strong, knowing that…despite his dearest wishes he can't protect them forever. He could barely protect them as children! So the least he felt he could do for them, was make them, strong enough to protect themselves and the people they may come to care for. His boys needed to be strong enough to fight even the strongest of enemies because on a battlefield, in a war against the marines…he can't even lift a finger to protect them. He'd have to fight them, even if it tore his heart to do so.

Next: Chapter 1: Portgas D. Ace

Please review and let me know what you think. I have a few other story ideas kind of like this but those are on the back burner until I get this one and another one out of the way.