Hello, my wonderful peoples~!

Stini is here!

It's been so long since I've last posted anything here on fanfiction.

(= TTATT = ) I so sowwie! Pwease no shooted meh!

Okay, this may be a pretty long author's note, so bear with me. What I am posting now is something I've worked on for a really long time, but never quite got right. It's a rather long alternative storyline that takes place shortly after Thriller Bark. I have talked about it on the deviantart and annoyed my friends to no end with writing and rewriting chapters. I've even posted several different versions of this up before, but took them down out of me never really knowing where the story was going.

Well, now I got the story planned out. Now I got what I hoped are well-developed characters. And now I hope you will enjoy reading this as much as I have suffered over writing it.

This is dedicated to my best friends Veronica (who helped me plot and piece together some major story problems), Clare (who took up the role as my editor), Jess (my internet wifey who told me where the story dragged and lost her interest), Chrissy (who pushed me to keep writing and took the time to compose the story's own theme song), Ryy (who designed two major characters and allowed me to use one of her OC's for the story) and I got to mention my very own fangirls Kate and Maja, just because you're so cute.

Though not the major focus of the story, this will contain pairings;
AcexOC
OCxLuffy
OCxGarp
SanjixOC
NamixUsopp
FrankyxRobin
And mentions of OCxThatch

(= OAO =) But they're not the story's major focus! You will not have to worry about mushy-mushy-kissy-goo crap. Sure, like any story, it will have it's moments. But for me it's all about the adventure.

Criticism is always more than welcome. I've tried to keep everyone as in character as I could possibly manage. But there is always room for improvement. Just remember that if you spot any spelling or grammar errors - or if I've made any other facepalm-worthy mistakes - please do not mention them in my reviews. Instead, point them out in a private message and I will get them fixed as soon as possible.

(= ^o^ =) And, as always, read, review and please be nice.

~Prologue~
Marineford

"Are you angry with me, Monsieur Sengoku?" The corners of the den-den mushi's mouth twisted into a cruel smirk, as if taking on the persona of whoever spoke through it. "You've become so quiet..."

Sengoku opened his mouth, but nothing came out. His own trembling hand reached up to clasp his forehead as he slumped back into his chair, gaze flitting back to the limp body two lower-ranked marines were scrabbling to carry out.

And in a silence that was very out of his character, Garp stood with his back against the wall. His face was a ghostly pale as he scrubbed a hand over his mouth. To think that with all his experience, there was something that could still spook the old marine.

As if there were reason not to be spooked; when the sound of a pistol dropping clacked on the floor, Sengoku felt his stomach churn. Over and over he replayed in his mind, but he still couldn't make any sense of it. One moment it all seemed to be nothing—at least not something to take seriously. The next moment, a young marine had that pistol in his mouth. The trigger was pulled. The sharp pop of the gunshot still tolled in Sengoku's ears.

—"Perhaps another example is in order?"

Sengoku looked down at the den-den mushi with a desire to smash it. Instead, he finally managed to take the receiver in his hand again and rasp: "That's enough..."

"Enough?" There was no attempt to disguise it. Obviously, it was the voice of a young man. His speech clipped in the manner of an aristocrat. "My dear Monsieur Sengoku, depending on your actions, this is only the beginning."

The scent of blood had cloyed the air. Chills seized Sengoku even through his rage. "You're insane."

"You have no idea," the voice drawled. "I happen to be as nutty as a squirrel." he added, sounding as if he were pleased with himself. "But does that give more reason to take my actions as those of a villain, or less?"

Sengoku narrowed his eyes.

"I will say this," said the voice. "I do these things because I can."

"You think you can play with us?" Garp bit out his words before stomping over to the desk.

"Garp! Be quiet!" Sengoku snapped.

"My, my, Monsieur," said the voice. "Do you wish to carve my gravestone?" His tone was playful, like a child. "I can understand why."

Garp was seething. And the last thing Sengoku needed was for whoever-it-was antagonizing the vice admiral. Just knowing that Garp would open his mouth to retort, Sengoku held up a hand, hoping he'd keep quiet.

Surprisingly... it worked!

Garp stood stiff, grinding his teeth.

"It's very simple, Monsieur," said the voice. "If you want me to go away, just give me what I want."

It was then Garp cast Sengoku a warning look, his nostrils flared like a bull's as he exhaled heavily through his nose. He wasn't about to let this go on for much longer.

Sengoku was breathing for calm. So much at stake. "There's no way in hell we'll do that!" He spoke in a low, gruff tone. With the receiver in one hand, the other hand balled into a fist, fingernails biting into the flesh of his palms.

"Merde." The snail frowned. "It seems you still have not yet learned your lesson, Monsieur Sengoku." Though he still held that eerie calm, there was malice in his tone. "I am not one to make threats and not go through with them."

"That's it!" Garp slammed his fist on his desk, only mere inches from the den-den mushi. The wood of the desk cracked, but the entire room seemed to shake at the force. "You think we're just going to take this?"

The master of the voice was undaunted. "You have quite a temper, Monsieur..."

"Better watch how you talk to me, you little—"

Sengoku placed a firm hand on Garp's arm. "Enough."

"Aw, he's just upset, Monsieur." he added, sounding as if he were pleased with himself. "It's laughable, really. To think that everything has fallen right into your laps and you do nothing about it—"

"I said enough!" Sengoku snapped.

"It is your own fault if you do not believe me," said the voice. "If I have no choice but to take what I need by force, then so be it."

Lightning streaked the skies outside, punctuating that voice's words. A not-so-subtle sign that a storm was coming.

P.S.

Okay, don't hate me for this. I should have mentioned the first two posts are meant to be very vague about what's going on. Just keep reading and everything will be revealed in later chapters.