I DO NOT OWN One piece or any of its associated characters or idea. This is a work of complete fiction and I make no profit from tis creation.
This is my first fanfic, it is not beta read, if someone would like to help please message me. All criticism is welcome flaming and being a general nuisance will be ignored. This will eventually be a yaoi, that's boy x boy story. Couple are not up for discussion, and they will not be labelled. If you guess correctly, I will confirm.
Prologue.
Few choices in life were ever difficult for Monkey D. Luffy. Most choices were not even his to begin with, regardless of being caption of his own ship. He left those up to people who could do them and had the ability to make them. Why make decisions for things he didn't understand? Nami and navigation, the ship and Franky, injuries and chopper. He trusted them to make these decisions not because he was stupid, but because he trusted them to know their own. Thus, being an intelligent design in its own, it left out the arguments and drama. What was the saying, stay in your lane, know your lane?
Luffy knew his lane, his nakama and their emotions, defending them and protecting them when and where he could. He normally did this by just being himself, but sometimes he would be more perceptive in their interactions to give them what was needed. It was not a conscious thing but was just there. Their lives were what made him shine and gave warmth to the darkest parts of his mind.
And it was dark, his mind, remembering the past while having attained his goal. He was the Pirate King, finally making it to Raftel, but it was not without loss. None of the others had attained their dreams before Raftel, and now none of them would. He had lost his crew one by
one, in the last push to Raftel, none making it to the shore to see the end, the beginning of a new Pirate King, their king. Few but Shanks and now Luffy, knew that Raftel was protected from others once the true Pirate King stepped on shore. This was why they were pursued by those against them prior to arrival, there would be no battle once he stepped on shore. It was physically impossible.
He had found his dream, but in its wake was left a nightmare of remembrance. No Ace, dead to Akainu's fist in Marineford, no crew again the marines and even Blackbeard. No friends and allies, they had protected them as far as they could, Kidd, Law, Bartolomeo, Marco all gone is a flash. Tears and pain were all that was left to the Pirate King. His hat inherited from Roger through Shanks was unknowingly the first and last key.
He was so tired, and lost without them, all of them. His smile had long since disappeared, no longer knowing how to do it. Sitting in the middle of the room with him was a strange floating light, but not much else. It was disappointing that he did not have the energy to explore more of the island. Exhaustion soon claimed then man that was Pirate King.
Dreams and nightmares happen to everyone no one person was exempt, next to no one had the ability to effect and interact within the dreams of those who were sleeping. Gol D. Roger had become one of these people, a spirit who guided through dreams. Roger has seen the life of his son as his shadow, observing the ups and downs, manic highs and depressive lows. The one bright spot that Roger always felt was after Ace met Luffy. The straw-hat on his head, signaling his successor with little fan fair. Not that anyone beyond his old crew and himself would know it for sure. Watching Ace's death for nothing other than being his son was a wrenching pain he knew he would never experience again. After Ace's death and his departure to the afterworld, Roger continued to follow after Luffy and his Hat. That lead him back to Raftel after so many years of being away, to the very core room of the island and the exhausted body of one Straw Hat Monkey D. Luffy lying within.
Exhaustion is a funny thing; the body shuts down the need for anything other than sleep. A sleep that induces the brain to leave external influences in the waking realm and become unaffected by outside stimuli. This is when the bridge can be breached between the waking and dreaming, rational and irrational mind, the known and unknown. Here is where Roger could become the guide that is needed for the world, through a single person and a single choice. He is unable to influence the person or their choice, just provide guidance as a sentient being that has lived before and followed as a shadow. Luffy was to be given a choice, a choice that could change his life and his world or better or worse.
As he woke, Luffy realized he was not where he passed out, he was standing in front of the graves of Ace and Whitebeard. He could feel the breeze and smell the salt of the sea. The grass brushed against his calves sending chills up his spine. Comprehension was slow in coming to his pain fogged mind. He couldn't be here, it did not exist anymore, the marines had buster called the island on which he stood over a year ago in a bid to draw out the straw hats. Hearing steps behind him, he quickly turned and moved to a defensive position, not understanding but unwilling to be caught off guard. His eyes widen as he took in the person in front of him, he vaguely recognized them, they reminded him of Ace.
"Hail, Monkey D. Luffy, Pirate King, Captain of the Straw Hat pirates, Son of Dragon the Revolutionary, Grandson of Admiral Monkey D. Garp, Defender and Protectorate of Alabasta, Fishman Island, Dressrosa, Elbaf, Totoland and now Raftel." The man called.
"Who…why.." replied Luffy.
"Luffy, I am Gol D. Roger, Father of Portagas D. Ace, Previous Pirate King and
Defender and Protectorate of Raftel."
"Ra, Roger!"
"Yes, Luffy you are my successor. You have been a joy to watch grow. Luffy, thank you for being there when I could not for Ace. "
"I didn't do it for that, he was my BROTHER!"
"Still, thank you. You may be wondering what is going on, then again knowing you, you either do not care or have figured it out yourself." replied Roger with a knowing glint in his eye.
"Shishishisi, I am dreaming right? I am at a point between waking and dying from pain." Luffy bluntly stated.
"Indeed, this is the case. You, as my successor have lost so much and gained so little of what could have been. In the room where you passed out, the essence of the world converges, brought to the center into the floating light that you saw. This is what we as Pirate Kings protect until our deaths. Upon which it returns to the room and the island is sealed until the return of the next Pirate King. During our lives we hold the world in our hands once we are crowned, this is why the five stars and the celestial dragons drive the world government & marines to hunt and massacre pirates no matter the type. This is the secret that Doflamingo knew, the reason he became a Warlord through blackmail."
"What Mingo knew? But he never told anyone!" insisted Luffy.
"Both are true Luffy, he knew but never repeated it. He knew when he was young what this could do to the world at large, the discord and apocalyptic reactions to such a power. You see Luffy, we are the balance, we keep the stars & dragons in check with the WG. We are the neutral force that brings change. That is why the Pirate King is always a D. why you must have the straw hat to enter Raftel. Mingo, as you call him did know. He knew it all. You see Luffy Mingo was an underworld information broker, he knew and never sold it out. You have to see underneath the underneath to understand what he was and what he was doing."
"But it was Mingo, what about Corazon, and Law, smile & Kaido? He was a bad guy!" Luffy screamed.
"Luffy, you know the world is not black and white. Blackbeard proved this to you many times over the years. Your grandfather is another example." Roger pointed out. "He let Ace be executed. He could have quit and run with him, but he did not. He is not a good guy based on your logic." "I am not arguing that Mingo was a good guy or a bad guy, but Luffy do you know what happened to Doflamingo?"
"Impel down."
"Yes, but what about when he was there?" Roger was met with silence as an answer. "Did you know Luffy, that the longer someone was under Sugar's power, the longer it takes for them to regain their previous personality or their memories? He was unconscious when you left Luffy."
Luffy's eyes widened at this, while his thoughts started spinning. What does this mean, why is he telling me this? Was Mingo effected? Why would he be and who was taken from his memories? Was it important?
Roger just stood by and waited while watching Luffy process what he was being told. In truth Roger knew the answers but would Luffy listen, would it change the answer to the future choice?
"But what does it matter Roger, it is already done, it can't be changed. Why bring this up, why bring up Mingo?"
Roger sighed, "Because Luffy, it can be changed."
"WHAT!"
Roger sat down and patted the grass beside him, "Luffy we are here in this place because represents where the first major change in your life occurred. The harshest unneeded lesson that did not have to be for you. It also represents who and what we both are. It is our meeting point so to speak. Edward Newgate or Whitebeard was my rival, Ace my son." Looking at the grave markers. "Ace was your brother, Whitebeard represented one of your rivals for Pirate King. This is our connection to each other Luffy. It is why I can be here, why I can talk to you and why I was chosen, unknowingly, at the time to present you with a choice. This choice is why Mingo is important. Will you listen to your choice Luffy, will you possibly change what has happened that should not have been?"
Luffy sat silent, listening and waiting for what was important. Roger seemed to be building up to something, something that was IMPORTANT. "A choice Roger, I get a choice? A choice to do what? My nakama are gone, the world is going to be in tatters and I am being given a choice! Why Roger, why me, why not Ace or Sabo or even someone smart like Torao?"
"Because you are the second Pirate King Luffy, you made it here with all the requirements met. You may not be a genius like your friend Law, & Sabo or strong like Ace, but you have heart Luffy. That is an intelligence all of its own." Roger smiled as he replied. "A heart of gold that has huge in its capacity to see the good in people and create change. Intelligence does not promote change Luffy, it can create it, but not maintain it. Not like you can. Coby and Law are 2 of the best examples of your heart at work. One inspired to seek and achieve his dream, the other inspired to truly live his life despite wanting death after completing his revenge. What of Dogtooth and his rebellion to be free or Ace and wanting to never be born?" Roger placed his hand of Luffy's chest above his heart. "This created and promoted those. This is your greatest strength."
"But I didn't DO anything." Whined Luffy.
"You are a catalyst by just by being yourself, not your devil fruit or the people you beat or even achieving your dream. This is why you have a choice. Again, I ask, will you listen to your choice Luffy?"
Now Luffy knew it was serious, he felt hope bubbling in his chest. He could save Ace, and find Sabo, maybe even help Law and Corazon. His nakama could be saved too. Was it possible, to turn back time? Could he do it, what did he need to give up? What would change?
"What choice do I have Roger?" asked Luffy, as serious as he could be, he needed to know. He needed to know what he would lose.
"You can go back to the crux point and begin changes that will flow throughout the world with you at its center."
"What's a crux point and what one would I go?" queried Luffy.
"A crux point is a point in the timeline that cannot be changed not matter the influence. It
is set in stone in the very fabric of all time and space. It is unchanging throughout all time and dimensions. The crux point is my death Luffy." Whispered Roger sadly, "It cannot be changed. I will die as I am supposed to in the great scheme of things, but the time of which I do will change. This is why I am here. I am your crux point Luffy."
"I can't save you for Ace? That's unfair." Cried Luffy.
"It is fair Luffy, I am a figment of the past, my time is done. I am only here to present your choice and help it be fixed. It cannot be rewritten no matter how we may want it. I am already dead; the dead cannot return to life. You however Luffy, are not yet dead. You can make this happen." Roger gathered the crying boy in his lap as he explained this and hugged him until he regained himself.
"But Roger I wasn't even born then, what am I supposed to do?" pleaded Luffy.
"I take it from your question you are taking the choice, you are willing to do this?" whispered Roger as though afraid of the answer.
"Yes." Luffy stated with conviction, "for my nakama."
Rogers eyes slipped closed as he breathed deeply trying to compose himself. The time was coming, he could feel it. The world was starting to slip outside of Raftel. The barrier was holding for now but now that the choice had been spoken it would deteriorate and the rewind would start. Both he and Luffy would return to a point of fates choice, with memories intact, before his execution to prepare Luffy.
"Listen closely Luffy, we have little time to get the basics out of the way before we move through time. We will cease to exist here with this world when Raftel's barrier collapses. This world was dying the minute you stepped on shore exhausted and unable to complete the transfer process of the core. We will regain consciousness in a few days before I turn myself in, I'm sure. You will be created into that time. You will still be Monkey D. Luffy, but you will also be someone else. You will look and feel and talk like yourself but with a different name. You will lose your fruit but gain a new one upon being built into the timeline."
"But my Fruit…" yelled Luffy.
"Will no longer be yours but someone else's until your younger self eats it at age seven like you did. There will eventually be two of you within the timeline, thus the need for a different name. You will be ages apart, you will be at least an adult by the time you are originally born or even when Ace is born. Do you understand this, we have little time, the barrier is already falling."
"I'm ready" Luffy squeaked out as Roger began to blur and distort in front of his sight. "Wait! WAIT! What about my memories?" Luffy screamed, but Roger was already gone. Luffy began to feel heavy and lethargic, he hadn't felt this way even after being exhausted from getting ashore. His last thought before darkness took him was, what have I done this time, I'm sorry minna.
Choices are never always easy and simple, even more so now that his name was Monkey D. Luffy, Pirate King.
