*Edits - I corrected some of the errors and changed/added a bit more.

I do not own One Piece and it is by right, the creation and ownership of Eichiro Oda. (Who is by the way, from my opinion, THE best mangaka and author for me…) Enjoy

-Glossary -

Shichibukai - Pirate allies chosen by the government who in exchange for services, have their bounties lifted and have special privileges. Pirates who were approached do not have to accept the governments invitation but if so, become their "lackeys". In all, they are also known as the seven warlords.

A Day to Remember

Chapter 1: Three hours Before the Execution

Hello there fellow reader, it would seem that the sea has spared this bottle and fated its contents to you. Either by sheer dumb luck or destiny, these letters of mine have reached you. Hopefully, these letters were found not that much into the near future I had hope to see from the start of this new era... Even if this might not have reached the right timing, I only hope that you my dear, might be able to understand and follow the series of the content I am about to reveal. However, reality wise, it might have just been perhaps a hundred years since I have written this and only now will it see the light of day. That and the possibility that only a short or rather- an ample amount of time had passed and only days or perhaps even a year or two could have passed on since I have bottled and tossed this out into the vast sea. Enough of that now, but first before we begin with the actual contents and reason why this bottle was sent afloat... Allow me to elaborate myself a bit and not more than that.

My name is of no concern nor importance. The discussion on that ends here and we'll just leave it at that.

I am, if all and all, a former Rear-Admiral of the Navy and for more than thirty years have I staked my blood, sweat, passion, and loyalty unto the government. More than that, I have blindly followed the Codes of Justice and strictly disciplined my moral values and beliefs, rendering me a dog to the Navy... It's funny though, that after all the years of utter devotion and my recent awakening... you've only begun to realize your mistakes and how foolish and ignorant you truly were. After that war, yes that War... I was free and much to that, I lavished on my new found freedom and this silly thing happened. To be honest, I never thought I would have ever done this but there is a much difference between truth and honor... I have learned that in this god forsaken war and this is what I have to offer; actually, this is all I can do and hope for the best. Now, for the main part:

To who it may be of concern, especially to those who are utmost keen on the past battle of Marineford two years ago, may this be a piece of history I might be able to provide, one that is foremost more accurate and trustworthy than that on a published Government newspaper. Rather than that fact, this is a straight testimony of the moments and the fated events that have led into this new era that was ushered- in no surprise- by the Captain of the Straw hats, Monkey D. Luffy… on his quest to save his brother, Portgas D. Ace, son of Gol D. Roger.

During that fateful day...

The frontal units were ready, headed by the Shichibukai (they were in that moment, one of the few deciding factors that would decide the outcome of the war), numerous cannons were put into standby action. Fifty marine battleships were stationed just a little by Crescent Bay and even- though rather, it wasn't quite a surprise to see them at all- the most powerful defense unit was present: the three admirals, who were Sakazuki known as 'Akainu', Kuzan who was 'Aokiji', and Borsalino known as 'Kizaru' (these too were the other factors who held the fate of the war.)

Being quite old and well-experienced in my service, I too was asked to come partake in the upcoming war and by god's witness, refusal was not an option. It was to be, the war of our generation. A war greater than that between Gold Roger and our olden heroes: Vice Admiral Garp and Fleet Admiral Sengoku. This moment was meant to be, the ending battle of this era, and there I was, standing right here, in the middle of the white field of clustered marines, voices all around were harmonized into a raging choir and the heat of battle has yet to come (although, if I may, it had already begun when news of Portgas's execution was announced publicly).

And three hours… the duration time that might as well be my final moments, three hours more, until the execution... The death of Firefist Ace was inevitable, and in that, three more hours of his life were left.

Though I pondered there, in that spot I was stationed out, where the warm ,crisp, ocean breeze was eminent and rough waves laid, folded among the ocean into layers of salted water. My feet laid heavily on the smooth pavement of worn out, but well maintained concrete; there my hands were frozen in a tight vice-like grip at my rifle, my old friend from the days before the age of Piracy.

I could hear the others scurry around back and forth between the ships and rankings, the sound of their feet that seemed to echo and ring unto your ear over and over again until it was embedded unto your memory. From my years of experience, this was the sound of a death march, and during my rookie days, this was the sound that frightened my heart most and would strike terror tenfold into the heart of your very being. That feeling, still lingered within me, and probably still from this day until the end of my days. Yes, I could never forget how that experience felt like...

Anxiety would first breach the inner core linings of the blood-pumping organ, where fear would steadily and somewhat slowly seep in and corrode one's inner sanctuary of peace and state of mind: their sanity, sadly, would be at utmost pity and at stake of malicious corruption from the claws of deadly shadowy emotions that over time, death would be sure to ensue. However, those days have passed for me and now, here I watch as the rookies of this generation experience the true meaning of 'fear' and of the absolute "death" that is to come and pass over them, like blankets of white snow that covers all in all the most notorious impurity that seemed to lay about. Although hidden, the impurities still remain... unseen and transcendent of time as moments seem to blur and move one. Those feelings were ones that were meant to last and once you've felt them, you can never forget the agony no matter how many years pass by...

The battle cries, on the other hand, were so in tuned and quite frankly… even my emotions were swayed, no matter how experienced I had gotten over my years of service. This barbaric melody seemed to drug me and made me weak against the sound of the death march. I couldn't even think, much less straight, which made even the simplest and basic of tasks such as breathing quite difficult; particularly my mind couldn't form the right words to describe that moment from where I stood completely still in a daze.

My mind and thoughts, if I could dare personify them, had completely left and abandoned me on my own. Once again I seemed to have found myself, since those forgotten rookie days of my past, lost and dumbfounded… in the midst of the start of this era's first great war that was to come…

This is my first story that is well… you know, submitted and published openly. The plot is basically from my perspective of the war if I were a marine. Not the stereotypical marine who blindly follows the code of justice but, one that is a thinker… What would unfold in one's thoughts if everything you once ever believed in were wrong? Please feel free to critic negatively/ positively (which ever floats your boat man…)