Chapter One – Things Fall Apart

The atmosphere is heavy with loss and sorrow. Even those marines wounded grievously are stifling their cries of pain out of respect for the Vice-Admiral's son.

"Dragon…"

No response.

"Dragon!"

The black haired man remains silent, his eyes fixed upon his fallen love.

"SON!"

Garp reaches down and pulls his son, Monkey D. Dragon to his feet. "There will be time to mourn soon but for now Luffy needs you." He begins to hand Luffy to Dragon in an attempt to bring him back from the brink of despair, but hesitates at what he sees in his son's eyes.

Rage. Pure, undiluted rage.

The loss and grief that Garp expected seems entirely absent from the cold fury in his son's level gaze. "We need to talk. Now."

Nodding absently, hoping to reach his son, Garp turns towards the gathered crowd. He spies the young couple and their green haired daughter. "One second, son. Let me get Luffy somewhere safe and comfortable first." Seeing his son's sharp nod, he turns to the couple. "Pardon me. I need you to watch over my grandson, Luffy, while I speak with his father. I wouldn't impose but I do not want to endanger the brat if our conversation gets… heated." Not waiting for a reply, he thrusts the young boy into the woman's arms before turning and walking away, his son following.

"Mama… I wanna see!" The young girl chirped merrily, her youthful innocence shielding her from the harsh reality of the day's events. She tries to climb her long suffering father to get a better view.

Still slightly wild eyed from the whirlwind babysitting appointment, the woman turns to her daughter almost numbly. "Of course, Makino…" Holding the sleeping child towards her daughter, she looks at Luffy for the first time. Even now, the scion of the Monkey family is drawing people to him, as they huddle protectively around his slumbering form. Makino reaches out and lightly pokes his cheek, rousing the boy. His eyes slowly open and lock with hers. Her three-year-old mind reels at the surprising presence in those tiny orbs.

"He sees me, Mama!" She says excitedly. "We're gonna be best friends!" A look of contentment settles over the family as his eyes sweep from face to face, as if studying them. Uncertainty begins to fill his eyes and the woman rocks him slowly, cooing in an attempt to settle his nerves. At first, nothing seems to work until Makino chimes in, "Maybe he's hungry! Can I feed him?!" Not listening for any answer, the tiny whirlwind shuffles her way towards their house/the town bar. A resigned chuckle emerges from the father as they follow.

On the Coast

Garp proceeded a fair distance down the coast to minimize the likelihood of being overheard, and to minimize any potential fallout in the village. He turns to speak to his son only to be met with a shining black fist. The old marine, half prepared, rolled with the punch and staggered back instead of falling to the sand.

"How long?" The words dripped like blood from Dragon's mouth. "How long did you know they were coming? WHY DIDN'T YOU WARN US?" His eyes flaring dangerously and a shockwave burst from him, scorching the sand.

Rubbing his jaw and narrowing his eyes, "What the hell are you talking about?"

Reaching into the satchel over his shoulder, Dragon pulls out a waterlogged cap that says MARINE. "They weren't pirates, old man. They were Marines under orders to kill Lara. MY Lara." He throws the cap into his father's face and chases it with his fist. Prepared for the event, and looking for answers, Garp catches the punch and holds his son at bay.

"That can't be right… There's no reason to come after her. She's an innocent," Garp defended his profession and superiors.

Pulling his hand free of his father's grasp, he pulls a soaked log book from the same bag. "You keep saying that, but maybe this will make you tell the truth. When did you get the order, Garp?"

Grabbing the log, Garp's eyes widen as he reads the final words. The book tumbles from nerveless fingers.

"BUSTER CALL COMPLETE. OHARA HAS FALLEN. EXECUTE KNOWN SURVIVORS. PRIORITY TARGET: MONKEY LARA, FORMERLY SILVERS LARA. UTILIZE A DISGUISE TO PREVENT IDENTIFICATION."