It was a journey that practically seemed unbelievable to anyone outside of the Strawhat crew. If you asked any of them for the story, you will get a different story each time, but at the same time, they were all true. There were some who still insisted that the Strawhat crew were a crew of liars hoping to get their ten minutes of fame.

However, those who were pirates, marines, and other children of the sea knew. When the Sunny Go was on the ocean, it was as if the waves changed their course to ensure it safe travels. Luffy was the true pirate king. That didn't really change many things though.

The Strawhat crew still managed to make messes out of corrupt kingdoms and free prisoners out of high security prisons. At one point, they even managed to make copies of the lost history and distributed to anyone who would listen. The World Government was going mad. The only difference is that when allies spotted the Strawhats, there was almost always a party to be had.

For a long time, the Strawhat crew began to believe that perhaps that they were worrying for nothing. Sabo sent his congratulations through news coo, and a secret thank you for the crew. They were smiling. If there was anyone that was going to beat this curse, it was the Strawhat crew.

And then word got out that Trafalgar D. Water Law died in a marine battle to protect his crew.

The Strawhat Fleet accompanied the Heart Pirates on their journey back to the North Blue. Few marine ships were able to make it through the fleet, and those that did were promptly destroyed. Rumors had it that some kind of deadly aura encompassed the ships that made anyone faint once they got close to it. Those that were knowledgeable enough knew that the aura they felt was the misery of one pirate captain.

The funeral was a melancholy affair until Luffy decided he was tired of being sad and declared that Torao would have wanted everyone to be partying instead of crying over him. Although the Heart Pirates did not think that their captain would every say something like that, they happily welcomed the distraction. At some point, Robin had brought the crew aside to explain to them what they understood to be the curse of D. And while they did not like it, they were happy to know that the captain his final time here to protect them. They were insistent on not letting their captain's sacrifice to go to waste and continue on living like he would want them to. It just happens to be that Luffy's translation was a great big party.

The entire fleet partied for days until none of them could remember why they were sad in the first place. They celebrated their captain and all of his feats. They shared stories of how they all met, the bad things about their captain, the good things about their captain, and just all the times they all shared with him. Luffy especially shared in the festivities, saying that Torao was happy that they finally got themselves togethers. At one point, Bepo started crying for some reason, and the Strawhat crew understood.

After a week of partying, the crew dispersed. Bepo was named captain to continue carrying on the Heart Pirates name. A stone was raised in Law's honor, and some treasure was set aside to build a hospital on islands that had less advanced facilities. Chopper wished all of them luck, and they carried on.

In the back of the Strawhat's mind, they wondered when it was going to be their turn.

Then they continued. At some point, the straw hat migrated to Sanji's cot, but he refused to wear it until he had to. No one really wanted to notice, but they all saw that Luffy was beginning to get tired more often. They knew that the time was coming, but none of them knew how to prepare for it.

Then a Marine boat came by and had them cornered.

"We have you now!" Coby yelled from his ship. Luffy laughed at how big Coby looked now. He was laughing so much that he hardly noticed himself falling into the ocean. Zoro was about to jump after him, but Coby beat him to the punch. Brook would have argued that it was no mistake. Whatever anyone thought, the pirate king was caught.

Sanji, taking on his future role, ordered for a coup de burst. Franky objected, but one look from Sanji revealed who was being captain now. Nodding, the Sunny Go ejected from the scene, and Luffy couldn't help but smiled.

"Your- your crew left you Luffy-san," Coby observed, amazed at the lack of loyalty.

"Mm," Luffy responded. "You got really strong Coby!"

"Luffy-san," Coby said, and then ordered for the Pirate King to be restrained.

The news was spread immediately. Luffy's death was to happen in three days times. Three days for the remaining World Government to bear witness. Three days for the allies to come together and ruin things. It was a gamble.

And if there was one thing pirates were good at: it was tipping the odds in their favor.

Hours before the execution with Luffy at the execution stand, and his grandfather at his side, the breech made itself known. Somehow, the entire Strawhat Fleet and all of those who have made themselves allies have made it into Mariejois. The Whitebeard Pirates, the Heart Pirates, the entire fighting kingdom of Alabasta, and many more have broken in and defeated half the staff.

Luffy was laughing when one of those funny-looking Celestial Dragon came in with the news. Another hour later, the Sunny Go could be seen in the distance.

"Oi! You shitty captain! You better not be gone just yet!" Sanji yelled, and Luffy laughed as he saw his crew come after him. Coby breathed a sigh of relief.

"Shi shi shi, you're pretty funny Coby," Luffy laughed and then yelled back a reply. He watched as his crew fight their way back to him. It brought back memories of all those years ago at Loguetown. It almost hurt him when he saw his friends get slashed down, but he couldn't swallow the pride he felt when they came back up and continued fighting.

And just when it seemed like things were becoming a hopeless battle, the Revolutionary ship appeared in sight.

"Is that my shitty son?" Garp asked as he stood up.

"Luffy!"

"Sabo!" Luffy was so happy that he got to see Sabo one last time. Garp had left the stand, but unlike the last time a high profile execution was scheduled, Luffy was not left alone. Everyone was here now.

It was time.

"You think you won Mugiwara?" the executioner asked. "I'm not like the last guy who killed your brother. I'm not going to wait."

"Is that right?" Luffy asked, and then he looked out at the scene. Sanji and the rest were all so close. However, he closed his eyes, and he knew.

"Hey! Everyone!" and for some reason, people listened.

"Everyone! Thank you! I got to be the Pirate King because of you guys, and that's the best thing that has ever happened. I got to go on a lot of cool adventures, eat a lot of great meals, and meet some really awesome people. I got to sail across the entire world, and I was finally free from everything. All of that was probably the best time of my life." Luffy frowned. "Everyone, I'm sorry. But again, everyone, thank you!"

There was a minute pause, and then Luffy looked at the executioner.

"Oi, didn't you say you weren't going to wait?"

"Wait! Luffy! Don't go antagonizing that guy!"

"WAIT!"

And it was a single marine's yell that echoed in the royal battlefield of the marines. All heads were turned.

"Did you really find it? The One Piece?"

"What? Are you stupid? Of course! I'm the pirate king after all."

"Well? What did you do with it?"

At that, Luffy began laughing for a long time. Once he managed to stop, Luffy looked at the man straight in the eyes. "Ace was right about his old man, you know! He was kind of an idiot! Why did he hide all that treasure on some stupid island? I gave the One Piece to my crew. If you want it, you're going to have to get through them!" Luffy laughed again. His laugh echoed through the battlefield, and those that were close enough to the lucky nine, could tell you that they wore the worst shit-eating grin you will ever lay your eyes on.

Then the laughter stopped, and for a moment, time stopped as well.

What came after has never been fully accounted for. However, based on the stories, the revolutionary army began their strike. Those who could see would tell you that a fiery dragon emerged on the ship taking down hundreds in a single blow. The Strawhats, in what they perceived in mourning, launched a full out attack that defeated every marine admiral in sight. In a matter of minutes, the World Government was defeated.

The government never retrieved the body of Mugiwara Luffy. The Strawhats would not let them have that right. Rumors state that his body is resting in the sea where he belongs and a shrine is erected in his honor at his hometown, wherever that is. Marines have searched Goa and Windmill village several times, but never found anything. They attempted to search the forests as well, but the wildlife and rumors of dangerous mountain bandits always warded them off.

The body of one Monkey-Portgas D. Sabo was never found either. He had died shortly after the Revolutionary Army claimed Mariejois in the name of the people. Months later, it was announced that Monkey D. Dragon had also died in his sleep. At that point, Garp finally took his promotion, and while he guarded the seas with a fierceness never seen in another fleet admiral, the position was shortly given to Coby following his death.

There are rumors saying that the Strawhats still exist in some capacity, but their activity has been off the radar since the death of Mugiwara Luffy. Some state that they have gone their separate ways. Others say they are still in the search of the All-Blue. Other say they died in the fight alongside their captain.

However, one true mystery surrounds the Strawhat pirates, and that's where they have hidden the One Piece. Even to this day, the legend of the One Piece by the Strawhats has encouraged a new generation of pirates. New hopefuls of finding word of where this legendary treasure might be. Legend states that he who finds the One Piece will be the –

"Pirate King!"

The storyteller paused in her story, and looked out in the crowd. She smiled when she saw the familiar face raise his hand in the air.

"Sit down! Only a pirate can be the pirate king, you doofas."

"Then I'm going to be a pirate someday!"

"Stupid. Pirates aren't real, so that means this story is fake!"

"Lame." "Why don't you tell the story about Noland?" "Or the story about the Loooong Island?"

"Shut up! Pirates are real, and one day, I'm going to be the pirate king too!"

"Is that so?" the storyteller got up, and walked over. Walking over to the young boy, she kneeled down stared him down. The boy got slightly nervous by the close proximity, but he did not lose ground.

"Good, you have a good heart. Here, have this. I think this might be useful, Pirate King-san." Pulling off the familiar bracelet off her wrist, she wrapped it around the boy's arm.

"What is this? It's kind of itchy," the boy asked as he poked at the glass sphere on top of the straw strap.

"Keep it safe, okay? That paper inside the ball is going to guide you to your dreams."

"What?"

"Ms. Robin! Please tell another story! It's almost dinner time!"

"Okay okay, but just one more okay?" Robin took another look at the young boy who was still staring at bracelet she had given him. Over the years, her crew had always teased her for being the hardest person to please. However, she simply wasn't looking at the right people. Who knew it would be a kid who would carry one of the keys to the most legendary treasure of them all?

"I hope you don't mind captain-san," Robin said the air as she walked back to her chair. "I think I found your successor."

And the balance that was so perfectly aligned since the last pirate war began to shift every so slightly. She had set another on the path she and so many have walked before. There will be tears, and hearts broken near the end, but as long as they can remember the times they had along the way, it would have been worth it.

A/N: Final Stats:

45 pages on Word

21958 words.

I am so happy about this. This is definitely one of my longest projects I have ever done. And while I am rushing to upload this in a library, I want to thank everyone who has been reading and supporting me. I love you all, and I hope that I have responded to all of your reviews. If not, please let me know and I will personally thank you.

I hope to see you all soon. Thank you again for reading. I will be in the OP reversebang 2016 and hope to see you there.