Luffy and Zoro awaken in two different parts of East Blue, both with the same thing on their mind. Protect the crew. There would be no failures this time around, Captain's orders. As bits and pieces of the unknown past that the two comrades share are gradually revealed, the rest of the crew can only speculate. For all their absolute resolve, they're hiding something. Time Travel AU

Luffy disappeared a day after Sabo died. Four years later he came back with a slave brand, burned into his flesh. Whatever happened to him, made Luffy view the world differently. Follow him on his journey to become the Pirate King, the freest person in the world, as snippets of his past slowly reveal itself to his crew. (AU, stronger/more mature/darker/jaded Luffy, no romance)

Sequel to Two Rivers: Beginnings. [Fem! Gon]