What would you do, for your brothers? Your family? Live a life your grandfather wanted in order to keep your brothers safe? You'd do anything to ensure they achieved their dreams. Unfortunately, life throws wrenches into your plans and takes away what you find most precious. A cold, hard truth that Monkey D. Marek learns firsthand as his brothers are slain; at the hands of one of his mentors. With his dying breath, Monkey D. Luffy makes his oldest brother make a promise, to make sure that his crew, the Strawhat crew, achieves their dreams, as that was his dream.

'No, nonono it wasn't supposed to be like this!' Marek thought frantically, watching as Trafagar D. Law, the surgeon of death, operate on his younger biological brother, Monkey D. Luffy.

The boy had a huge X shaped scar burned into his chest, a "gift" from the red admiral himself, Akainu. The boy who broke into Impel Down, fought through the warden Magellan who wielded the Doku-Doku no mi, the venom-venom fruit. He saved former Shichibukais Jinbe of the Sea, and Sir Crocodile of the Suna-Suna no Mi, Emporio Ivankov of the Revolutionary Army, and many others.

He also managed to fight through the very gates of Marineford alongside the Yonko, Edward "Whitebeard" Newgate and his crew, fought through the remaining Shichibukai, stood up to the three admirals, his own grandfather who was a vice admiral in his own right, and the fleet admiral himself, Sengoku, all to save older brother, Ace, from execution.

Speaking of the older brother, Marek looked over to the other side of the room where Ace laid, dead at the hands of the red admiral, Akainu. Tears in his eyes as he remembered Ace's sacrifice to save them, he wondered how he would be able to face his adopted mother, Dadan, after failing to save him.

"We're losing him!" Law shouted, snapping Marek back to focus as he ran over to Luffy. Luffy was a fighter, always had been, but this may have been the one fight he couldn't win. He was treading the thin line of life and death, and death was winning. But let it be known that stubbornness was the primary trait of the Monkey family, he kept reaching for his eldest brother.

"M-Marek…." He said weakly, as Marek gripped his hand.

"I'm here little brother." Marek said, fighting his tears as he held onto him, hoping he could fight death and win.

"P-promise me, if I-I-I don't make i-it….. t-that you'll h-help my c-crew reach their d-dreams…" Marek tightened his grip only slightly, careful of not making his own condition worse.

"D-don't talk like that! You'll make it! You have to make it. Please, I don't want to lose you like I did Sabo and Ace," Marek sobbed.

"P-promise me!" Luffy weakly demanded, stubborn even know.

Marek sniffled softly, wiping a tear from his face. "I-I promise little brother. Nami will draw her map, Z-Zoro will become the greatest swordsman this world has ever known. S-Sanji will find the All Blue, while Robin finds the Rio Poneglyph. F-Franky's ship will make it to One Piece, while Chopper becomes the best doctor!"

Luffy smiled weakly as Marek leaned down more so he could hug him. "O-one more promise, b-big bro…"

Marek nodded slowly, tearing pouring down his face. "W-what is it Luff?"

Luffy whispered in his ear as Marek's eyes widened in shock, Luffy falling back onto the gurney as Law pushed him out of the way. "Damn it, we're losing him! Quickly now!"

Marek just sat back in shock, looking between his dying brother, and the hat he wore. That damned hat, the same hat that he saw Roger wear when he last saw him when he was 5 years old. The same hat that Shanks had worn when he arrived at their little village 11 long years ago. His eyes widened as he looked up, hearing the flatline sound from the heartbeat machine Law had as he saw Luffy's hand lay motionless off the gurney.

He sobbed as he put his face into his hands, crying heavily as he was now last of the ASLM brothers. (1) He got up and walked past the sobbing Boa Hancock, the most beautiful woman in the world and the only female Shichibukai. As he walked out to the deck, he saw a man he considered an uncle figure, Red-Haired Shanks, one of the Yonko and the man who inspired Luffy's dream.

Shanks, seeing the tears running down Luffy's face, only had his eyes widen slightly as his tone became soft. "I-is he?" Marek could only nod, dropping to his knees as Shanks ran over and hugged him tightly.

That day marked the sad, sad end of Monkey D. Luffy and Portgas D. Ace, two young kids who were damned the days they were born because of their fathers. It was also the end of Ace's adopted father, Whitebeard, who went to war with the Marines in order to save Ace.

But that is not where our tale ends, it is only merely a beginning, of a much simpler time.

22 years earlier, at Loguetown's jail

He had finally done it, he had captured the elusive Pirate King, Gol D. Roger. But, as he walked to Roger's cell with his grandson, Marek, why did he feel empty? Yes, he had captured the world's most dangerous criminal, but something was off. It felt like a hollow victory, Roger had come up to him, he had expected one last fight with his nemesis, but Roger came unarmed, turning himself in. There's something going on here, and Garp intended to find out what it was. He told the marines stationed there to leave them for a few minutes while he had a word with Roger.

"Uncle Roger!" Marek exclaimed happily, running over to the cell door as Roger grinned and laughed at the young Monkey's happiness as Garp had a furious anime expression on his face.

"You little brat! He's a prisoner and the worst of the worst!" Garp yelled as he punched Marek in the head with his fist of love. He internally smirked as he dropped, much like his father, Dragon, would when he misbehaved as a kid.

"Grandpa!" Marek shouted comically, rubbing the bump on his head as Roger just laughed harder at the interaction between his old rival and his grandson, before starting to cough slightly.

Garp looked on in concern as he sat down in front of the cell. "You look like hell Roger."

Roger grinned his signature grin, "You've seen me look like hell, remember God Valley?"

Garp sighed softly, rubbing the back of his head. "Don't remind me. Hero of the Marines still doesn't do crap for paperwork, plus Tsuru is always on me about it."

Marek decided to sit in his grandfather's lap, watching the two old men (at least in his opinion) talk about the past until Roger spoke up about Rouge and her being pregnant.

"Garp, I want you to take in my son. Before you start protesting, hear me out. If the world finds out that I have a kid, they won't stop hunting him. That's why I want him to take my Rouge's surname, Portgas."

Marek listened in as Roger spoke about Rouge before Garp cut him off, keeping the talk decent enough so that Marek wouldn't be grossed out.

"Anyways, I want you to have him in my steed. You've done a good job with Dragon, he's got a good head on his shoulders, just like his old man. Plus, you're doing good with this little squirt." Roger said as they were close enough to the bars so Roger could reach out and ruffles Marek's head, causing him to laugh and look up at the Pirate King.

"Take good care of him, Garp. And you take care of Ace, you got that Marek? You're going to be a big brother to him. For me, alright?" Roger asked with a smile as Marek nodded happily.

7 years later, Fooscha Village

"Come on Ace, how are you going to defend yourself like that?" Marek, now 12 years old, asked Ace as they were doing some light sparring. They'd say it was light if not for Ace looking like hell for a 6-year-old boy. But if you asked them, what they were doing now was 100 times easier than what their grandfather would put them through. Thinking of said grandfather, both boys shivered as they stopped the spar, laughing softly.

Both boys sat down, taking a breather. Ace spoke up. "Big brother, what's it been like with the marines?"

Marek looked over to him, smiling and titling his head curiously. "It's been alright, met some kids around my age, sergeants Bellemere, Smoker, and Hana have been helping me. Admiral Z has been a tough guy, but fair. He's my favorite alongside Mister Kuzan. Why, are you interested in joining them?"

Ace scoffed slightly, smiling. "Of course not! I'm just gathering information so when I become a pirate, I know who to avoid!"

Marek's mouth hung open comically. "You little snot, come back here!" He got up, chasing after Ace who took off, laughing, as did Marek. They had reached Dadan's place as Ace knocked, Garp may have not been a stickler for manners, but Marek was, he learned that from his grandmother, Tsuru. Ace met her once, she was nice but smelled of cleaning products for some reason.

Dadan opened the door and smiled lightly at Ace before her eyes drifted back to Marek, a tear down her face as she smiled warmly. Marek smiled back softly, coming up behind Ace.

"It's so good to see you Marek!" Dadan exclaimed as Marek walked up and hugged her. "You've gotten so big my boy!"

Marek smiled softly. "I know mom, that's what happens when you leave for two years to be a marine. Grandpa managed to convince the higher ups to let me have a break for a while, so I came back here with Bogard's escort. They said I'm doing great and should be in active service in a few years."

Dadan smiled softly as the rest of the bandits poked their heads out. "That's good Marek! If only you could teach Ace not to be such a rapscallion!" Everyone laughed besides Ace, who just pouted and looked off, mumbling.

"I'm just glad it wasn't grandpa who was escorting me, I don't want to be caught in another makeshift training session of his while I'm on break." Marek laughed, rubbing the back of his head.

"Oh! I also brought some meat too! Three large crocodiles!" He grinned softly. "One for Ace, and the other two are for you guys for helping take care of me since Grandpa dropped me off here when Dad disappeared."

Dadan and the others had wide eyes, staring at the three 20 feet crocodiles behind Marek as Ace was drooling at the sight of them. "Hope it's a great feast for you guys!"
3 years later (Marek: 15, Ace: 9, Luffy: 6)

"Dadan! Come on out! I know you're in there!" Garp shouted. "You too Ace!"

Marek sighed softly, rubbing his head. "Gramps, you're scaring them. Let me try okay?" He walked up to the door and knocked on it. "Mom, it's Marek. Me and Gramps are here to see Ace."

After a little while, Dadan's voice could be heard. "Give me a minute Marek! Garp just gave everyone in here a heart attack." Marek just glared at Garp who was whistling innocently.

Dadan opened the door and smiled softly. "Welcome back Marek." She looked up at Garp and narrowed her eyes. "Garp."

Garp just grinned. "Dadan! How's it been? Listen I've got a favor to ask you." He pulled out a small child that kind of looked like Marek did when he was that age. "This is Luffy, my third grandson. I need you to- "

"No." Dadan replied with a deadpan. "Marek was a sweet boy, still is too. Ace is still having his problems dealing with "that" and now you're dropping off another?"

Marek sighed softly, looking at Garp. "Told you that would be her response. Listen mom, I'm asking you to help me look after Luffy. I'm a Marine captain now, I'll be in the North, South, and West blues and I can't watch after Luffy. Trust me, Gramps has already tried to pawn him off on me."

Dadan just glared at Garp, as he whistled innocently again. "So, I'm asking you to please watch over him. Ace is getting bad because I'm not around enough, so I'm hoping with Luffy here, he'll have someone else to befriend and talk to. As long as I'm not stuck in something, I'll be here every other month to check up on them."

Marek said, pleadingly. "I'll even help them get introduced to each other!"

He leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Besides, do you really want to leave him with Gramps? You've seen the bruises Ace's had from his "training", hell I'm a Marine captain now and I still get bruises from his training."

Dadan shivered softly but nodded. "Fine, fine! Damn it Garp, I'll watch over him. But this is the last one, got it!"

Garp grinned as he just set Luffy down. "I've got to be off. I'll be back in a few months! You better teach him how to defend himself and the other necessities Marek!"

Marek sighed softly as Garp left and Dadan patted him on the back sympathetically. "I'm glad I'm stationed in the other blue seas than with him on the Grand Line."

A few days later

"Why! Why doesn't Ace like me big brother?!" Luffy asked him with a pout, both were sitting at Makino's bar.

Marek sighed softly, rustling Luffy's hair. "Ace has had a tough life Luffy. He's been with Dadan and me ever since he was born, with Gramps visiting every once in a while. He's gotten better with his visits over the years, but work does that sometimes. Plus, his training is scary." Marek shuddered, "I'd rather have Z's training than his."

While Garp had drilled him with Fists of Love, he did teach Marek about Haki when they both had free time. He was a pro at Armament, his observation was good for his age and with the training he had, but it could still use some work. That's why when he sensed a ship approaching, he gasped softly. "Luffy, stay with Makino behind the bar." He got up as Luffy did so, Makino looking scared.

"What is it Marek?" Makino asked, trembling.

"Pirates, and strong ones too. I'm not sure who they are, but I'll check." Marek responded, leaving them as Luffy got out of Makino's grip and ran after him as Marek approached the docks. He looked up and tilted his head as he looked at the flag. 'What the hell kind of flag is that? It's a normal pirate flag, but a smiling skull with a red cross over the eye?'

As the captain came down from the gangplank, Marek's observation was going off the charts, telling him that the captain was strong, very strong, like almost Gramps level of strong. But along with that strong feeling, it was a familiar one.

"Hey, sorry! Me and my crew just stopped by to get some supplies and relax for a little while! Hope we're not intruding!" The captain said with a wave to the townspeople and a smile, a familiar Straw Hat on his head that covered his eyes just slightly.

Marek smirked softly. "Well let it be known, pirate, that you've just taken port in the presence of a Marine captain, and not just his presence, but his home as well. Raise that hat so I can see who you are and what your bounty is."

The captain just chuckled, before full blown laughing as the wind tilted the hat up enough to show the figure's face fully. "Ahh Monkey Marek! That's a good laugh! Haven't heard a joke as funny as that in a long time!"

Marek, hearing that familiar nickname from a certain red-haired jerk (he was 7 at the time, give him a break!) used to watch him, growled in anger as his head rose in anger in a comical fashion. "God damn it Shanks! It's not Monkey Marek! It's Monkey D. Marek!"

Hearing what he said, he blinked, before looking at the man's face as he saw a knowing grin before he smiled softly. "Shanks….."

Shanks just grinned softly. "Hey Marek, it's been a while bud."

Marek just nodded softly before going up to him and hugging him softly, Shanks returning the hug. They broke off the hug as Marek had a stern and serious expression on his face. "No one here tells my Gramps or any of the high ranks that I just hugged a pirate, got it?"

The townspeople all laughed nervously, saying they didn't see anything as Shanks laughed hard. Marek turned his attention to Shanks, a fierce glare on his face that surprised even Shanks. "You too Shanks, no telling pirates about how much of a, and I know how you're going to describe me, softie I am."

Shanks laughed nervously, internally thinking about how the kid already knew how to use Haki, but then mentally facepalmed. 'His grandfather is Garp, I should've known that.'

Marek smiled then, lifting the pressure. "So, supplies and rest Shanks? Didn't know you became a pirate captain."

Shanks just chuckled. "And I didn't know you became a marine captain. What have they been given you kid?"

Marek just shrugged, "Three square meals a day, classes with devil fruits and seastone. Plenty of push-ups and lots and lots of juice."

The red-haired man and the muscular teen just looked at each other, before both burst out laughing. "Oh, thank god they didn't get rid of your humor kid!"

Marek smiled, "It's both truth and a joke, which makes it better!"

"Hey you! Step away from my big brother! He's a Marine Captain and my punches are like pistols!" A small, child-like voice exclaimed as he ran up to them!

Marek just sighed softly. "Luffy?"

"Yes big bro?"

Marek punched him in the head, much like a certain grandfather. "Use your manners! If that was anyone else they would've had your head, got that?!"

Luffy just cried softly, holding his head. "Wah, why'd you do that for, you big marine meanie!"

"Big marine meanie!" Marek fumed, internally laughing at the childishness of Luffy's insult. He externally calmed out before smirking. "If I'm such a meanie, then maybe I'll stop paying for your meat then."

Luffy's eyes grew wide as he shook Marek's arm. "I was only kidding big bro! Please, don't cut me off!"

Marek just laughed softly before lifting Luffy up onto his shoulder as Shanks looked at them, Benn coming down from the boat. 'Oh my god they're multiplying.' "Oh my god they're multiplying." Benn said, not realizing that Shanks had the same thought, but for different reasons. "Shanks, are you sure about this? The taller kid looks like a splitting image of Garp."

Shanks just looked at Benn from the corner of his eye and smiled. "We'll be fine, the kid is Garp's grandson. I used to babysit him way back when. Get the guys down here and let's go to the bar, bring the chest with you."

Two hours later

Marek and Shanks were catching up, not having seen each other for years. Shanks told him about what he's done since Roger's crew disbanded, not explicitly using Roger's name since Roger was still a taboo subject for people and Marek was telling him about his time with Dadan and the Marines. Luffy was sitting with them, listening in awe at their stories as he drank juice. He was sitting in view of Marek since he still had a bandage under his eye where he stabbed himself, in what Marek said was a stupid reason. To prove he was strong, what a stupid reason to take a knife and stab yourself in the face. Shanks' scar was at least from someone else.

Luffy got down and was fumbling with the chest they had brought in earlier when someone kicked open the doors to the bar. Marek and Shanks stopped their conversation and looked at the newcomer who had a cocky, arrogant smirk.

"I'm Higuma of the mountain bandits! Me and my men are a bit thirsty and we came down to get some drinks!" He practically demanded, making Shanks nudge Marek slightly, whom just scoffed softly.

The now named Higuma walked up to the bar. "So, any drinks lady?"

Makino smiled apologetically, "I'm sorry but the fine men here before you have taken up the last of the stock until next week."

He sneered, "Do you think this is a joke? I'm a wanted man with an 8,000,000 Beri bounty!"

Shanks handed him an unopened bottle, "Oh I'm sorry about that. Me and my crew drank up the whole stock! But there's still this one that you can have."

He growled softly and smashed the bottle onto Shanks, "And what are you supposed to be, pirates? Explains the smell. Bunch of cowards sailing on their ships. I've killed 56 people, all of them for stuff less than this! So consider this a mercy!"

He took out his sword and smashed up the rest of Shanks' food, and by extent, Marek's before leaving and his men all laughed at the patheticness of the pirates.

The bar was silent, before it filled with laughter. "He sure got you captain!" Lucky Roo exclaimed as he ate his food.

Even Marek couldn't hold back his laughter, not noticing that Luffy had disappeared by the chest. "I'm honestly surprised he didn't notice me! It's not like I'm wearing clothes much different from what I normally wear!"

Luffy just growled in anger. "What's wrong with you all! How can you laugh at that?"

Marek was off-put from Luffy's shout of anger. "Luff, no one was hurt. It's just some stuff that can be replaced, that's all."

"Shut up! No, it's not! That bandit was right Shanks! You're just a coward! I would've knocked him out with my pistol punches! And that's what I'm going to do!"

Marek grabbed him arm. "Just hold on Luff…y" his eyes widened as Luffy's arm stretched out like a rubber. "Luffy!"

Luffy noticed his arm stretched out and panicked, as any other child would've, as the crew were all shouting about the occurrence. Marek applied a small dose of Haki and pulled Luffy back slowly.

Shanks looked at the scene in shock, before looking at the chest by the bar that was open, and his eyes widened comically as the fruit that was in it was gone! "Luffy! Did you eat the fruit that was in the chest?!"

"Yeah! It tasted gross! Big bro, I thought you said fruits were delicious but that was so gross!"

Marek's eyes darkened as Shanks and Benn had worried looks on their faces. "Luffy, you just ate a devil fruit. That means you can't swim anymore!"

Luffy just paled and held his face in terror, "Oh no! How can I be a pirate if I can't swim! I can't swim!"

Marek just hit Luffy in the head, "Calm down idiot!" He watched as Luffy's head hit the ground, but sprung back up into place, no noticeable injury. 'With the stretching and him not reacting too much from my punch, Gomu-Gomu no Mi I assume? I'll have to check the book later.'

"Luffy." Luffy was panicking about never being able to swim, and not being able to be an awesome pirate like Shanks. "Luffy…." Marek started again, getting annoyed at his little brother's panic as his eye twitched on the pirate comment.

"LUFFY!" He shouted, getting his brother's attention. "It's fine, you can still be a fine marine," "Hey!" "Or pirate, me and gramps prefer the marine option, you'll just have to be more careful, that's all."

He pinched his nose softly, oh that was not a Den-Den call he wanted to have. Thinking about it, he paled as he would have to explain to gramps about how Luffy had gotten into contact with a devil fruit, how he got the said devil fruit, and how he managed to eat it in Marek's presence. 'Oh, I am all kinds of screwed.' Was his final thought before he passed out, leaving a panicked Luffy and Makino trying to revive him as Shanks talked to Benn about the situation.

(1) ASLM: Ace, Sabo, Luffy, Marek. Marek doesn't know that Sabo is alive at the time of writing until Dressora happens.