Chapter Summary: Garp is rescued. Ace and Sabo are lunatics; there's a lot of Koby and a time skip. Hey, Is that Marco?

Author's Notes: Sorry for this delay; I have not been happy with this chapter or chapter 8. With Wano being over in the manga and we are now in Egghead Island, I had to rethink a few things and rewrite chapters six and eight.

So here's your warning: There are spoilers for those with no update with the manga, which centers around Koby. I took a creative license with some things that fit this unreliable time travel narrative.

Thank you all for your comments and for reading this story.

Sean

Chapter Six

Koby could only watch in horrified awe as Luffy-san, his brothers, and the heavy hitters of the Straw Hat crew clashed with CP0, And they were winning.

Cipher Pol was built up to be such a powerful and unstoppable fighting force that those within the ranks often spoke of them in superhuman or paranormal terms.

They had power rankings amongst them, with the infamous Rob Lucci rumored to have been the strongest in the Cipher Pol ranks.

Rob Lucci fell under the fists of Monkey D. Luffy.

The Dog Pound was sinking with nearly all of her crew having been slaughtered before Luffy-san appeared from the sky with a flaming fist that smashed into the two Agents and a cadre of marines.

Luffy landed on the Marine ship, and a wave of Haki, the colors of the Supreme King, flashed out, rendering those unable to withstand Luffy's presence unconscious. Fire Fist, who had rushed over to Koby's side as soon as he saw his grandfather lying still on and bleeding out, paused for half a second as he watched his little brother charge some of the most powerful people in the world without a care.

"Oi, Luffy!" Zoro-san snapped angrily. "Leave some for us!" He dashed past with Black Leg.

That seemed to knock Ace out of his temporary stupor. The Whitebeard's second commander dropped down beside Garp and hollered for Chopper. The Straw Hat's doctor was suddenly there. His form shifted as he pushed Koby aside.

"Jiji," Koby heard Ace's choked voice call out to the man lying between them.

There was an explosion, and Sabo, the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff, landed next to Fire Fist in a blaze of fire. He looked down at Koby in a way that had Koby wishing he had some weapon.

Thankfully the revolutionary looked away from him and down at Fire Fist and said, "Ace, we gotta go. We can't let these bastards hurt our little brother. Chopper will take care of Jiji. Get up."

Beside him, Koby heard the doctor growling, "I hate it when they do that."

Blinking, Koby frowned, "What do you hate?"

From Chopper's reaction, he had forgotten that he wasn't alone. Koby noted that the reindeer's hands weren't shaking.

"I hate when they speak in their native language as if we aren't there. They do it with Luffy, and it's just rude." Chopper said he applied a compress to Garp's chest. Koby was going to ask him what he meant, but Garp-san made a raspy breathing noise. All other thoughts were forgotten because Garp-san was breathing again. It was a raspy whistle and sounded painful, but that meant he was still alive. Awed, Koby looked at the reindeer/human hybrid in awe, but the doctor looked around for someone, his nose scenting the air before Chopper shouted, "Robin! I need a bridge to the med bay."

Something wild and dangerous filled the air, as well as oppressive heat. Koby turned to where he could sense his friend, and he nearly collapsed under the weight of Luffy's will. The Straw Hat captain was in a rage. A primal scream tore through the air as Luffy threw himself at the remaining Government agents. He was trashing and destroying all in his path, with his crew and his brothers at his back. Koby made to join them. But a pair of gigantic feminine hands had picked him up and moved him off the ship. Koby turned to see Nico Robin standing just out of range of the fight, with the Soul King dispatching any would-be attackers with ease.

"Don't run!" Fire Fist roared. He rose in the air; he was completely engulfed in his flames. "We bought the fight you bastards wanted to sell."

A wall of flames appeared around the remaining fighters, which forced the Straw Hats and what remained of the Garp-san's crew to retreat. "You heard my brother," the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff said menacingly. "You wanted this fight. Fight us!"

"Those fucking lunatics," Zoro said in disgust. "Cook, Brook, you are with me. Robin, get everyone off the ship. Tell Nami and Jinbei to be ready to sail the second Luffy's onboard." He looked at Koby and said, "Koby, you help Chopper get Luffy's grandfather to the med bay."

All too soon, Koby was on the deck of the Straw Hats' new ship, and everyone was moving. Chopper ordered him to him carry Garp-sensei to the med bay. The state-of-the-art chamber warranted more than a cursory look, but Koby wasn't in the frame of mind for such wonder. He scrambled back on deck just in time to have been knocked from his feet as Fire Fist and Sabo dropped two pillars of fire down on the enemy ship. The Straw Hats and what remained of the Dog Pound crew had fled, with the Straw Hats landing on their vessel.

"Raise anchor and hard to starboard, now! We have to get clear of the wreckage." Cat Burglar Nami called out just as another explosion rocked the ship. "Franky, prepare for take-off!" The Dog Pound was moving. Rayleigh and Mihawk leaped onto the Straw Hats' ship, carrying their swords, and Rayleigh had a small bag that he handed to Luffy.

"These belong to your grandfather," Rayleigh told him. In the background, Zoro gave the order to prepare for taking off. Koby didn't understand what Zoro meant. There was one final explosion; what remained of the Dog Pound crew was sailing off. When Koby looked for Luffy, the young Captain clutched the bag to his chest as he headed toward the bridge.

A rushing sound soon replaced the sounds of the sinking ship.

"The deck is secure." Zoro ordered, "Crew, prepare for take-off!"

"Crew, sound off," Nico Robin's voice appeared everywhere. Koby jumped when an ear and an eye appeared near him.

Luffy's brothers landed on the main deck just as a dome began to enclose the open deck.

"Koby," Zoro called the former Marine's attention back to him, "We're going to see the Captain."

Dangerous

"I thought I was the only one sent back. It's good to know I am not alone, Luffy-san."

While they were at the scrapyard watching Franky and Iceberg frame out the Nika, Luffy made Koby an offer he should have made in their previous life while they were both still in the East Blue, and much to Luffy's surprise, Koby accepted.

Before he was thrust backward in time, Koby had been captured by the Blackbeard Pirates after he had gone to Amazon Lily to capture Boa Hancock. Before that, Koby, and after the Paramount War, had made a name for himself in a battle instigated by Trafalgar Law, known as the Rocky Port. Koby had been promoted to Captain and had his own unit under his command. Everything was going well in his career until Blackbeard arrived at Amazon Lily.

There was a bounty on his head, and the Marines had all abandoned him for all that Koby had known as he sat in the cell on Blackbeard's ship. Akoji had tried to persuade him to join Blackbeard at one point, but he stopped after Koby declared that his Captain if he was a pirate, was Monkey D. Luffy, the future King of Pirates.

He believed that, and Koby told Blackbeard when the bastard dared him to repeat that. There was no reason for Koby to expect anything from his friend, not even the hope of being rescued again because his friend was out in the world saving people as he always did.

Koby and Rayleigh-san had finished their report before supper, and now they had seated in the

In the lounge in the aquarium room off the dining room. Luffy had returned after visiting the med bay and changing clothes.

There was cocoa and sweet biscuits with jam that Koby really enjoyed. There was a lot to discuss, but Luffy-san's brothers were fighting now. Garp-san would need to rest and recover in a secure environment, which wasn't the Nika right now.

Luffy didn't argue; if his brothers wanted to take their grandfather, he was fine with it; Luffy only asked if Koby still wanted to train under Garp for two years.

Koby answered in the affirmative, and Luffy nodded before pulling his straw hat down over his eyes. He fell asleep against Nami's shoulder. Nothing more needed to be said. The Straw Hats would go off the grid for two years to train, to reach the levels they had in Wano, and, if possible, surpass them.

If Koby was going to join them in Sabaody in two years, he needed to become stronger too.

Dangerous

The New World had changed Luffy.

The atrocities of Punk Hazard, Dressrosa, and Wano had been encouraged and allowed by a feckless World Government that only wanted to dominate the world. Luffy was no hero; he never wanted to be a hero. But he knew that his Jichan was a hero.

Garp was brave, strong, and crazy. His brute strength caused his grandsons and nearly everyone who wasn't a friend of his to fear him. Garp was many things, but disloyal to his duty wasn't one of them.

Koby and Rayleigh told Luffy and his brothers what had happened at Marineford and then on their grandfather's ship.

Those sailors and marines loyal to Garp left Marineford with Sengoku offering asylum for any who could not leave because of their family or other reasons.

Koby was told that he had been on a list of those for immediate detainment and capture due to his close relationship with Garp and Luffy. The spoiled son had stayed. His father was a criminal, and now his commander was branded a traitor. All family members, associates, and allies were detained and transported to the nearest naval base.

No one knew where Luffy came from, and the same could be said for nearly all of his crew except for Robin, but the Government wiped out her country twenty years ago. No one knew that Jinbei had joined the Straw Hats, so Fishman Island was still safe. As for his family and the families of his crew, they were safe except for Garp.

Rayleigh went after Garp to help the man his Captain had respected and trusted to take care of his son. Garp had good men, but none of them were pirates. Rayleigh went to help Garp survive as an outlaw. Rayleigh helped them find provisions and secure munitions; He also helped Garp fight off every bounty hunter, marine, and any ragtag group that showed up looking to claim Garp's head.

He was there when Garp violated Akainu in one of the dirtiest fights Rayleigh had ever participated in. Garp shoved a live bomb into Akainu's chest and then kicked him into a stack of munitions, and that was the end of Akainu.

Since Garp took down an Admiral, the Gorosei ordered the Shichibukai to apprehend Garp. Mihawk explained while they had a late supper how the orders went sent and how the Shichibukai weren't given much choice. Mihawk was never fond of his masters and had decided to join Garp. Rayleigh made it easier for Mihawk to ally himself with the former Vice Admiral.

Luffy understood that circumstances would change, and some of the friends he had made would not be his friends this time. But there were some alliances and people he truly needed to save and other friends he had to protect. Sabo didn't seem to understand and was frustrated and angry to hear that Kuma had died. Luffy didn't care; he wanted to know if that pink bastard had not shown his face.

His crew knew why this was important to him. It was important to them all. The Straw Hat Grand Fleet came together after they defeated the Doflamingo crime family. When Rayleigh told them that the bastard never showed his face, CP0 came, and that was when Luffy arrived.

Things had changed. The plan had been to rescue Ace and then go away to train for two years before heading off to Punk Hazard to rescue Momo and Kin'emon. Koby was supposed to join them in two years. The Paramount War wouldn't happen; Ace's Captain would live, and Luffy would stay with his crew.

"For the last time, Ace, Luffy is coming with me." Sabo snapped when Ace finally took a breath. Three days after they had rescued their grandfather, they were heading towards the rendezvous point where Ace and Sabo would meet up with their respective crews. After checking on their grandfather in the med bay, the three brothers decided to come to Luffy's room. Now that it was decided that Garp would be going with Sabo and the Revolutionaries, Rayleigh was to join Ace for a while; Luffy's brothers had been arguing about staying together and where they should lie low for a while.

Ace naturally wanted them to join him in Whitebeard's crew.

Ace was talking like it was a done deal. He told Luffy about their adventures on the Moby Dick while telling him how great his Captain was and how Luffy and Sabo would love being Whitebeard's sons.

Ace was ignoring Luffy and Sabo.

He seemed to have forgotten that Luffy, despite his current physical age, had, in the future, faced off against two Yonko and defeated four Shichibukai, amongst others. He didn't need the protection of a Yonko; Luffy and his crew were New World pirates. Nor did he need to hide behind Sabo. Luffy could defend himself and his crew.

But as he listened to his brothers fighting over who could best protect him, Luffy realized that he had to remind them that he was the Captain in his own right and did not need his brothers to save him anymore.

It was a controlled burst of Haki. The will of the Supreme King stopped his brothers in their tracks. Luffy lay in his hammock; in his hands was a chunk of sea stone that Franky had made for him to practice with until he completed the leg and wrist shackles Luffy wanted. Luffy was tossing the ball into the air and catching it. As he began to address his brothers, he never took his eyes off the ball.

"Sabo, my dad wants you to bring Jichan to your base, and Ace, you need to return to your crew," Luffy said evenly. "Unless you join my crew, you can suggest where we will go or whom I will ally. If not, you have to return to your crews." Luffy told them., "I am not fighting my dad or your crew, Ace, unless you want to sail with me. But I am not going with you."

"Lu," Ace said sternly, "This isn't time for you to be stubborn. We are doing what's best for you."

"No thanks," Luffy told him. He looked at Sabo, ready to start arguing, and said firmly. "I am going to have my adventures. I don't need my big brothers standing over me. You two can go back to your crews."

Sabo wanted to protest, but he laughed instead. "Okay, Luffy. We get it. You are the future Pirate King, and we must let you go."

Luffy grinned because Sabo got it.

Ace still wanted to fight, but Sabo led Ace out of Luffy's room and allowed their brother to rest.

Zoro was on final watch when Luffy appeared on the deck well before sunrise.

"All's well, Captain," Zoro said as Luffy passed him to the med bay.

Chopper was in the room with Rayleigh. Luffy looked at the wounded man on the bed, and he smiled. The stupid mask thing that Chopper said would help Jichan's breath had been removed, and now the old man was sprawled across the bed, snoring like a bear. Luffy left the med bay happily and headed for the kitchen.

Sanji sent Luffy off with a small snack of sea king jerky. With nothing more to do until it was time for breakfast, Luffy decided to talk with Nika. He no longer had to worry about his family. Everyone was safe and, for now, on the Nika.

Watching the sunrise over the sea, Luffy allowed the stress and worry to go to bask. Soon he would have to say it could be to his family, but they would be together while Luffy continued his journey.

It was the same as last time. Two years is what Luffy's crew asked for. Two years to train and travel together as the Straw Hats, and in two years, they return to Sabaody and restart the quest of the One Piece.

"Wait for me, Timid, kids, Momo, Rebecca, Zou, and Samurai," Luffy said as he lowered his hat over his eyes. "I am coming, I promise."

Interlude: The two years after the Straw Hats left Paradise. What happened to the world?

What happened after Luffy left his brothers in Paradise, promising they would meet again in the New World?

Ace was not pleased with his brother's decision, but there wasn't anything he could do to stop them. Luffy was the captain of his crew, and Sabo was second in command of the Revolutionary Army. As much as he wanted to, Ace could not bundle them up and bring them back to the Moby.

So he picked up his trusty rough sack and returned to his crew.

The world continued while the Straw Hats went on their two-year training journey, and so much had changed.

Garp had fully recovered. He and Koby stayed with the Revolutionary Army, and Koby trained with them to become stronger.

For the Whitebeards, theirs was a drastic change that shook the world. Less than six months after Ace returned to his crew, Whitebeard died from cirrhosis. His long battle ended on his home island, where the great pirate was laid to rest by all his children. Koby went to the funeral representing the Straw Hats. Marco, the new Captain of the Whitebeards, spoke with Luffy via den-den, and a support treaty was agreed upon. King Neptune raised the Straw Hats' colors over his gates soon after. The Whitebeards would always be welcomed, but Fishman Island was the Straw Hats' first territory in the New World.

News of the alliance between the two crews sent shockwaves through the world. Monkey D. Luffy was considered a powerful and deadly captain who dared to challenge the World Government on their turf.

In other news, in a bid to restore their Shichibukai, accepted Trafalgar Law, Buggy the Clown ( whom they released from prison), Cavendish of the Beautiful Pirates, Gin, the Man Demon formerly of the Krieg Pirates, along with two other less notable captains.

Shortly before the Straw Hats arrived in Sabaody, the world learned that Kid Pirates had been wiped out in a brutal battle with Amazon Lily. The newly appointed Queen had joined the world government and declared vengeance on the Monkey D family for the death of Boa Hancock and her sisters. They fought with the Navy to hunt down pirates in their waters.

As for Ace. After Whitebeard's death, Marco gave his youngest brother a choice: Ace could remain on the crew or sail under his flag but still align with the crew.

Ace didn't want to be Pirate King, nor was he looking to become the most notorious pirate in the world. The title of Yonko didn't mean much since it was now the title of his little brother.

Monkey D. Luffy, the man who challenged the world government and has won each time and now sporting two billion dollars, was the most notorious pirate to land on Sabaody for the second time without entering the New World.

Marco could only watch as the youngest Yonko, a nineteen-year-old boy, beat the brakes off foul Fishman that had been terrorizing the Mermaid princess since she was six. Straw Hat had saved the Princess and Fish Man Island from the degenerate who threw a damn arc at the girl.

It was wild, dangerous, and pure insanity, But Marco could honestly say he hadn't had so much in a long time.