Author notes:

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I don't own one piece!

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This last chapter was beta'd by the Truly Wonderful Black' Victor Cachat, and the Truly Amazing Gerbilfriend. For the last time in this story, I really am grateful and thankful for all their patience, ideas, love, and encouragement.

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Warnings:

English is my fourth language. The story will include cursing and spoilers to the latest chapters in the manga.

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Reviews answers.

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Shine375

Thank you for your review, and being with me on this adventure!

Hope you enjoy the last chapter. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts...: D

Is 100/10 this time? ;)

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Girl-luvs-manga

Thank you for your review, and being with me on this adventure! :D

True! Ssssssssssssssoooooooooooooooo sad! I hope some of your questions were answered here :)

Hope you enjoy the last chapter. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts…

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DannyPhantom619

Thank you for your review, and being with me on this adventure!

I agree they are a cute and awesome family!

Thank you! Family comes first! Garp learned the hard way!

Hope you enjoy the last chapter. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts...: D

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Scl04

Thank you for your awesome review, and being with me on this adventure! How is the journey so far? ;)

Bon-chan makes everything better! And Sanji's fate is sealed to be beaten up XD

Yeah, it's one of my theories about the D and how when they come together there is some kind of explosion or storm. So I had to add it here somehow.

I am happy to hear that I get Crocodile in character. I thought about what would he do, and he wouldn't leave such a golden opportunity alone.

Yeah, I had to do something with them, and it was fun to change the cannon to fit my plots!

"The last part of the chapter coming from Ace's point of view was heartwarming." Thank you! I had fun writing it, but was also sad about it. I mean, I began this whole story because of him being dead (damn you ODA), so, yeah, I like to think of him like that instead!

Thank you! I am also excited about it!

I really hope you enjoy the last chapter. Really looking forward to hearing your thoughts… :)

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Black' Victor Cachat

Thank you for being a partner on this really wild adventure!

I really don't think I would have made it or if it was this enjoyable without you.

"jokes for the 'misunderstanding' with Hancock and Ace going"

Well, it's all your fault what I added. Hope you enjoy it! ;) shishishi

King of the Night and day, I thee bow in front of your mighty power!

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Greer123

Thank you for your review, and being with me on this adventure!

Thanks! Hope you also have a Happy New year!

Hope you enjoy the last chapter. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts...: D

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Skyla579

Thank you for your review, and being with me on this adventure!

I am crying too! Give it one more read from the beginning ;)

Hope you enjoy the last chapter. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts...: D

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NightsBlackRose13

Thank you for your review, and being with me on this adventure! Hope you are doing well!

Poor Law, PTSD doesn't even begin to explain his truma. Don't forget about his past.

"luffy and Lina have to do is bat big goo goo eyes at him and Ace would let them sail right past to the one piece."

XD

Well Lina, isn't there, but that doesn't mean her chaos won't reach them.

Hope you enjoy the last chapter of this story. After all FF made us meet! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts...: D

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arispuffer

Thank you for your review, really hope you give the story chance, especially now that it is finished, and I am looking forward to hear your thoughts for each chapter ;D

Hope you enjoy the whole story. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts...: D

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XXXXX

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"Are you sure about this? Bartolomeo-Don…I mean Captain?"

"This 'captain' business will need getting used to!" a few murmured under their breath.

Calling their beloved Don: "Captain" was one of the new recent changes that occurred to the Barto Club.

"Soooo hard!"

"Do we really need to change it?"

"That's what the Don- I mean the Captain wants."

Some of the fami—Crew were finding it hard to get used to all those new changes.

"Yes, I will follow in Lina-senpai and Luffy-senpai's steps!" Bartolomeo finally answered loudly. "I should have left way back… after that day."

"Yeah, it was the bomb!"

"Where!?"

"Run!"

"Protect the boss!"

"Don, stay behind me!"

"Captain!" someone corrected.

"Use your barrier, Don!"

"Captain!"

"Hey, there's no bomb!"

"Huh!"

"HUH?"

"It's figuratively speaking, not real!"

"What the hell's 'figuratively?'"

"You sure?"

"No bomb!?"

"Emmm… sir?" a timed voice cut in on the ruckus.

The whole fam—crew turned to face him.

"Who are you?"

"Why are you speaking to the boss?"

"Show respect!"

"Leave him alone, he's the shipwright," someone pointed out.

"Emmmm…Don Bartolomeo—"

"It's captain now," a few voices snapped.

"Yeah, show respect."

"Ermmmm...sorry...D-Captain Bartolomeo… About… your ship?"

"Yes," that finally got the newly proclaimed captain to care.

"Is it ready?"

"It has been only a few days, how can it … Emmm… No….not yet… but about the figureheads...?"

"Yes?"

"You can't have figureheads on both sides of the ship, it can't be done."

"What? Why?" someone asked before Bartolomeo could demand.

"It just can't!"

"HUH?"

"I am sorry… It just… the ship wouldn't sail… the balance of..." the man went into a rant explaining the importance of the build of the ship, and he was about to divulge into the workings of sailing when Bartolomeo cut him off with a "I understand, I'll get back to you on it," and dismissed the frightened man, who bolted away at the first chance.

"Men, it's as I have feared. We would have to choose between Captain Luffy-senpai figurehead and our Goddess Lina-senpai figurehead!"

"Nooooooo!"

"We can't have both?"

"Hey, give me a few minutes with the shipwright, and I'm sure I can change his mind."

"This travesty!"

"Unacceptable!"

"Men," Bartolomeo called over his grumbling men. "I suggest a vote."

"But, but, butttt..."

"And you can't vote for both…" added the new captain, knowing his audience.

"Whaaaaaaaat!?"

"Not fair!"

"Nooooooooooooo!."

"I can't decide! This is too much pressure!" someone shouted, clutching his head as if he had a splitting headache.

"You are asking too much of us, Do—Captain!"

"How could you?!"

"I'd rather die!"

"Want help?"

"Huuuuuh?"

"It's like choosing between your right and left arm!"

"You don't have a left arm."

"Not the point, you moron!"

"Tonight, we will decide!" announced the Do—Captain finally, dismissing the grumbling and moaning crew.

The horror! How could someone choose!? It was worse than being caught between a rock and a hard place. And they should know, concrete mixing was one of their specialties.

Captain Bartolomeo, all alone, looked at the sea and shouted: "Luffy-senpai, Lina-senpai wait for me! I am coming!"

(First, they needed to make a life-altering decision).

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XXXXX

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"Luffy D. Monkey and Lina D. Monkey! Hmmmm…" The Governor-General of the Beast Pirates stared at the papers with a thoughtful look.

"Should I find them and recruit them to your service?"

Everyone present knew what 'recruit' meant: join or die.

Sometimes it came together as a joint deal: buy one and get the other free. Or more accurately refuse and get beaten (almost) to death then happily join.

"We have information of where they disappeared to?"

"Not yet."

"Hmmmm… I bet the old hag would try to recruit the girl. Maybe marry her off to one of her sons, maybe Katakuri."

"Nah, she would try with a younger son, maybe Snack, or Dacquoise."

"Oh, shut up about food, you are making me hungry."

"I am not talking about—"

"Maybe she will marry her to Perospero!"

"He is the eldest, right?"

"Awwww yuck!"

"Isn't he married?"

"Who is the poor sod stuck with —ugh!— that sadistic bag of lollies."

"Perorin~ Perorin~"

The top brass of the Beast Pirates snickered and laughed at the accurate impression of the bag of lollies.

"So we should get to them first! Really, we would be doing them a favor."

"You bet!"

"No."

"Sir?"

Instead of answering, he got up and headed off. "We will continue as planned, I am going to kill the old man Whitebeard and take over his territories. We leave when all the preparations are done. We'll worry about these two afterwards."

Kiado, the world's 'Strongest Creature' paused in his step, and without turning his head

"Find my son. Yamato is going to fight in this war whether he wants it or not."

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XXXXX

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Benn Beckman, first mate of the legendary and fearsome Red Hair Pirates, had a headache.

It was a very persistent headache that just wouldn't leave him. Sometimes it would subside, almost disappear and become like background music. By no means pleasant, but tolerable. Sometimes it will become so intense it will feel like he was being tortured again. This headache was so unique, it was a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. So exceptional it had a name.

It was dubbed lovingly as 'Shanks,' and Benn had willingly chosen to be stuck with it (He had no one to blame but himself. He KNOWS!).

He rubbed his head, and lit a cigarette to help with the other headache. At least for this one, he had a cure. Even if it was temporary. He was handling the symptoms, not the cause for it, which was the other lovely headache.

He quietly went over his to-do list for the day.

Go on adventures, they said. Sail on a ship to new waters. It will be fun, they said.

That might be true, unless of course you were the poor schmuck that got stuck with all the hard, boring, tedious work. To handle all of it all alone.

(If you had missed it, yes, he was and is said 'poor schmuck.')

He was going to die an early death, and it won't be by a slash of sword, or the hole of a bullet, or even a Freaky Devil Fruit Power. No, it will be from overwork.

On his grave they will write:

Here is resting in his eternal sleep, Benn Beckman.

Death by paperwork (and headaches).

He wanted at least for his supposed death to be unique. But he had a feeling he would be one of the many 'poor schmucks.'

He would bet Shanks's right arm that his headache would continue even as a corpse.

The First Mate puffed on his cigarette, trying to ease his nerves and relax. The actual headache had subsided a bit, except the real problem was always the 'figurative' one.

At least Shanks had finally stopped being so gloomy, with the crew's antics having lifted his spirit.

Apparently, his former mate and childhood friend the Great Buggy had heroically passed away, in a manner that would bring awe to even the most stone-hearted of pirates.

Even though Shanks said that Buggy would want his life and death to be celebrated, and had loudly toasted a drink to him with the whole crew, the others had noted how depressed the Yonko had remained. Benn was not the only one who had noticed the faint hint of red-rimmed eyes on the first day after hearing the news.

The only bright spot in these last days was the call he received from Lina, who reported they were all okay. Whole and healthy.

The Surgeon of Death brat had kept his word. No need to send the kill squad (Benn was enough, but he would take Shanks with him, or else Shanks would whine for eternity). He had told her all he knew about the rookie pirate with his little submarine that almost crashed into their ship. (Well, they almost crashed his submarine. But who cares? It was semantics).

He assured her that the so-called Blackbeard would not be a problem any longer.

She had bluntly asked if the rat was dead.

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"You are sure he is dead?"

"Yes."

"Dead dead?"

"Yes." Was there any other kind of dead? thought Benny amusedly.

"Utterly dead?"

"Yes."

"No chance whatsoever of resurrection?"

"Nope."

"Are you sure?" she asked insistently. He didn't take her questions as a doubt in his ability, but rather as worry and protectiveness. The dead man had almost brought ruin to her family. It was as personal as it could be. Very.

The same was true for him. Shanks may be a headache, but it was Benn's headache. A headache he had chosen. He was the only one allowed to scratch his handsome face.

"Because I've had some recent experiences with the undead."

She...what? Plural? There...was a story there. One he was not touching, as she needed reassurances more than questions right now.

"Welllll," he drawled, "they will need to find his right hand up to his elbow, the left one up to his shoulder, and his lost head. Attach them together, and then take out the seastone bullets from his body, and maybe…. I'm not sure…. Maybe...someone could resurrect him".

Lina had gone quiet for a few seconds.

Benn had begun to worry that maybe he had said too much and shocked her.

She finally whispered, "Thank you," to which he had just shrugged even if she could not see it. He had done it for himself as much as for her.

She assured him in turn that she would never mention him when the news of the rat's death reached Whitebeard and Ace's ears.

He laughed, unable to help himself.

He had also told her about Hawkeye's words while they looked at the flares flashing in the sky.

She sighed in resignation, "Of course he did. Luffy and Zorro will be delighted. I on the other hand would prefer boring. Boring is way better."

"Me too. I wish every day would be a boring day."

Both of them sighed in despair. They both knew the impossibility of such a wish with the company they were keeping. Nonetheless, they took solace in knowing they were not suffering alone.

He had told Shanks about Hawkeyes' reaction to Lina, and repeated the Warlord's word to him, and as expected, Shanks hadn't taken it well. But at least for now the divorce papers between them were still unfiled in the drawer (fortunately or unfortunately?).

Lina had told him to tell Shanks that she had changed her mind, and that she was keeping the cloak, and Shanks has to get used to being lame all the time now. Sorry, not sorry.

Shanks —even while depressed— and the whole crew had whined for days (they were still at it) at how they had missed the call from Lina. They demanded he call her back, which he didn't.

They had insisted that they needed to hear the proclamation from the source, her holinesses voice, the Goddess of Chaos.

It was the new normal. They would pray to her, and vow in her name, and curse using her fury. There were already plans to build churches for her within their territory.

Privately, Benn feared the possibility of a holy war between the Whitebeard Orthodoxy and Red Hair Orthodoxy of the overarching Church of the Goddess of Chaos.

Her personal message to Shanks had slipped his mind. It wasn't on purpose, he swore on the Goddess of Chaos' sense of humor that he merely forgot, and it took him a few days to remember.

"Oh, by the way, Shanks…" he called to his captain after he finished reporting about the diminishing supplies. Almost the whole crew was lazing around the deck reading articles and comics, and drinking. Per the usual these days. At least they were not loud (YET).

While everyone on the crew seemed busy, they were all clearly eavesdropping as their First Mate and their Captain spoke.

"...Lina asked me to let you know she had changed her mind, she's keeping the cloak…"

"Cape," a few shouted before even Shanks could correct him. They were not even trying to pretend that they were not listening in. Well, it wasn't like Benn was whispering, as his voice was slightly louder than usual. Only slightly.

"She does?" Shanks asked in awe.

It wasn't like they expected Lina to somehow send the cloak back to them, intact or otherwise. And Shanks had more than a few of them. Incidentally, he was wearing one now.

What it really meant to the man was that the gift he had tried to give her ten years ago, had now been formally accepted.

"Yes, she said you have to get used to being lame all the time—"

He hardly finished the sentence, before the whole crew as one had burst into cheers.

All of them had come together surrounding their weeping captain (at least they weren't sad tears), arms draped across each other's shoulders, swaying drunkenly despite it being the early morning, singing the anthem of Red Hair Pirates. The upgraded version of the lame song.

After the end of the war, Yasopp had drunkenly announced that this was their anthem. It was what had made them unique as a pirate crew, and it had promptly been added as a requirement for joining the crew!

A panel had been chosen randomly from the crew (somehow Shanks, Yasopp, Lucky Roo, and Rockstar had been chosen) to judge any new recruits. Benn had relinquished his seat on the judges' table (Yasopp had almost made him rethink his relinquishment when he had reminded him they may end with a ginger-over-the-top-cheerful-comic fan recruit like Thomas again).

A wannabe Red Hair recruit had to stand in front of the panel and sing the whole song without any aid. After grumbling from the rest of the crew (and Shanks), Yasopp relented, and allowed for a cheering audience to be present, but they had to be on their best behavior (yeah, right!), or they would be thrown into the sea.

Points were given in accordance to: memorizing the whole song, the pitch of voice, gestures, swaying of the hips…

The few times they tried it, Yasopp and Rockstar ended up throwing half of the crew off the ship, it was a good thing one of the other requirements of joining was being able to swim.

Except the crowd kept singing along, which disrupted the judgment process, grumbled Yasopp. Shanks ended up overruling him, and added to the points given by the judges: the ability of the singer to get the crowd to sing along.

Benn personally agreed with Yasopp, because everyone would pass then. Their drunk crew would sing along to the most hideous screeching sound, even if it was sung by a yellow-headed blackbird.

The congratulation party caused by Lina's words went on to the next day, until someone who was not drunk enough, possibly it was 'not sober enough,' reminded them all that it was time for their new 'ritual.'

After the war, they had discovered a strange and unexplained phenomenon (according to Benny) of newspaper articles written about —Goddess Lina save him—Shanks's heroic deeds.

Apparently, only G. Lina knows why (it was a test? Right? Testing his patience? His resolve?), reporters and journalists had fallen in love with Shanks entrance into the war. Specifically his damn pose.

They all wrote poetic nonsense about it.

Some bullshit like:

"A tough, uncompromising person whose mere presence demands respect!"

Of course after each sentence the whole crew would look at their esteemed captain, holding their breath as he stood up and ever slowly and dramatically unsheathed his sword and pointed it towards the sky with so much flare you would think his red hair was flickering with light. His face so very grave as he struck his famous pose.

Every time the reaction of the crew would differ. Sometimes they would kneel before him and grovel at his awesomeness, their foreheads almost touching the ground as they reached towards the sky.

Other times…

"Red Hair carries himself in a way that his mere presence demands respect and attention. He is able to intimidate at will."

Shanks did the same pose, but glowered at them. His upper lip spread to reveal his clenched teeth, eyes narrowing as he glared at the crowd.

Some would faint, others' legs would buckle underneath the pressure, some would fall to their knees and fearfully crawl back a few steps fleeing for their lives.

This horrific scene will be maintained for a few seconds at best (each time they try for longer, Yasopp was keeping track! A new record. Five seconds!) before some of them dissolved into chortles and giggles, others tried to hold on. But then, the giggles turn into the whole crew erupting into uncontrollable tear-shedding, belly-aching, knee-slapping laughter!

Even Benn would crack a smile. It's that or pulling his hair out! His hair was thinning (if anyone dared to mention anything about his hair, what he had done to Teach would look like loving gentle patting compared to what he will do to you) so it wasn't like he had any other choice.

Then they would do it all over again.

"Red Hair Shanks shows the true qualities of a leader: confidence, awareness, the ability to command the respect of a roomful of strangers by his mere presence."

Where the hell do those so-called reporters come with this bullshit!? thought Benn as he saw their Confident Captain trying a new pose. This time he let his saber stay sheathed, and put his hand on his waist, swaying his hip into the side to the whistles of the crew. Yasopp gave a long, slow wolf whistle of appreciation as Shanks threw him a wink, and both of them burst into loud chuckles. At least they got the confidence thing right.

"—An extraordinary man of commanding abilities, imposing, impressive, assertive, tough, formidable, strong-minded, powerful will, of strong and unrelenting convictions, indefatigable in energy, and uncompromising in purpose..."

What the hell? Did the reporter write every word in the dictionary?

Thomas, the number one fan of the comics Sora, Warrior of the Sea. The one Benn held solely responsible for the whole fiasco that had become his life, was pronouncing each word distinctly and correctly, as if each syllable had a specific weight of its own. The ginger young recruit was on a mission, and no laughter or any kind of distraction would stop him from finishing the whole damn paragraph.

Shanks had stood up to do his pose. Or more accurately he tried to stand up.

He was laughing so hard that standing up had become a chore. But they all could see through their laugh-tears, Thomas' expecting face, which made them laugh harder. Which made Shanks even more determined to stand up and do the pose as not to disappoint his adoring fan.

Benn refused to help. He hid in the shadows.

Unable to get up by himself, a few of the crew, also unable to stand themselves, tried to help Shanks stand. It was a team effort. Their Captain ended up leaning on Lucky Roo's belly to stay upright, and with a shaking hand he was able to draw his sword and point it out to the sky to the cheers and laughter of the crew.

Thomas clapped and wiped tears from his eyes. Yasopp had to give him a handkerchief to blow his nose. Where the hell did he produce it from?

That was his daily life, now.

Then, if it was possible, things got worse.

Some fool reporter had written a theory, which had become a popular rumor that Shanks had lost his arm after facing the other three Yonkos at the same time. According to the growing tales, he had won the battle, but lost his arm in return, making him the strongest, and the one closest to becoming the next Pirate King.

Shanks's new nickname had become Lame-Majesty. Every time Shanks appeared anywhere in the ship, the crew would bow, wishing him something or the other.

"Lame Majesty, may the Goddess of Chaos brighten your day!"

"How are you doing on this fine day? Lame-Majesty."

"Hey Lame-Majesty, I want more booze!"

"Lame-Majesty, In the name of the Goddess of Chaos, I wish that you become lamer and lamer."

Meanwhile, Benn was worried about possible ramifications from the other Yonkos as this asinine story spread, and was believed by more and more people. Whitebeard would not be happy with them as is, when he learned about Blackbeard's death at their hands. Shanks as usual was having a blast. Someone had made him a crown with some leaves. He was jokingly wearing it, and every time someone greeted him, he would either place his hand on his left breast, or give a half-wave. Basically, he was acting in the most ridiculous manner possible.

It had taken days of this to finally knock him out of his depression over losing his childhood friend.

Benn was somehow able to get used to the new normal, again. He wasn't happy about it, and he was living under the illusion that it would disappear one day. They ought to get bored. Right? Right? This charade can't continue forever.

He blamed his naive thinking on what had happened next.

Some writer, his name would not be exposed because of the kill order Benn had issued for him, had written a small article, comparing Shanks to his childhood hero Sora (Yes, that damn Sora!).

Of course, the crew found about the article, read it loudly and repeatedly, led by every enthusiastic Thomas, of course. The article was printed and reprinted, and before Benn could stop it, was sent with a copy of some of Sora comic strips to their allies, their territories, and anyone they have ever met. He doesn't want to know how, but Yasopp made a deal with news coo to make sure it spread around.

He had thought that was the end of it.

Sure, with every article, and especially with that stupid rumour, more recruits and people were trying to join them, and few more attacked them too, but no major crews (Yet).

Of course, few potential recruits were actually accepted.

Benn really didn't like the other Yonko's silence. It did not bode well.

Shanks, of course disagreed, and told him to relax and to stop frowning, or his face would be grey and wrinkled. Benn retorted that mirth and laughter caused even more wrinkles, but Shanks wasn't listening by then.

It all came to head Yesterday.

They had stopped at a neutral island they were familiar with for supplies and some rest. When they were about to disembark, a scene never seen before had greeted them.

People, lots of people, were gathered by their ship. Hundreds of them.

Benn's first instinct was that they were under attack. But looking closely, lots of the gathered crowd were red haired. More recruits? How did they find out that they will be here? That had worried him even more. Were their moves being observed this closely? By who?

Another closer look revealed there were lots of ladies of different ages, even some children too! Lots of children. He had never seen so many children in one place in his life.

He noted that most of them were clutching some kind of paper in their hands. Was there some kind of show they were waiting for that was supposed to arrive soon? That would make sense, and maybe they should anchor the ship somewhere else.

He turned to see his Captain strolling towards them with a raised eyebrow, at least he wasn't wearing his stupid crown, asking why they were still here.

"Hey, Shanks, I think we should disembark the ship elsewhere, there seems to be—"

His voice was drowned by a loud boom of voices just as Shanks paused to stop beside him.

Cheers, shouts of laughter and applause. Hands raised pointing and waving in their direction.

Benn stared at Shanks, the Red Hair Captain, was just as surprised by this greeting as he was. But the Captain found his footing fast, and raised his hand and waved, which had the crowds screaming and shouting even more. Then with more confidence, Shanks waved his hand at the screaming crowds.

Whistling, shouting and frenzied, high-pitched squeals. It was like a roar had come to life.

Benn has never been more petrified in his pain-filled existence.

Yasopp on the other hand bloomed under such conditions. In no time he had organized the crew to act as a guard, as the rest of them surrounded Shanks as they safely stepped off the ship. Benn was in a daze of fear and confusion. What the hell was going on here?

The crowd was trying to reach them, they were desperately reaching with their hands trying to touch them, or more accurately, trying to touch Shanks.

He doesn't know how, but Shanks ended up sitting behind a table while a long line of people stretched in front of him.

Each in his turn would be let near the table, where they would meet Shanks, some would ask for a handshake or picture. Some had gifts that they shyly gave him. Food and booze mostly, but also drawings of Shanks. All of them in a distinct pose. Some of them had the red-haired man shed a tear or two. Benn would have to check all the food and drinks for poison. He wouldn't put it above the Cipher Pol to try to use this as an opportunity to strike against them.

Some fans (as Thomas dubbed them) had a Den Den camera, and they wanted a picture with a Yonko. Are they crazy? Cipher Pol and the Marines were going to have a field day.

Some had asked for Shanks's signature on… wait? The paper they were all clutching to their chest was Shanks's wanted poster. Unbelievable!? And Shanks was happily scrawling out his name.

Benn was going to hold this against him forever. Shanks would whine endlessly whenever he had to go over paperwork and sign a few papers, and yet the bastard was smiling and laughing while he did it now again and again.

The Red Haired people he had seen from the ship, were not really red haired. They were bloody (well, the color was red, so it fit twice) wigs! And some even had attempts at capes on, and/or swords. Others of his crew checked the swords, and thankfully they were all fake swords, made of paper or cardboard.

Rockstar had broken one with his hand as he was swinging it around, making a young boy cry out. Shanks ended up comforting the boy, and letting him touch his own saber: the beloved Gryphon, which made other children (and adults) gush and look on in envy. Benn could swear some of their eyes had actual gleaming stars in the pupil. Unbelievable.

Thomas had happily explained it to him was called cosplaying. Dressing up as your favorite character. It made no sense, Shanks was a real breathing person. A Yonko at that. A feared Pirate. One of the four strongest. He had killed people! They were a pirate crew! They were just in a war!

A BLOODY W. A. R.

The absolute worst was those wigs-wearers and others who kept asking Shanks if he intended to mount an attack against the evil armies of Germa 66. And if they could join and watch!

Why the hell did the Germa 66 sound so familiar?

He should probably be thankful that Shanks hadn't agreed, and they won't have a few hundreds of 'fans' aboard their ship awwwing and ooohhing. He had enough of that from the crew.

Benn decided to leave the insanity behind and to at least get the supplies they needed. He dragged a few of the crew to help. The shop keeper of the biggest shop had come to greet them personally, and fretted and fussed, trying to be helpful.

Benn dismissed his strange behavior, and focused on gathering everything they needed, and doubled everything on the list. It would be better if they had fewer stops until this madness subsided. It would cost them a hefty amount of beli, but it would be worth it for the sake of his own peace of mind. Everyone else can screw themselves, and yeah he would need to take a big cut out of the booze budget to pay for it all. He dared anyone to challenge him. He actually, really wanted someone to challenge him, preferably Yasopp or Shanks.

It was when he was about to settle the payment that he realized that the insanity was still following along.

The store owner refused payment. Refused! He wasn't refusing them service. And he didn't want his supplies back. No, he wanted them to keep them. Just no payment was needed.

He wanted them to take more actually.

The shopkeeper went on to say he was ever thankful for their stop on their island, and he hoped they would shop here frequently.

They were a bloody tourist attraction.

Benn was fuming. He still took everything and tripled it out of spite. He was a pirate, damn it. They had to make a few runs to take everything. Benn was sure the shopkeeper would break and demand they pay by the third run. After all, it was going to cost him a real substantial amount of cash for nothing. But the ever lingering smile on his lips stayed the same across the whole ordeal.

After they finally left the damn island, Benn sighed in relief out loud.

He looked around and realized that Yasopp and Rockstar were supervising the counting of money. They had barrels and barrels full of it that had not been there before. Where the hell did it come from? Did they break in again into the money safe aboard the ship? But he doesn't remember them having this much right now. Then, did they steal it from the island? When did they find the time? And they knew the rules against doing it on islands they planned to return to.

"Yasopp?" he asked hesitantly. Dreading to hear the answer.

"Hey, Benny, we made a few million. Okay, a few hundred million. We should've raised the cost of each item. It was a trial run this time, but we would know what to expect in the future."

The future?

"Cost?"

"Yeah, shake of the hand for 10 beli. We'll make it 25."

W..W..WHAT?

"The signing of the Wanted Posters was 15, I will make it 20."

"We should print or find more of the posters. We can sell them."

"Good idea Rockstar, we can sell regular ones, and signed ones. Signed ones will be more expensive."

What were they, a sailing shop?

"Shanks making the pose for the camera was 50 beli, but we should make it 100."

"1000!"

"You have a point, we should—"

Benn for his own well-being tuned out the ongoing discussion.

Please someone wake him from this nightmare.

A hand on his shoulder startled him back to real life. The nightmare was still ongoing.

"You okay? Benny?"

He wasn't able to find his voice. He swallowed and forced himself to nod.

Shanks didn't look as if he believed him, but did not push the issue. Instead he dragged him to sit with him in a far corner, with less people mulling around.

He gave him a cup of beer. Benn sipped slowly, and frowned; the taste wasn't familiar. Then he noted that the barrels he thought filled with money were not all filled with money. Most of them were filled with what he now assumed was booze.

Benn pointed at the barrels with a cup in his hand, and raised an eyebrow asking for an explanation.

"Oh, some stores had insisted on giving us booze and sake for free," he shrugged.

Benn found his voice then, and almost shouted, "It could be poisoned."

"Could be,'' Shanks agreed, and with another shrug, "in a few hours we'll find out." Then he took a long gulp. Benn just sagged in defeat, letting go of the cup as it fell and spilled into the floor.

"When I said that our reputation was plummeting, I was kidding," Well, he was mostly kidding.

Shanks let out a laugh.

"Look at it this way. I would love to see Kaido trying to reach us by wading through all these fangirls and boys."

Ben let out an involuntary laugh. "They are scary."

Shanks nodded, joining him in the laughter.

He toasted him, and announced, "Welcome abroad, manager."

Wait, WHAT?

(In which drawer was he keeping the divorce papers, again? He had to find Hawkeyes to take over as step-father.)

..

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XXXXX

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..

"It was a good suggestion you made not to take over Fishman Island, Katakuri!"

"Thank you, Mama."

"It's a real pity about the candy, but I will get my chance and take it from Newgate soon without a fight. He's getting older and older. Soon enough..." She bared her teeth as she declared her intention. Her teeth had grown longer, sharper and brighter as her mouth stretched bigger with nasty smile. They gleamed so very brightly, decorated with lots of spit and drool. None of her sons or daughters blinked at the horrifying scene.

"We got confirmation that Akainu is dead," Smoothie said after the bloodlust weaned a bit.

"Mamamama! The old farts are devastated right now."

"Are we still going to attack the marine base G-5, Mama! Please let me do it!" Perospero begged, his long thick tongue dangling excitedly at the sort of horrors he would visit upon them. He almost dropped his large magenta and pink candy cane with a curled top that he was busy licking a while ago.

Big Mom didn't answer, and instead took a few colorful cupcakes and stuffed them together in her mouth, letting out a satisfied hum as she swallowed. "I am thinking about taking over the Red Port."

"Mama…?"

"The one that was destroyed in Marineford? Or...?"

"Oh, Mama, you are a genius! Taking over the Red Port in the New World!"

"That's a wonderful idea, Mama!"

"Let me do it!"

"Mama!"

"We will take over the only working port—"

"The money we could take!"

"The candies and cakes!"

"Mama you are the best!"

"Of course she is!"

"Garp's brat has some good ideas! Mamamama! I like her… I Want her and Nico Robin."

"Of course! Maybe the whole crew can come under us!"

"They will be thankful to join us!"

"Honoured."

"Would never find a better crew than ours!"

"And if they refuse then …"

They could become Ingredients in her cakes. She loved to try exotic ingredients.

..

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XXXXX

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..

"Hey Luffy, why did you insist on taking a picture with the Meat Popsicle?"

That was very unlike him, Luffy should have gone on eating spree by now, but he was waiting patiently until they found the Den Den camera. Lina knew that he was up to something, and the smile he aimed at her confirmed that.

"I need to show it to Sanji!" Luffy announced gleefully, waving his hand at the really huge —doesn't begin to describe it— Meat Popsicle he had been waiting for since leaving Impel Down. Lina wasn't even sure how high it was. It reminded her of the two giants they met on Little Garden island. Dorry and Brogy. Maybe 70 feet. Yeah, she wasn't kidding when she said it was colossally huge. Better not talk about its width. It could almost be a mini-me of Oars.

It's a pity that the massive giant wasn't here. That would have been a picture worth taking!

Oars standing, or maybe sitting beside the Meat Popsicle. Either way he would have been still towering above it.

Then again, maybe it's a good thing the giant hadn't stayed, Luffy wanted to challenge him to a food contest. Lina was sure that Luffy would have easily convinced the Whitebeard crew to make another Meat Popsicle for this occasion. Looking at how they were behaving now! Before the last words were out of Luffy's mouth, they would be all over it.

Lina would have used the term: "had them eating out of his hands," except it was Luffy, and he wouldn't share anything related to food.

The Whitebeard crew had gone all out to keep their promise. And it was all because of a tiny tidbit of conversation she had when Whitebeard introduced her to the crew while at war; something she really hadn't thought much about. It wasn't like it was a direct promise to Luffy, but they had insisted that a promise was a promise. They had sat Luffy down and taken down his demands, and Luffy proved once more that he doesn't know the meaning of 'shyness,' or 'moderation.'

The only reason it seemed like a Popsicle at all, and not just a mountain of meat, was a stick. A thick and long one on top of the mountain. Maybe a few sticks put together. She can't tell from here. Of course, compared to the meat mountain it was a small white speck on top. Like a tiny cherry on top of a huge ice cream bowl.

It was an Upside Down Popsicle the chefs had announced proudly.

They had explained to drooling Luffy that they had used every kind of meat they could get their hands on. The hunt for this magnificent creation had been underway for a few days. It had become a competition of who could catch a big enough sea king. Luffy had pouted when he was told he couldn't participate.

It was a mixed Popsicle! With a variety of meats and cooking techniques, they had said. Of course Luffy had corrected them with a frown. It was a MEAT Popsicle.

Lina was about to ask why did he need to show Sanji? Why was telling him not enough? Why the visual proof was... Oh… Then she got it.

"I am going to challenge him to make a bigger one! Shishishishi!"

Lina couldn't help it, she burst out laughing, joining her brother.

She said between biles of laughter, "Our ship… Sunny… Would...sink..."

The meat Popsicle was five, maybe six times its size.

Luffy shrugged, it wasn't his problem. That was Franky's job to handle.

The pair of them loudly and joyously laughing was a sight. People openly stared, while others joined in their contagious laughter.

Lina was clutching her stomach. Her feet buckled underneath her. Imagining the crew's reaction to this monstrosity was not helping matters.

Lina just squatted down when someone rushed back into the deck, waving a Den Den camera in his hand.

Luffy helped her up, and hugged her close, keeping her steady. She was still laughing while Luffy beamed when the camera's flash came. Then another one.

Her wonderful brother and captain had insisted they take pictures from every possible side. Lina was being dragged along to each pose, but she didn't mind one bit.

When Luffy was finally satisfied, he called her name, put his hat on her head to keep it safe, and marched with a mouth full of drool into the meat Popsicle.

Lina held the hat into her head and laughed harder, ignoring the bets on if and when Luffy will be able to finish it.

She had lots of money, maybe she should double it. It would make Nami very happy.

..

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XXXXX

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..

"Did you read this one? The biggest heart … most beautiful soul… a valiant warrior… the utmost sacrifice..."

"It's in eulogy. Dead. They think you are dead."

"Oooohhh nice. This one is using only words beginning in V to describe me. I didn't know there were so many words. Vacuous, valiant, vigilant, vindictive, valorous, versatile... What does that one mean? Doesn't matter. Vibrant spirit, vexing his enemies, violent, villainous. They don't know whether to show me as a good guy, or a bad guy! Victorious… Gyahahahaha!"

"Do you know what also begins with V. A Very dead person. Dead like A Vegetable."

"A born leader… surpassing his former captain, the Pirate King. Gyahahahaha! I am amazing! The greatest!"

"In his death. In his death surpassing his former captain. In. his. DEATH!"

"They want me to be the Second Pirate King. In your face Shanks! Captain Roger, the Great Buggy is following in your steps! Gyahahahahahahhahahaha!"

"Dead Pirate king, just like the first, who died."

"I wonder if Rayleigh is reading this and is proud? He will be, I'm sure."

"He will be in mourning… cause you are dead."

"They made a monument in my honor. Twenty feet tall."

"'Cause you are dead."

"A statue… Oh… it's me. A picture on the Moby Dick ship. I look so awesome. It was worth me freezing my ass while those slowpoke snails took the picture. I'm majestic."

"Dead. All because you are DEAD."

"The flowers are a nice touch… There are a lot".

"Do you know where people take flowers? To the graves of dead people."

"Oh, they get my nose right. It's so red and big."

"..."

"They are sending me messages of admiration and love via bottles that they throw into the sea... They love me!"

"Sending to your spirit above, cause you are dead."

"I'm not dead, dammit!"

"The world thinks you're dead. It's written in the papers, so it must be true. Plus, I saw the explosion!"

"I'll show the world. The Great Buggy is alive and here to rule over them. The Second Pirate King is here to claim his throne!" Buggy announced standing up, letting the newspaper slide out of his hands.

"Hey, where are you going? Wait up... you're going to help me reclaim my throne."

"You can't reclaim something you didn't have before. And I am leaving. I don't need people to think I can speak to dead people. I don't need that kind of reputation."

"Mr.3 my dearest friend, I have a pla—"

..

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XXXXX

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..

Popcorn falling out of his mouth. Roger laughed and laughed, and laughed some more.

"Hey watch it, your gross oily corn is falling into my precious oden! …Oh wait, this is good! Yum. Give me the bag."

Oden snatched the 'gross oily corn' bag from Roger's hand, and spilled it's contents into the boiling Oden pot.

"How the hell are you not laughing?" wheezed the Pirate king.

"I expected nothing less of Buggyiro!" between bites of his aromatic food.

"You do?"

"Yes! Things never go his way, but no matter the odds, he ends up not only surviving, but on top."

"On top huh? He does have funny luck. If I didn't know any better I would have thought of him as a D."

"Indeed, Buggyiro's Will to live is no joke. He will cling to any string of life even from death itself."

"Indeed, as you said his Will to live is no joke. It's just that mostly he ends up on top, yet also put upside down."

"Hmmm, now that I think about it, he got sick right before that island."

"I remember, he had a high fever, literal smoke was coming off his ears!" Roger said with a nostalgic look on his face, and added. "His instincts to survive maybe?! Yes, I see what you mean."

Roger let out a joyous laugh, his hand stretching and searching for a bag that was no more.

"Hey where's my popcorn?"

"hmmm… yum."

"Dammit Oden, that was the last bag."

..

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XXXXX

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..

Five elder men rushed into a room that was located at the very center of the world, each almost falling over each other.

Inside the room stood a lone Empty Throne! It was a breathtaking throne. Extremely tall, ornamented with red and gold and beard the symbol of the World Government.

The throne itself was nested on top of a three-level red and white platform, and has twenty swords and axes planted in the floor of the first and third levels.

A sole figure stood beside the Empty Throne. They wore a crown that had four sharp, incredibly tall spikes on the top.

Their extremely long robe flowed upon the three platforms.

While their features were hidden, sharp almond eyes with red irises were staring at the now kneeling five.

In one of his hands, they held an unsheathed, and glistening sharp saber, in the other two Wanted Posters.

The enigmatic figure merely said in a voice barely above a whisper, "Explain."

"Imu-sama—"

"Your majesty—"

"We can explain—"

"You explain, it was your idea," one of them hissed, elbowing the one beside him.

"We all agreed—!"

"Quiet! Imu-sama is watching!"

"We… ahmm… we wished to take care of the problem before letting you know, your majesty. Our intention was to not worry you unduly. We seem to have made a grave mistake in making such a decision on our own. It won't happen again."

"Indeed it won't," the figure hummed.

All five of them nodded, murmuring their apologies.

"You always request that I reveal the name of 'light' that needs to be extinguished from history."

"Yes, your majesty."

"We had set plans to take care of those two."

"We will extinguish their light very soon, Imu-sama."

"Yes, we will," the sole ruler acknowledged as he slashed across the two wanted posters in one graceful move. They heard the swish of papers as they were dropped to the floor.

The ruler moved closer, even with their heads down they could see his feet moving closer, and heard the rustling of him gripping another paper.

"But I was thinking maybe five is too much… Maybe the light that should be extinguished is in this very room. What do you think?"

No one dared answer him, their eyes glued to the shiny floor.

"Four would do. Oh, no. I prefer odd numbers. Three it is."

Few of the five present in their panic dared to raise their heads and glimpsed the paper in his hand.

A colorful picture of an Admiral in cuffs stared back at them.

(Irony had a feast of Laughter that day! To think that the Admiral that dragged down their reputation had dragged them to their demise.)

(Said Admiral had a sneezing fit nonstop that day.)

..

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XXXXX

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..

In that not far future (a month or two since the war).

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.

"Ace?"

"Hey Lina, how's it going?" said the voice over the Den-Den Mushi. "We just arrived at our base in the New World. The place is pretty remote, so no one would find us here, and I can blow things freely without anyone being the wiser. Hey, how is training going? Did you check on Luffy?"

"..."

"Lina?"

"..."

"Hey, is there something wrong? Lina?... are you..."

"I am fine, and Luffy too," she cut in. "Emmmm… just I don't know how to tell….you...this."

"Okay, hey, whatever it is, it's fine."

"You promise not to be angry?"

"Of course not, I only care that you both are okay, so don't worry about it. If you don't want to tell me, it's okay, you can tell me whenever you're ready."

"I misunderstood," Lina blurted out.

"Whatever it is, it's okay."

"It wasn't a cultural thing!"

"Huh? What are you—"

"The fiancé thing!"

"The what?"

"Sister Hancock really wants to marry Luffy."

"WHAT? That Baba… how dare she! I'm—"

The shouts, booms, and bangs from Ace's side of the call almost drowned out Ace's cursing and shouting monologue.

Still Lina was able to hear Ace's shout, "Let me go, I'm not crazy, we need to go back to Paradise, Luffy needs saving!"

Before the Den Den Mushi cut off.

Clank.

Lina put the receiver gently back into place as she hummed to herself, stuffing her hands into her pockets. She had a spring in her step as she whistled a nostalgic tune, and leisurely made her way to the training arena.

As with everything else in life, revenge and payback were about timing.

..

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XXXXX

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"Luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuufffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy, your big brother is coming to save you!"

.

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"No, he's not—yoi."

..

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XXXXX

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..

Two years later

"...HOW MUCH BELI!?"

"That's quite an impressive amount," Robin intoned.

"Robin-swannnnn~!"

"Blood, we need blood! Sanji, stop looking at the women. Close your eyes!"

"Nooooooo, for two years I have been stuck in hell! Let me feast my eyes!"

"Hey, stop spraying your blood on me, pervert-cook! Hmmm…I can buy lots of sake."

"Hush you!"

"Nami-swannnnnnn~!"

"We need a doctor! A doctor! Oh, I'm a doctor! Sanjii stop moving!"

"To see such an amount would make my eyes pop out. Yohohohoho! But I have no eyes... "

"'Cause you are a very dead skeleton! We know. Lina, who exactly did you steal it from? Should we be ready for an attack? Is someone after us?"

"Why do people keep stealing my lines! I'm depressed! So sad!"

"Scared?"

"Beli! So much Beli? And this is all mine…"

"I'm not! I want to prepare! We know Brook, you can't cry, you don't have eyes..."

"Cause you're Skeleton! Who cares! SUPER AMOUNT! I can pay for lots of Cola!"

"Can we actually transport it to the ship safely? Franky?"

"You mean if the ship can carry such weight? Good question, Robin. It's a SUPER amount! I need to do some calculations… hmmmmhm…."

"All mine! We are taking all of it! No one is touching it, and to think that I was about to turn you in, how silly of me..." Nami cut herself off when she saw almost all the crew was staring at her with raised eyebrows, except "Nami-swannnnnnnn sooooooooo devious, so beautiful!"

"Sanji, stay with me, don't go to the light!"

"Hahahhah…. Of course I am kidding. Lina, my dear adorable sister. You are of course our treasure, what could we possibly do without you. I love it—you so much!"

"Lina-swaaannnnn," a choked, weak voice barely whispered.

"Sanji, nooooo! We need blood! Stay away from the bright light! Away!"

"Shishishishi! Stop fighting you idiots (bakas)! I already promised half of that to Jinbe so he could prepare us meat! Sanji's gonna make an even Bigger Meat Popsicle!"

"WHAT?"

"Meat?""

"Popsicle?"

"You moron!"

"Yohohohoho!"

"My beliiiiiii! Noooooooo..."

"Chopper save Sanji, that's my order as captain! He can't die before he makes me a bigger Meat Popsicle."

"Don't you have other reasons to want him to live?"

(Luffy was not strangled that day, even though a few had tried really hard, and Sanji barely survived, Chopper's nerves not so much. In the end, they got lots of meat and kept the money to Nami's delight! This alone was almost enough for Nami to forgive Jinbe before even listening to his story.

However, to Luffy's extreme chagrin, Sanji still hadn't made him his dream Meat Popsicle.

Lina pointed out that he had already eaten one.

Luffy refused to acknowledge that fact. "If my chef doesn't make it, then I haven't eaten it yet!"

)

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..

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XXXXX

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..

Bonus scenes:

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"Would you stop sulking, Sabo!"

"No, let him, his face sticking like this for life would be great!"

"You will meet your younger brother and sister another time, right now you can meet your older brother!"

Sabo stopped his sulking for a few seconds, and uttered those decisive words, "Yeah… but no."

His simple declaration led to an eruption of unimaginable proportion.

"What?"

"I thought you wanted to meet—"

"What? You don't want to meet him? Do you know how much time and resources we wasted on finding where the Whit—"

"Hey, HEY! why did we come here if you didn't want to meet the Second Commander!?"

"Sabo, are you okay? Don't worry, breathe with me!"

"You bastard, do you know how much money and sources I burned through because you insisted on find—"

"Ahem, I am the eldest in the family."

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"Huh! I don't remember seeing someone so flamboyant in the Whitebeard Pirates bounties!"

"You mean the white hair and horns, and all over Ace?"

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"Benny, Benny, Bennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnny… Look! Buggy is alive! How much I missed his bloody red, cute nose!"

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In the far distance, someone choked on a piece of 'gross oily corn'!

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The End!

Finished.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh! This was hard! I am really not sure how I feel but I decided to end this story here. This was my first journey into writing Fanfiction, and it took a few years, but we are finally here. I don't know if I will write more bonus scenes in the future. Maybe if inspiration strikes, so feel free to leave ideas in your reviews :D

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I want to thank my awesome wonderful betas, and all of you that reviewed and PM'ed with ideas and love, you drove me forward (toward the cliff XD).

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Some of the scenes and especially the bonus scenes were inspired by scl04, NightsBlackRose13, and Black' Victor Cachat. Thank you so much!

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My amazing Beta Gerbilfriend is working on the last part of Marine!Lina, it should be up in a few days as a full-length bonus chapter!

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So for the last time, leave me a review and warm my heart!

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P.S. I am still waiting for the M&M's you all promised me, you LIARSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!