Chapter 3

"We're not going anywhere, either"

Law never really thought about what came after death, so when the darkness was pulling him into the blissful unconsciousness, he didn't quite expect to hear a voice, sounding far away yet clear enough for him to make out the words.

"Would you like to try again?"

Law frowned. Try again? Try what? He had done all that he could. Using every last effort until his very last breath to ensure the safety of his precious people. And he had failed. That's the end.

So what the hell did it mean by try again?

"You could try it all again from the start"

From… the start? Just which moment was the start? When he was born? When Flevance was attacked? When he joined the Donquixote Pirates? When he ran away with Cora-san? When Cora-san died and he ate the Ope-ope Fruit? When he started his own Pirate Crew? When he finally defeated Doflamingo and started his journey with an entirely different goal?

Law stared at the darkness.

No. When the start was didn't matter.

The fact that he could try it all again did.

Law smirked. It had ended, anyway. Believing in a strange voice that came out of nowhere was not the weirdest thing he had ever done.

"Sure. Let me try again" he answered. He heard the faint sound of high-pitched chuckle.

"Then, I'm going to take something from you.…"


Law opened his eyes, only to be met with the sight of bewilderment, disbelief, and shock of strangers around him. It didn't take long for his eyes to dart a bit to the right, where he saw a boy in a strawhat stomping closer to a blubbering celestial dragon. Law widened his eyes as he saw the strawhat boy pulled back a fist and punched the noble with all his might. He could even hear 'something' break, preferably the said noble's skull.

Law remembered this scene. How could he not? It was one of the most ridiculous yet impressive memories he ever had. Never in his mind would a sane person ever punch a celestial dragon in public so recklessly like that. Then again, Monkey D. Luffy was definitely not the definition of sane.

And, instead of the dread and fear of the danger of a coming admiral, Law felt a rush of adrenaline, amusement, and satisfaction at seeing the strawhat's action. He couldn't help but laugh, despite the grimace of his own crew.

Law had heard about how one's life flashed before one's death, and he absentmindedly wondered why his mind decided to show him this particular memory. He was glad, though. He didn't know if he could take it if he was about to be shown the memory of his family, or of Cora-san. At least this memory was fun, in a way. Law leaned back in his seat a little. He didn't know how long this memory-induced illusion would last, but he might as well make himself comfortable.

Then something caught his intention. Everything was just… clear. Too clear. He could make the details of each and every person in the room, from what they wore to what they were holding. He could smell the faint trace of blood, dust, and whatever perfume the auction house guests wore, and could hear just about everyone's voices, too.

It just seemed so… detailed.

He carefully glanced back at his right, where he saw the bright mop of red. Eustass Kid was grinning maniacally at Strawhat, some of his crew standing next to him, equally impressed.

Law heard the gunshots, and the screams. He looked around, the celestial dragon was firing bullets and threats at the Strawhats, the people were running for their lives. It was a chaos. A very familiar chaos.

Idly, Law looked at his left.

His breath was stuck in his throat when he saw Bepo leaning on the seat next to him, seemingly confused on what to do.

Law raised a hand, and without thinking about it, poked Bepo's paw a few times. The bear mink looked at him

"What is it, Captain?" he asked, expecting an order.

"Come closer" Law gestured with his hand. Bepo tilted his head, confused, but obeyed anyway. He leaned his ear closer to Law, figuring that the captain wanted to tell him something.

But instead of saying anything, Law reached out and ruffled his muzzle. Law could hear a surprised noise coming from behind him—most likely Penguin and Shachi—but he ignored it. He proceeded to ruffle Bepo's head, remembering the soft, ticklish fur in his hand.

It felt so… real.

Law blinked back the tears building in his eyes as he remembered that same white fur becoming so stained with mud and blood that he couldn't recognize its original color anymore.

Bepo had his jaw hanging open, but didn't say anything as he stared wide-eyed at his captain, hoping that the man would explain something.

Law didn't. He just kept ruffling and fiddling with Bepo's fur.

That was, until the strawhat boy said something in particular, and the Heart Pirate's captain finally stopped messing with his navigator's fur and turned around.

Law remembered what he had said to Luffy before, and somehow, he had the urge to say it again.

"The marines are already here, Strawhat-ya" he said. Luffy's attention darted to him for a split second before landing on Bepo, apparently finding the bear mink more interesting.

"Who the hell are you… and what's with the bear?"

Law smirked. It was exactly just how he remembered. He wondered if his brain showing him this relatively happy memory was in fact a way to torture himself because he was about to die and obviously couldn't experience something like this ever again.

Hell if he knew. He had decided to enjoy it while it lasted.

Law explained the presence of the marine around the auction house, and Nico Robin informed Luffy of who he was. The chaos kept going, until a wave of heavy, dominating power swept around the room, knocking out those too weak to stand it.

And Silvers Rayleigh appeared.

Before, Law had been stunned and excited to see the living legend. But now, Law was more interested in observing the Strawhat Pirates. He had spent a great deal of time with them that he would trust them with his live. Now, seeing them through his old memories where the Strawhats were somewhat younger and definitely looked more naïve, was a pretty nice treat.

He tuned out most of what Rayleigh had to say in favor of seeing the obviously alive self of his allies.

He pushed the image of the bloodied, dead bodies to the back of his mind.

And tried to focus on Franky instead.

Because, wow, the blue-haired guy had undergone the most changes in the two years, physically. Law didn't remember the cyborg being that… small. Or that normal-looking.

Law broke out of his stupor when he heard the deep, loud voice of Kid saying he would take care of the marines outside by himself.

Dream or not, Law's pride wouldn't let the redhead do as he pleased.

Before Law could stop himself—because it was just his memory, something his brain conjured up before he went to wherever it was he was supposed to after death—Law was already outside, standing alongside the two other infamous rookie captains, his sword in hand.

This dream is getting creepy, Law thought as a very much vivid sense of excitement surged from inside him, not unlike the first time before. The weight of his sword in his hand… it just felt right.

Law snapped at Kid who had the gall to order him around. But this time, a smirk was tugging at his lips.

The marines shouted a battle cry, and as if on cue, the trio attacked.

It wasn't much of a battle. More like a one-sided annihilation, really. The marine troops didn't have a snowball's chance in hell against the three of them. Those marines had better be glad that Law and Luffy weren't really interested in murder. As for Kid, well, prayers from whoever cared went to his enemies.

I missed this, Law thought bitterly as he threw a head toward the crowd, not really caring where it would land.

He would never admit it aloud, not even in death, but he kind of enjoyed the little competition he had with Luffy and Kid, the three of them unnecessarily showing off their devil fruit abilities just for the sake of… yeah that, showing off.

Law remembered how they would argue over the pettiest of things, and there were heat in it, sometimes. But not hatred. Never hatred.

Because after all the time they had spent fighting together, they had learned first-hand that they could trust each other with their backs. Even Kid, who obviously had trust issues after what happened to his last attempt of alliance, finally opened up and reluctantly joined.

Crap, Law cursed as he found himself not wanting this to end. He had died, damnit. There was no way he could keep this dream—or memory, whatever the hell it was—up for longer. He shouldn't have done anything in the first place, if he wanted to just die in peace.

Now, he couldn't even stop himself from wishing.

Law cursed again as he dodged an attack, and retaliated in return.

Not long, they won, just as Law remembered. Standing alongside once again, seeing the 'pretty' mess of the marines, their backs facing their comrades.

Law looked down at his body. Not a scratch, yep. Wait, he remembered he did get a bruise on…

Law grabbed his right forearm and touched a spot that was half hidden with his tattoos, and pressed on it. His fingers jerked as pain surged from the spot.

It hurt.

Law stared wide-eyed at it.

It actually hurt.

Law snapped his head to his left, seeing that Kid and Luffy—who had somehow become small as a side effect of one of his attacks— were still there. Still very clear and detailed and everything just felt—

Real

This can't be happening, Law thought.

There's just no way. No fucking way

Law tried to push the idea out and far from his mind. He was not naïve enough to believe it to happen.

Because it was too good to be true.


"Be a… marine?" Shachi repeated, looking at Law like he had grown another head.

"Yeah" Law simply answered. If the situation was less serious, he would chuckle at his friends' dumbfounded reaction.

Penguin locked eyes with Law, and it had taken everything within Law to hold the gaze. It was those same eyes that kept looking at him through the shadows of the hat in the nightmares, looking pained and betrayed and—

Law dug his fingernails into his palms, using the pain to replace his focus back to reality. Penguin was obviously trying to see just how serious he was and determine whether or not it was a lie.

"You hate the marines" Penguin finally pointed out as soon as he found his voice back.

"I do. And everyone and everything related to the World Government" Law said, making sure there was no misunderstanding over that topic.

"Then… why?" Shachi asked, no trace of precious bewilderment in his voice. Just confusion and deep concern.

Law looked down.

Why?

So he wouldn't have to see them die, of course.

In both of the previous timeline, there was something—just one thing—that they lacked. Something that prevented the pirates from achieving victory. And that missing piece was related to the marines. The key was there.

Law was nothing if not stubborn and prideful. He hated the marines. He loathed the World Government. The hatred was so deep that he was sure if he was stripped of everything else, it was one of the only things that would remain.

But when he thought about the final explosion, the body filled with holes, the charred corpses, the ripped off limbs, and the pool of blood with not even a body to be found—

"I have my reasons" Law answered. The unsaid 'but I can't tell you about it' was clear to his friends.

Bepo, Penguin, and Shachi glanced at each other, a silent conversation passing between them. Law could see uncertainty written all over their faces. He couldn't blame them, though. All this time, he had been telling them that he wanted to be a pirate and one day would sail the seas with his own crew. They had cheered and supported his idea then. To suddenly be told that he would be a marine like this, Law wouldn't stop them if they wanted to leave—

"Okay"

Law blinked, "What?"

"Okay. So, we will be marines, right?" Shachi said, pointing vaguely at himself, Penguin, and Bepo. Law straightened.

"I will be a marine. I'm saying that you don't have to do the same and that you're free to do whatever you want" Law explained again, as clear as he could.

Shachi shrugged, "And we're saying we will be marines with you"

Law narrowed his eyes, his brows furrowed in a way they would when he came across a particularly hard riddle, "Don't you guys want to be pirates?"

Law remembered just how much his friends enjoyed freedom and everything that came with it.

Just as much as he did.

"We do," Penguin answered, "but I would prefer us to stay together"

Law felt like he just got punched in the gut.

"Yeah. And you were the one with the idea, Law. We thought you would make a great pirate captain. Actually, we still do. But if you want to be a marine, then we'll follow you" Shachi added. He sounded so light about it that Law couldn't really believe what he was hearing.

Law was about to open his mouth, to stress again that he didn't want them to feel like they had to follow him, but a hand—a paw—landed on his shoulder.

Law looked at Bepo who was staring up at him, his round eyes still wet and glassy, "We aren't going anywhere, either," the mink said softly.

Law stared back, gaping. He closed his mouth and set his jaw. He reached out a hand and ruffled the bear's head. He had forgotten just how small Bepo was when they had first met. It would be the other way around, but now he was looking down at Bepo, and looking up at Penguin and Shachi.

"So, are you guys fine with it? Becoming marines?" Law asked again. He wondered when the last time was when he felt like he had to ask for reassurance.

"Honestly, we should be the ones asking you that" Penguin said. He reached out a hand, too. It hovered above Law's head for a little before finally settling on the younger teen's shoulder instead.

"Do you know just how pained you look right now? whatever your reason is, it better be a good one if it makes you look like… this" Penguin said. Suffering like this, he thought as he grabbed Law's shoulder and shook it a little.

"We're staying together," Shachi confirmed with a nod, as if saying that was the final decision, "and besides, we can try to aim for a high position, and then we would be free to sail the seas as we want" he added with a grin. He wasn't sure how the marines work, but within most organizations, the higher the position, the more freedom granted, right?

Law stared at them again, and images flashed before his eyes. Of all the time in their adventure where he had to make choices, the hardest one was when he had to part with his crew and tell them to go ahead to Zou.

He hadn't realized just how much stress he put onto himself by parting with his crew, his family.

And just how goddamn glad he was to hear what they had just said.

Law looked at the floor again, pulling his hat down to cover the tears threatening to fall. He could feel Shachi and Penguin grinning, while Bepo smiling softly next to him. His three friends huddled around him and gave him big, comforting hugs. Law didn't make any move to get away.

.

"Let's stick together"

.

Law tightened his fists.

He might not be able to stay with exactly everyone this time.

But he would make damn well sure to protect them all.


A/N

This chapter is mostly a flashback of the second timeline, when Law first traveled back in time.

I figured Law would need a big, big reason for choosing to be a marine, and that's where the second timeline came from.

Please leave a review on your way out ^_^