In the two weeks that passed between when Strawhat Luffy turned himself in and his public execution at Lougetown, Luffy became more and more frail. His hair drooped and his ever-enlightened eyes sagged. The strangest act of all, however, was no matter how much food the marines poked through the bars, Luffy would not even notice it. It was as if his tiny little brain was trying to conduct something gargantuan. Finally, when the day of the execution came, Luffy was barely a ghost of his former self. When the cell door opened, he was helped up and taken outside.

"Strawhat, you alright there?" Kelvin asked the thoughtful Pirate King. Luffy looked up at him and grinned.

"Would be better if I wasn't being executed today..."

Kelvin and Kraven guided Luffy through the door to a massive crowd of spectators. Men and Women of all ages were gathered in the square in front of the wooden platform. As Luffy was guided up, he grinned as he heard shouts of,

"IT'S HIM!"

"THE PIRATE KING!"

"IT'S MONKEY D. LUFFY!"

"THE MAN WHO IS THE PIRATE KING!"

Even Luffy's microscopic brain swelled at the sound of those words. He remembered the days with Shanks.

"Hah! You can't handle being a pirate! Not being able to swim is a pirate's greatest weakness!"

"As long as I stay aboard the ship I'll be fine! Besides! My fighting is pretty good too! I've rigorously trained! My punch is as strong as pistol fire!"

Now look at me. I'm not only a pirate... I'm the pirate KING!

He grinned bigger. I guess I can't be Strawhat Luffy anymore... Now that I gave my hat back to Shanks...It was strange to not have to worry about his hat anymore...

"Return this hat to me, in good condition, but only when you become a great pirate!"

I did Shanks... Luffy looked at the huge crowd shouting his name...I sure did...

Finally Luffy reached the top of the platform. He kneeled down in front of the two marines, still smiling. He looked down at the crowd, where he saw them. His smile faded. His eyes widened. Right there, in the front, lined in a row, was his Nakama. They were looking straight into his eyes.

Zoro... His arms were crossed and he had a stern look on his face, but he had a sad look in his eyes

Nami... Luffy could tell she was trying to stay strong for him.

Usopp.. Luffy could feel the same desperation pouring out of his body as his shout at Enies Lobby

Sanji... His cigarette wasn't lit, and he made no attempt to light it.

Chopper..He was in his mini-point, trying desperately to stop crying, to the point of rubbing his eyes raw

Robin..She had her neutral expression, but her eyes gave away her true feelings

Franky.. He was strangely not bawling his eyes out, probably instruction from Zoro.

Brook... He couldn't tell what he was feeling, due to his face being made of bone

Luffy thought about the great speech he planned out in those long two weeks, but, it didn't seem to fit anymore. I was always better at thinking spur-of-the-moment... He then realized what he was going to say.

"Any last words, Strawhat Luffy?"

Luffy burst out laughing. The crowd looked at each other in surprise, but the Strawhat Pirates smiled. Time passed, then Luffy spoke.

"I'm not Strawhat Luffy anymore..."

He looked up at the now silent crowd. He paused, then continued...

"You can call me many other names...

"Monkey D. Luffy" He looked at everyone.

"Rubberman." He looked at Zoro, who's eyes widened.

"Idiot." He looked at Nami, who, at the word, broke down.

"One of the Great Captain Usopp's followers..." Usopp, too, broke down.

"The Refrigerator-Raider." Sanji's cigarette fell out of his mouth.

"A Human." Chopper quit attempting to stop crying.

"Mr. Captain." Robin's lips quavered.

"Bro..." Franky's tear ducts opened.

"Luffy-San." Brook held his hat to his heart.

"Friend, Captain" He looked at his whole crew.

He paused to let it sink in. Then continued.

"And much more... But I am not Strawhat Luffy anymore. Strawhat Luffy was the man who was going to become the pirate king..."

Luffy sucked in a huge breath, then his voice rang out.

"BUT I AM THE MAN... WHO IS THE PIRATE KING!"

Just as the two swords were stuck in his back, every single man, woman, child, and fishman cheered as loud as humanly possible. Just as the life left Luffy, he thought to himself.

"I wonder what adventures I'll have in heaven?"