Luffy couldn't see anything around him. Every which way he tried to look all he was met with was the never-ending black void. He knew he was falling as made evident by the wind blowing from underneath him billowing his clothing and drowning out his thoughts. He was very accustomed to falling seeing as he had no qualms about literally leaping from all manner of high places. Some might see it as absurd whereas others might see it as unwavering courage. Those that knew the truth however knew better. Luffy was rubber, simple as that.

Luffy fell for what felt like hours and all the while he moaned and groaned about being bored, or being hungry, or something else foolish. He knew he shouldn't have been complaining but it was all he could do to keep himself from worrying about his crew. Everyone was super strong so he knew they could handle themselves in a fight but that didn't stop him from worrying. With Chaos being involved he was even more on edge. He was beginning to stew in his anger momentarily before he noticed a flicker below him. He looked down and finally saw something other than darkness. At long last, he could see light. He braced himself for whatever might be on the other side and crossed his arms as he broke through the light and once again lost consciousness.

Luffy began to stir and slowly opened his eyes to the sight of beautiful deep blue skies. He slowly sat up and rubbed his head and felt his straw hat on his head. He sighed gently and began to shuffle to his feet. He felt heavy and everything seemed unusually big around him. He looked at his surroundings and realized he was on the edge of a forest and to his back was a cliffside with the sweet familiar scent of the salty sea air. He took a moment to look down at his clothing and was surprised to see he was so tiny! Had he used Gear Third accidentally? Surely not. He got rid of that side effect years ago. Luffy remained baffled before he realized he could hear a great many voices. It sounded like a gathering. He walked over to the cliffside and peered down below at a very familiar sight. He could see the Goa Kingdom! He saw that the port was decorated with all kinds of festival-like decorations and other such things. A great crowd gathered around the side of what looked like a giant red carpet. Someone of high status was arriving.

Luffy felt his blood run cold as he began to understand when he was. This was the day the Celestial Dragons arrived! This was the day his older brother Sabo met his demise at their hands. Although Luffy knew Sabo had survived this ordeal it didn't stop his breath from catching in his throat. He shook himself out of his thoughts and steadied his nerves.

"Not this time."

He then leaped from the top of the cliff and fell below into the jungle. He began tearing his way through the dense plant life to get to the port in time. He had to stop Sabo from setting sail, even if only for a minute. Luffy ran as hard as his small legs would carry him, occasionally stretching his arms forward to grab onto a tree and flying forward with greater ease and proficiency than he had originally been capable of at this age. He soon approached a clearing and could see the Celestial Dragons' large galleon approaching the port. He ground his teeth and pleaded in his mind with worry.

Please let me make it in time! Please!!

He shot forward once more and this time managed to gain and hold air time for a moment. Upon getting closer he saw a small fishing ship off the port side of the galleon. He felt his eyes ache but realized he could make out details from this distance far better than he should have been able to. He could see the flag it flew and he instantly recognized it with horror in his eyes. It was a blue letter S over a set of traditional pirate crossbones. He knew it to be Sabo's mark. He felt his lungs burn as each breath he took stung with horrible tenacity. He could feel his legs and arms aching from the sudden sustained activity but he couldn't stop. Not now. He'd never forgive himself if he did. As he finally landed and began approaching the shoreline edge he felt a small ping of hope inside his heart. He thought he had made it with just enough time to rocket over and deflect the cannon shot and save his brother!

Alas, the reality is cruel.

Luffy stopped hard on the shoreline and readied a rocket by flinging his arms forward onto a tree and digging in deep. He gazed at Sabo's ship and heard a high pitch whistling. It was a sound he knew all too well and at this moment he dreaded it. His eyes lit up a deep vibrant orange as he watched Sabo's ship explode with grueling force from the cannon shot. He stood dumbfounded as the harsh roaring flame died down into billowing black smoke. Luffy felt his heart pound in his ears and felt his skin run cold. He could feel his lip begin to quiver as heartbreak overtook him. He let go of the tree that he had remained attached to and slammed his retracting arms into the sand below him with incredible force causing sand to kick up around him and slowly fall upon his now kneeling body. He let his tears fall as he felt his muscles stiffen and his chest ache. He knew he had to let his tears flow freely, for he was slowly suffocating himself. He let his voice be heard in small bated whimpers as he finally succumbed to his grief and began sobbing out loud.

"Why?… why is this happening again..why me..what have I done to deserve this tragedy again…"

He felt his neck hairs stick upright as he was bombarded with a familiar and unwelcome presence. He could feel evil in the air. He began wiping his face as he looked up at Sabo's ship and in the deep black smoke, he could see it. The deep orange-red eyes, and putrid vile grin. Chaos floated in the smoke partially obscured from sight. He merely stared Luffy down as his sick laughter echoed outward across the sound of the sea and straight to Luffy. It sounded as if Chaos were right next to his ear. Luffy tensed up as Chaos spoke out in a mocking tone.

"Not quite fast enough Straw Hat."

Luffy felt something inside of him snap. He saw red as his will roared to life and blasted outward with ferocious violence. He let loose a primal scream as his aura expanded into such a massive size that all who had gathered at the port and all aboard the galleon could feel this godlike anger. Anyone unfortunate enough to be met by this will was rendered unconscious and fell to the ground beneath them, foaming at the mouth. Chaos never let his grin falter as he slowly moved back into the smoke, disappearing for the time being.

Luffy eventually got hold of himself and reeled in his Conqueror's Haki. He took a few deep breaths and looked upon the spot where Sabo's ship had been. It had finally sunk and Luffy approached the edge of the shoreline and tried his hardest to extend his Observation Haki outward desperately searching for signs of his brother. He found none. He cursed himself at his lack of range while stuck in this form but prayed Chaos hadn't changed his brother's fate. He was going to call it quits when he felt something familiar ping his Observation Haki. It wasn't something familiar, but rather someone. He quickly gathered himself and repositioned his rocket as he had before but adjusted his aim so that he'd land atop the galleon.

"Gomu Gomu no..Rocket!"

Luffy announced as he flew through the air and landed rather harshly on some poor guard bastard. He quickly bounced to his feet and took off toward the inside of the ship. He made his way further and further down into the ship as he felt the presence grow ever more the closer he got. He felt a smile creep onto his face and stopped just short of a big iron door before him. He scoffed at it and readied his arm by flinging it back and stretching it down the long corridor. With practiced ease, he brought his fist forward and devastated the door in a single blow. It buckled upon impact and blew inward with impressive force. Luffy enters hurriedly and turns to his right as the dust clears. He slowly walks forward and is met with a tall but not as tall as he remembered, red-horned, white-haired Oni. He smiled gently as he crouched down and rested a hand on his unconscious crew mate. He felt at ease for the time being.

"Yamato."

Yamato cursed himself as he fell through the black void surrounding him. The ferocious winds billowed into his face in such an annoying way that he tucked his limbs in and rolled around so that his back was to the relentless onslaught. With momentary relief, Yamato began to replay the events that had led up to such a thorough defeat.

All had been well, the day was a warm one and the crew was lively and content. Yamato was still in the process of settling in and was doing his best to adjust to the crew and the lifestyle. He was the newest member of the Straw Hat crew of about a week and a half now and in that time he'd come to witness all manner of craziness and shenanigans possible. From a dog-eat-dog war at meal times to absolutely insane late-night partying it was all so much to take in. What took him off guard the most though was how physically close and intimate the crew was with one another. They had no reservations about embracing one another, lightly touching and comforting each other, and they all seemed to function best when they were around each other. If one member lingered too long alone they'd be approached by another and checked up on. It was a little odd to get used to but Yamato thought it was sweet. Luckily he wasn't the only one adjusting to it. Jimbei had joined the Straw Hat crew as well and although he had a history with the crew he too was never able to witness the true madness that was the Straw Hat Pirates. Yamato was thankful he wasn't the only one taken aback by this rowdy bunch. Regardless of all the madness, Yamato had felt truly welcomed by the crew and they had all been very happy to bring her along. His official role was that of an adjusted Quartermaster. He has yet to get the whole list of what that entailed but one aspect of it was logging the timeline of the Straw Hat Pirates. They had an existing log already aboard the ship that covered their journey from the day Luffy set out but it wasn't all that well documented. He suspected the only ones who bothered to write any of it at all were likely Nami or Robin, perhaps both. He appreciated it nonetheless and read what was available. It helped him to feel closer to the crew and ignited a fire deep in his heart. He took the time to log the events of Wano and the aftermath. He was quite good at writing and kept it neatly put together in case one day someone else decided to view it. Everything had been just wonderful, up until that thing showed up.

That damned monster.

In a matter of moments, Yamato had been rendered immobilized and unable to help fend off the disgusting creature. He had been a part of the crew a mere week and a half and was so quickly torn from the people he was beginning to see as a family. It infuriated him. He couldn't stand it!

"RRRRAAAUUGGGHHH!!"

Yamato found himself roaring into the void and took a moment to collect his head and calm down. He crossed his arms in frustration and huffed to himself.

I can't believe this. I was so useless! Now I have no idea what happened to everyone and I'm stuck falling in this fucking void!!

Yamato bit his lip as he punched the air and would have continued his pointless onslaught if not for a glisten in his peripheral that caught his eye. He quickly shifted his head to his side to try and look below himself but couldn't manage it with the godforsaken wind so he tucked his limbs and once again rolled his body over and was met with a white light shining up at him. He crossed his arms and prepared for the inevitable impact but just before it came he heard an all too familiar voice.

"Yamato."

Yamato's eyes widened as he stared into the light and slammed into it and proceeded to black out.

Luffy smiled gently as Yamato stirred awake and took a moment to process what was going on. Luffy gently put his hand on Yamato's knee. The Oni wasn't nearly as tall as he remembered him to be but even now he was still bigger than he was. Something else seemed off. When Luffy met Yamato and learned of his past he realized he was much older than he thought and he had always looked youthful but as he looked at him now he realized Yamato was younger, much younger, though what his exact age was now he couldn't say.

"Luffy? Where are we…? Why are you so itty bitty?.."

Yamato's dazed confusion pulled him from his thoughts. He could see that Yamato was reaching for his arm and attempting to stand. He offered his arm and helped as best he could but it looked rather awkward seeing as he was barely up to Yamato's knee. Yamato stood tall and gathered his head as he looked about the room. Mostly storage, supplies, drink, dry foods, and a lot of other things. He looked down at the now tiny Luffy and immediately took note of his soft baby-like features. Luffy had always been a soft-looking individual but the Luffy he remembered had a rather charming softness to his look but still very much looked like a man. A strong man. This version looked like a child. Luffy took note of Yamato's confusion and addressed his concerns.

"I know. It's weird. The best I can tell is that Chaos sent us back in time a fair amount. We're back to my time on Dawn Island, back during my childhood with Ace."

Yamato let his face soften upon hearing Ace's name. He processed what was said to him and felt his hopes rise at thinking Ace was still alive and they had time to maybe change things! Before he could speak his thoughts, however, Luffy spoke once more.

"We're on a ship that belongs to the Celestial Dragons. I knocked everyone out with my Conqueror's Haki and they'll be out for a while but I rather not wait around for the local police force to come to investigate. Let's head into the mountains, I've got a spot we can hole up for a while and get our bearings straight."

Luffy spoke expertly and with command. Yamato had to remind himself that although Luffy appeared to be a kid now, this was very much still his captain. He nodded silently and proceeded to follow Luffy out of the storage room and up to the deck where the scene was a surprising one to see.

A couple of dozen guards, crewmen, and other sorts were knocked out cold all along the deck. He looked a little harder and even spotted the Celestial Dragons. Ass up and foaming at the mouth, a satisfactory sight to say the least. Yamato growled deeply and let his teeth shift into their canine counterparts, courtesy of his devil fruit. He had no love for people like them. He turned quickly and followed Luffy off the port side and onto a small life raft. It was cramped and Luffy proceeded to plop down into Yamato's lap and seemed to be pouting.

"Luffy? Wha—"

Before Yamato could finish his sentence Luffy huffed out in an angry tone.

"I'm too damn small to row the oars, can you please do it?"

Yamato smiled gently and took either oar and began rowing them across the waves to the shoreline. This was chaotic and everything seemed so out of place but he was glad he could be here with his captain. He was quite excited to see what kind of chaos would ensue.