Yamato and Luffy were roughly halfway to their destination. Luffy wouldn't tell Yamato exactly where they were going but he assured him that it was safe. Yamato really couldn't argue with that. After struggling through the damned foliage and rough terrain for far too long Luffy hopped atop Yamato's shoulders and held onto his horns, gently of course. Yamato smiled playfully and continued walking onward. He figured now would be as good a time as any for some small talk.

"So, Captain, what's it like being a kid again? Especially with all your Haki knowledge and whatnot!"

He continued treading on as he awaited his response.

"It's damned annoying! I was at the peak of my power and even unlocked true freedom–" Luffy flexed his arms in a cartoonish way as his chest and muscles puffed up exaggeratedly. "–but now I'm back to square one. Well, almost square one."

Yamato raised his brow at the 'true freedom' part and briefly wondered if that's what he called that brilliant white form he had shown during the final stretch of the fight with Kaido. He then took notice of his last spoken words and decided that was more intriguing to ask about.

"Not completely square one? Why's that?"

Luffy was momentarily distracted by a colorful bird that was perched upon a tree in front of them. He realized a question had been presented to him and he pulled his mind from the bird long enough to respond.

"Well, at this point originally I could barely control my devil fruit powers. I struggled for a long time to be able to punch and fight with them. I suppose now I'm back with the knowledge and muscle memory of how I've been using them so it's far easier to use them. I haven't tried using any Armament Haki but I suspect I won't be able to for quite some time still. I have used Observation in a limited capacity and as you saw earlier, Conqueror's Haki can be used. Although, my outburst might have helped it be as potent as it was. Still don't know if I can do that on command. As for Conqueror's coating, I definitely won't be doing that anytime soon."

Luffy concluded his answer and conjoined thoughts. He looked down at Yamato and posed the same question.

"How about you? How's it feel being super young again?"

Yamato was thinking over Luffy's response before answering his question to him.

"It's garbage."

A rather blunt response that he could have left at that but continued.

"I think I'm 16 years old again and it's annoying. I'm shorter and my muscle mass and physical prowess I worked so hard for are gone! Now it's back to the horrible teenage hormonal mess I once was."

Yamato flailed his arms in a 'woe is me' motion and continued.

"I haven't tried any Haki since awakening but I suspect I'll have the same results as you. I still need to try my devil fruit as well. I also miss my mace.."

Luffy smiled to himself and patted Yamato's head.

"Fear not! We'll find you a new one I'm sure!"

The two of them shared a laugh and Luffy straightened up upon seeing their destination. He quickly hopped off of Yamato's shoulders and ran forward to gaze at his old home. It was a tree house built directly into the tree accompanied by a lookout point just ways up the branches. A flag was flying just off the side of it with the color-coded letters 'A S L' over some pirate crossbones. Luffy felt a wave of nostalgia rush over him as his smile grew ever more. He turned to Yamato and presented the treehouse.

"Welcome to our treehouse! Built by me and my brothers!"

Yamato smiled gently at the fort and proceeded to follow Luffy up to it upon his gesturing to him. The two of them entered the fortress and Luffy could be seen taking it all in. It's been a long while since he has been here. Yamato realized very quickly that he couldn't stand up in the fort so he crawled to one end and got comfy. He looked about the area and smiled to himself before looking at Luffy and speaking up.

"So..knowing when we are here in time is it ok if I ask where Ace is?.."

He saw no real reason why he couldn't ask but still felt off about doing so. He watched Luffy's expression become morose but it only lingered briefly. He then smiled gently and looked hopeful, almost as if he came to some kind of conclusion.

"He's likely to be at the bandit shack. I was planning to meet him there and then bring him here. To meet you for technically a second time. Time travel is weird."

Luffy laughed to himself and walked over to Yamato and let loose a yawn and outstretched his arms.

"He's probably resting up back at the bandit shack. Dogra has likely already returned and broken the news and he's probably tied up to a tree right now. I'll go get him in a bit but being this small and using even a little Haki is incredibly draining and I don't think I'd be able to get very far so for now, I'll rest."

He lingered on his words for a moment but shook his head gently. He shuffled closer to Yamato and looked up at him.

"Can I lay on you?"

Yamato smiled warmly and shifted his body so that he was laying on his back. He offered his open arm to Luffy to embrace him. Luffy obliged and within no time at all the two had fallen asleep to the sounds of the forest life.

Luffy ultimately didn't sleep for very long. He was quite restless so he decided to get up and go get his brother. He turned to Yamato and smiled softly at the still-sleeping giant. He quietly hopped onto the railing of the deck and jumped down to the forest floor. Naturally, he suffered no injury and quickly took off in the direction of the bandit shack. Luffy's sense of direction was almost as bad as Zoro's sometimes but he knew this place incredibly well. He could navigate it with his eyes shut. He could feel his brother's emotions seeping out from in front of him and that's how he knew he was close. He spotted the tree Ace was tied up to and quickly ran around it and came face to face with his brother.

"Ace."

Luffy spoke gently as he grabbed the ropes. Upon doing so Ace quickly opened his eyes and looked directly at Luffy. A mixture of relief and annoyance passed over his face before eventually settling on happiness.

"Luffy..where the hell have you been? Why weren't you resting your injuries!"

Luffy smiled at his brother's nagging and enjoyed it for a moment. It had been so long since he heard it. He quickly felt the smile leave his face as he remembered what he'd seen and why he was here now.

"Sorry to worry you. I was sleeping before I came here to find you. I was really tired."

Luffy hesitated momentarily and noticed Ace was about to continue speaking but quickly beat him to it.

"I know about Sabo."

Ace stiffened upon hearing what Luffy had said. He didn't say anything for a good moment so Luffy took the silence as an invitation to continue speaking.

"I saw it happen. At the port. His ship was blown up by a Celestial Dragon bastard. I couldn't save him and I'll never forget it."

Luffy felt his chest grow heavy and his knees begin to bend. He hated reliving these emotions but he couldn't help it. Even if Sabo survived just as he originally had it didn't matter. The pain could never be forgotten or ignored. Luffy looked up at his brother and awaited his reaction.

"Luffy, help me down from here."

Ace's tone was perfectly calm and didn't give away the slightest hint of what he might be feeling. Luffy did just as he was asked and tore the rope apart with ease. Ace landed on his feet and looked at Luffy with a gentle expression. He then reached out and pulled Luffy into a hug.

The hug was warm and completely enveloped Luffy throughout his body. He had desperately missed this warmth. The warmth of his older brother. He felt relief, relief that he was back in this time. There is still a lot of things to be worked out and there was still the matter of his crew, but for right now he was going to be selfish and enjoy this moment.

After a moment the brothers separated and Ace pulled out an envelope. Luffy knew what it was but let Ace speak on it.

"Sabo wrote us a letter. I guess he wanted us to get it after he set sail to explain why he'd left so soon.."

Luffy stared at the letter with sadness in his eyes. He reached out and gently touched Ace's elbow.

"Let's read it together."

With Luffy's comfort Ace opened the letter and began to walk and read the letter aloud. The two soaked up every word and held on to each one as if they might forget it otherwise. They eventually found themselves on the cliff where they had declared their dreams to the sea. Ace had finished the letter and the two boys stood on the edge looking out to the sea. They thought of Sabo and all that he was and the wonderful brother he had been to them. Then, in a moment of vulnerability, the boys began to weep. No scolding was to be had about it, they merely shared in their sorrow and let their hearts bleed for their lost brother. They wept until they could weep no more and stood taller after having let their emotions run the course. They both looked to each other with new resolve and new drive. They stood taller and there it was decided. They would never let anything like this happen again. They would protect those they loved, no matter the cost.

"So, there is someone I want you to meet. I found them on the ship the Celestial Dragons arrived on."

Luffy spoke up to Ace. The two had begun their hike to the treehouse and along the way, Luffy decided to tell Ace about what happened after he witnessed Sabo's death. Ace was shocked to find out that Luffy had used the same power he had during the junkyard fire. He listened to the entirety of Luffy's tale and disapproved of him even going on the accursed ship but he knew that it was hard to deter Luffy from his curiosity. He listened up to the end after Luffy informed him he had rescued someone aboard the ship.

"Where are they now?"

Ace questioned as he jumped up a tree and put his hand out for Luffy to grab.

"He's at the treehouse waiting for us. He's likely still sleeping honestly."

Luffy jumped up and clasped his hand onto Ace's as he scaled the tree. The two of them scouted across the ravine in front of them and Ace grabbed onto a vine. Luffy shot his arms across and used the momentum from retracting his arms to pull him across. Ace swung after him and landed on the other side. He looked at his brother with a raised brow.

"When did you get so proficient at using your fruit?"

Ace questioned. He remembered Luffy barely being able to use his power to punch. Now he seemed to be using it with ease as if it were second nature.

"Dunno, guess it finally clicked."

Luffy managed to lie to his brother without his ridiculous I'm lying face. He quickly moved the topic along.

"C'mon, we're dragging. Let's get moving, don't wanna keep our guest waiting!"

Ace picked up his pace and the two boys began making headway to their destination.

Yamato stirred awake and rolled to his side and realized Luffy was not there.

He probably went to take care of Ace. I should get up and prepare myself.

Yamato mused in his head as he yawned and stretched out big. He sprawled out for a moment before closing his eyes and letting out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He then began shrinking slightly as his body morphed into the deity wolf form of his Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Okuchi no Makami. It allowed him room to move in the treehouse but he wasn't going to stay in it for fear of damaging it. He quickly took off the balcony window and landed on a tree that slightly froze under the touch of his paws. The sunlight hit his brilliant white fur and glistened the morning air with a cold vapor. Yamato shook his torso around and got ready to run. With amazing speed and agility, he took off across the treetops and through the foliage and wildlife. He felt the warm air hit his cold fur and the sensation was mildly euphoric. He missed this feeling. For the longest time, he hated his devil fruit simply because his father told him that because he had eaten it he had to be Wano's guardian. He loved Wano and wanted the best for it but he wanted to be free. To truly see the world and follow Oden's dream.

He ran for what felt like an eternity but eventually, he pulled to a hard stop near the far edge of the island. He transformed back into his human form and stared out into the sea. He lifted his hands and stared at his wrists and briefly saw his old cuffs flash in place. He felt a chill race down his back as he began rubbing his wrists vigorously and let out an alarmed breath.

It's ok. You're not a prisoner anymore.

He let out a shaky sigh and crossed his arms over himself and rubbed his shoulders gently. He sat down on the cliff edge and watched the sea dance around gently and listened to the sweet melody that the crashing waves created. He began to think to himself and zoned out.

I'm going to be here with Luffy for a long time before he's ready to set out again. Even if he sets out slightly earlier we'll still be here for a handful of years. I wonder if everyone else is okay. To suddenly get thrown into the past, especially Nami, Brook, and Robin. They had quite the past if I remembered correctly from the log.

Yamato remembered what he had with him and reached into his hakama garment and pulled out a blank logbook. He had snatched it up so he could begin logging everything the Straw Hats did but more often than not forgot it because he was having so much fun.

What does the future hold? I know Luffy will still sail full speed ahead to become Pirate King.

Yamato smiled gently as he thought of Luffy and his wild smile laughing to Laugh Tale.

What does that mean for me?..

His thoughts trailed on and he ran his fingers along the blank log book and let out a sigh.

My dream was to escape the suffocation I felt in Wano for my whole life. I wanted to set sail with Luffy just as Oden did with Whitebeard and I suppose I've done just that. We got blasted back in time but I'm here now, with Luffy, free. A chance to live my life and do whatever I want. Be who I want to be.

Yamato held the blank log book up to his face and saw a flash of Oden's log book. Documentation of his adventures and grand life. Yamato's "bible". He smiled gently and put his hand over his heart and looked out to the sea once again.

I'll always remember you, Oden. Your life and adventures were amazing and you lived how you wanted until the end. I'll admire that forever, but I think I want to live this chapter of my life differently. I think it's time I find out what kind of person I can be with my new family. Forge a new dream and help my crew work towards theirs. Watch the rise of the next Pirate King. I'll enjoy this freedom deep in my heart and watch as my family turns the world upside down! I'll do so as Oni Queen Yamato, Quartermaster of the Straw Hat Pirates!

Yamato raised her head and let a wide smile grace her face. She pulled out a writing utensil and wrote on the cover of the logbook. Journey of the Straw Hat Pirates, she wrote and held her quill just below her title for a moment and finally wrote out 'Quartermaster Yamato'. She put the utensil away and smiled proudly at the log book and hugged it close before putting it back into her garment. She hopped up to her feet and threw her arms into the air and felt the beginnings of this new journey, a revisited one for her captain and crew but for her, it was completely new. She turned her tail and jumped into the air towards the forest and landed upon a branch in her wolf form. She then took off in a blinding dash back towards the treehouse. She had friends she wanted to see.