CONCLUSION

The warm light of the sun helped lift up his mood, if only slightly. He heard the sound of waves slapping against the cliffs of the island and the calm trance that had set in his chest ever since they escaped that city returned.

Rayleigh had greeted them with open arms and a relieved face. There had been a large roar that erupted from all the pirates gathered in Sabaody at the sight of their forms emerging from the small ship. It struck Luffy as strange, but he didn't mind it. He was glad to see so many familiar, and not so familiar faces around him.

His eyes had spied Shanks' ship floating in the distance. Next to the dragon headed ship was a whale shaped one and the raven head smiled when he realized Marco and the Whitebeard pirates were there too. He hasn't seen them in a long while, though it felt like it was only yesterday.

His memories and thoughts were still jumbled and Luffy still burst out talking random things without his notice, but at least he realized what was happening to him and worked hard with Robin and Chopper to control Lucy, as he had dubbed that second voice inside his head.

Perona had said double personality, but the pirate didn't agree. Lucy was just another part of him that somehow learned how to talk. They'll get along in no time.

The former First Mate of the Roger Pirates had brought him to the graveyard in Sabaody and Luffy deemed it perfect. He chose a spot right next to the cliffs and the Grand Line's waters. He was sure she'd like it there, it felt like freedom to him.

Luffy had never attended funerals, but he was glad when it was all over. As much as it was hard to say goodbye, he knew that he'd return here sometime in the future.

Now there's one more grave to visit on the list, his mind, or maybe Lucy, had supplied grimly and the raven head agreed. The list was getting long.

As much as Rayleigh didn't like to push them around, the incoming Marine forces that could not be stalled by either Coby, Smoker or Shanks and Marco were coming towards them, intent on starting the whole thing all over again, and Luffy was sure as hell there won't be a next time. He also decided to not confront any marines for a while. He might do something that would get him in more trouble than he was already in.

After a short goodbye to their saviors and friends, the Strawhats embarked on the Sunny, who was brought forth by Shanks and Marco and with Red Hair and Jinbei's help, they were successfully led back to the New World's waters. Luffy had refused to see the red haired pirate, claiming that he still got a long way to go until he was a great pirate. Shanks did not have anything against that judgment.

After a tight hug to his blonde haired, older brother, Luffy and everyone else, assured him the Strawhats will be fine and that he could relax. Sabo did not look at all convinced, almost ready to start fussing over his brother again, but Koala and Ivankov dragged him away before he could spark another battle of wills. However strange Luffy's mind was at that moment, he would have won anyway. That's how stubborn the younger pirate was.

The same story had been with Hancock as well. The Empress had completely refused to leave his personal space for more than five seconds. After a huge argument, in which even Rayleigh deemed it necessary to participate, Luffy finally snapped. His out of character outburst was quickly covered by the same raven head, who assured the older woman that he'd be fine and he'll make sure to visit soon. Hancock was grudgingly convinced, but not before another offer of marriage was thrown in his direction and was refused, as always.

The Strawhat pirates' captain almost cried when he saw the lion headed ship smile at him and in that moment he realized how much he had missed the Sunny and his friends. A teary shouting match ensued on the deck after they were left alone- mostly between Usopp, Chopper, Franky and himself- but the others joined in too, in their own ways.

All in all, the last two days felt so rushed to the raven haired pirate that he was not sure yet if it was a dream or not. He felt so lightheaded and confused by everything that was happening to and around him that he had started to act even more out of character, a fact not lost on his crew, who resumed to throwing him concerned looks and watch him even more closely. It made Luffy feel like a two year old and he could not help the irritation building up within him, but he supposed he could deal with it for a little while longer, if only to reassure them. They had a hard path ahead of them.

Jet black eyes continued to watch the orange tinted horizon as these thoughts recounted inside his mind. It was a good exercise, Chopper had said, if he'd try and remember everything in the past five months. Luffy knew he won't be able to, but he'll try anyway. Even if it made his head hurt like hell.

Light footsteps alerted him of a new visitor and he almost sighed tiredly, but managed to abstain and shoot Lucy a mental glare.

Luffy turned his head around to see Brook place a familiar, long lost friend on his head and he grinned through the newly formed tears. The material was rough under his fingers and it felt good to have the yellow straw hat on his head again. It brought him so many memories and feelings that the pirate felt overwhelmed for a short moment.

A sudden memory, of his hand reaching for this very hat but finding nothing appeared inside his mind and his grin receded into a wavy smile. That was about the time he had met Kiiro in the Outer Districts. The blonde haired boy's face popped in his mind and Luffy allowed himself to close his eyes for a moment and reminiscence about their strange adventures inside those walls.

Kiiro will have his own adventure now. Outside that cage of gold.

The blonde boy had been taken in by Koala after he insisted he wanted to see the freedom Luffy was talking about. Of course, leaving a child with pirates was never a good idea, but the Revolutionary Army was the closest thing to a safe place and a way of getting to know the world they lived in. Besides, those people could take care of children, unlike the Strawhats or Law. As much as it had hurt, Luffy had to admit that they wouldn't have been able to take care of him, considering their current situation. Maybe in the future, if the kid was still up to it...

"You have been so silent these past few days it breaks my heart, Luffy-san. Though I don't have one, yohoho!" Brook's trademark skull joke inevitably brought a smile on his face again.

"Yeah, sorry." The raven head scratched his head.

A small silence ensued, broken by Brook after a few minutes.

"Do you feel uncertain about what we should do now?" The skeleton's face was looking for his reaction curiously. His question was no more out of the blue than all the others his friends had asked.

As if a door had been unlocked, Luffy suddenly felt like all the thoughts muddling inside his brain for the last week melted away, leaving only a calm sort of peace and Lucy's voice. Laughter bubbled inside his chest and exploded from his mouth, successfully scaring his musician and the people on the deck.

Luffy laughed at the absurd question, at everything that happened in the last few days and at the world in general, and he jumped up from his spot, intent on making one thing clear. He unconsciously touched the purple material tightened on his wrist, before his hands went to his hips and a grin that was wider than any he had ever displayed came onto his face, unbidden.

"There are tons of places and adventures waiting for us in the New World! And I'm gonna become the Pirate King!"

His declaration was met with a stunned silence before Usopp cheered out loud. The others shook their surprise off and with a newfound vigor, cheered as well.

With a large intake of breath, Luffy threw his hands in the air in a very familiar motion and yelled.

"RAISE THE SAILS!"

"You should have seen all those crazy pirates march out of there, it was really a sight to behold!" Shanks chuckled, slapping his knee.

The person on the other line laughed softly along with him, before asking. "And Luffy-kun? How is he?"

Her voice was almost hesitant and the pirate grimaced when he thought about the answer.

"He's fine, physically. Rayleigh said there were a few after effects of the treatment he received in Mariejois. Something about a serum and that it was a change too abrupt when he regained his memories..." The red head trailed off, awaiting an answer.

After a while, the silence became too much for him.

"... Makino? You still awake?"

"Yes, sorry. I was just thinking." The woman sighed tiredly. "Is he going to be alright? That's the only thing I want to know for now."

Shanks smiled, though she couldn't see him. "Yeah, sure he will. That kid is tough. 'Sides, a whole army of pirates invaded the Holy Capital for him, I doubt he'd let himself fail them."

His smile dropped a little seeing the snail still sporting a downcast expression. "Luffy's strong, we gotta trust him, that's all."

The snail's eyes looked upwards and Makino's small smile was reflected on the creature's green face.

"You're right. I'm going to make sure I tell everyone that he's okay. Thanks for the words of encouragement, Captain."

The woman's grin was almost tangible and it made Shanks happy that he managed to reassure her that Luffy was going to be fine. The entire Fuchsia Village had not been the same in these past months as far as he had heard.

A sudden shout from outside on the deck made Shanks groan and Makino giggle.

"Go on, you're called, Captain."

The red head rubbed his head in desperation. "I'm gonna call later. Seems like Benny's in one of those moods."

With a last goodbye, the snail went back to sleep and Shanks made his way on the deck, wondering what his First Mate was on about.

Marco's already left and old man Rayleigh said I'm free of duty. So what...?

Opening the door to his cabin, the red head came nose to nose with Buggy. The clown pirate glared at him heatedly. Behind him, Mr. 3 adjusted his glasses, looking infinitely more polite than his childhood comrade.

"Cap', these two just randomly landed on our ship." Ben crossed his arms, giving Shanks a you're-alone-on-this-one look. Said captain's eye twitched.

"We'd like you to give us a lift, if possible."

Mr. 3's polite plea was shadowed by Buggy's own wild one.

"You're at fault for me being here so you better shut up and bring us where I tell you, you red headed bastard from hell. You and that stupid old man!"

Shanks rubbed his temple at the high volume and allowed himself to groan.

Why.

Crocodile groaned again when he heard the kid have another smart argument with Mr. 1. The former prisoner didn't know how he got himself stuck with the black haired child, but he did. And what followed was not what he'd call a relaxing week full of no babysitting shit.

The orange haired navigator of the Strawhats had definitely argued that he shouldn't take the kid with him and Crocodile had been completely fine with that. He even flung the unsuspecting boy at them without warning.

Unfortunately, that bastard Cavendish had allied himself with Rayleigh of all people against him. Those two had said that it was his fault the child was there in the first place and that he should deal with it.

The Devil Fruit user had tried numerous times to leave the boy at the gates of Mariejois, or even lose him through the city, but the boy followed him like a leech and even with all his sand powers, he couldn't slip past him.

Cursing himself and his inability to lose a fucking kid in a crowd, Crocodile had resigned himself to take care of the green eyed boy, if nothing else. He'd make a good damn pirate out of him and, if this one will be successful, Mr. 1 had suggested he start some kind of training facility to do just this, only with kidnapped kids.

The black haired man was definitely sold on the idea of loyal soldiers that have been trained properly under his supervision.

Plans for the future set, Crocodile allowed himself a moment of relaxation and agreed that he deserved a pat on the back for a plan well thought. Now if that Strawhat won't get himself killed again and make world news, then all the better. The former War Lord had a nagging feeling that Rayleigh wouldn't let him walk out of another rescue mission, even if his business with the raven haired pirate was done and over.

He supposed he just had to play it safe and stay out of his reach.

A sudden thought assaulted his mind and Crocodile looked towards the kid. He was playing with some sand from the beach of the no name island they were on. The pirate was lounging on a boulder again and his subordinate was just behind him, reading the newspaper… again.

"By the way kid," Crocodile began uncertainly, "what's your name?"

Vivi hugged her father tightly, before she stepped back to wave at Dressrosa's ship as it slowly disappeared on the horizon. The blue haired woman smiled as she recounted everything that had happened this past month.

She was very happy that Luffy was back and healthy, sailing in the New World's waters with his crew, just as he was meant to. The princess was also glad that she had managed to give a helping hand in rescuing the straw hat wearer. Even if she hadn't done much, she was content with the end result.

With the smiling faces of her friends in mind, Vivi stepped away from the cliffs they were standing on, overlooking Grand Line's waters and smiled at her father.

She had so many stories to tell him.

Rebecca watched the sun dip slowly on the horizon and allowed herself to smile in content, head leaning on her hand.

"Am I seeing a sad smile on your face?" Kyros grinned when he saw his daughter give him a small glare.

"Don't be mistaken, I'm glad it's over."

"Me too. Unfortunately, I could only help a little bit."

The rose haired girl shook her head. "You've done lots."

The black haired man crossed his arms and smiled. "But you've done a lot more. I can't wait to hear all about it."

Dressrosa's princess beamed up at him. "Sure!"

Dragon rubbed at his temples slowly, before he allowed his eyes to lift up again. The sight that greeted him was something out of a story with idiots.

And he did not like stories, or idiots.

Koala and Sabo's return to Baltigo had been full of sparks, from what Ivankov had told him. But the time after that was hell itself. The two had been arguing nonstop and it was making every officer in his army unhappy to say the least. Not to mention that they had been mostly useless and no one- not even him- could get something out of them more than a few words, that had mostly to do with irrelevant things.

Between the fist fights and the choice words, there were some recountings of their time spent with Rayleigh and in Mariejois, respectively. Those were the only things worth listening for. Besides that, nothing else could be extracted from them.

Not to mention they returned with a kid of all things. Dragon wasn't sure when his army became a kindergarten, but he sure did not plan on expanding his field of activity. Well, Kiiro wasn't spoiled, at least not as far as they've seen. And he looked docile and obedient. Maybe he'd become a real asset for the revolutionaries if he survived the training and trials he will be subjected to.

Sighing tiredly, the black haired man shook his head. He would be obviously fighting a losing battle if he tried to stop them, as he had learned from experience. So the head of the Revolutionary Army decided to let them run out of steam and simply ignore them.

Yes, that would be the best choice.

Purupurupuru-katchin

"LUFFY'S HEALTHY AND BACK IN THE NEW WORLD. I'M SO GLAD-"

... Assuming Garp wouldn't have called to add to his misery.

Coby smiled as he saw his superior shout on the phone, talking to his son.

He and Helmeppo were standing just shy of opening the door and getting out of there, but Garp wouldn't let them, saying that they'd have to endure some kind of punishment training. Coby had seen it coming, but it didn't make him feel any less unwilling to do it. Next to him, Helmeppo groaned, clearly not up to it either.

"Say," the Captain whispered to his friend, "how much time would it take us to get in one piece to Headquarters?"

The blonde thought this over for a moment before he whispered back. "Considering we make ourselves scarce and take the first patrol boat out of Sabaody, I'd say a week."

Coby nodded, eyes still on the snivellingman. "I'm in."

Helmeppo was waiting for that.

Throwing the door open with the reflex of a ninja, he bolted right out, Coby hot on his heels. They made a beeline out of there and were disguised and hidden in less than fifteen minutes.

Garp's shouts were already beginning to be heard throughout the island, but the Marine vessel that was supposed to take them back to Headquarters had already departed, with Coby and Helmeppo's hurried orders on their way out.

"A week should be enough to calm him down." The pink haired soldier commented absently, watching something explode on the deck. The shouts of his comrades made him wince.

Helmeppo snorted.

"You think they still got those posts in Mariejois open?"

Smoker crossed his arms, leaning back in his comfortable chair and enjoying the sound of his superior's angry shouts.

"What the hell was in that head of yours when you went to Mariejois?!" Sakazuki glowered, his teeth so clenched, his jaw trembled. "If the Gorosei realized who you are, the entire Marine organization is going to be in deep shit."

The white haired man almost rolled his eyes, but decided to be at least a little respectful. As if.

"But they won't. So calm down already. I was careful."

The Fleet Admiral did not look like he was buying it, but he did not comment further. Instead, the two had a stare contest which resulted in the lava man sighing tiredly.

"Please tell me you at least abstained from interfering with those pirates too much."

As if summoned by the Devil himself, a poor soldier knocked on the office door. His face was a mixture of confusion and disbelief when he took in his superior.

"Fleet Admiral, sir. News from the North Blue Marine Unit 15 have just arrived." He extended a folder filled with paperwork.

Sakazuki sighed again as he reached for the bulky thing. "Anything of importance?"

The man grimaced and eyed Smoker for a moment. The Fleet Admiral knew he won't like what he'd hear.

"They said that Vice Admiral Smoker was sighted on 'Surgeon of Death' Trafalgar Law's ship."

Smoker shrugged the glare away. He was just about to shoo the man before he spilled anything more, but he wasn't fast enough.

"They also said that he destroyed at least half of their ships along with former Shichibukai, Crocodile."

"SMOKER."

"What in the world are you doing?!" Cavendish glowered as he took in the sight in front of him. The blonde haired pirate was clearly not in the mood for the shit Bartolomeo was currently neck deep in.

"Redecorating." The green haired man explained absently, moving another piece of furniture- Cavendish's precious furniture- out of the way.

"Why? And why on my ship of all places!" His glare did nothing to deter the bastard in the slightest. His fingers twitched, itching to give him a nice pattern with his sword.

"Because this has to be on all the ships, yours included, cabbage. Now shut up, I'm trying to put the finishing touches to my creation." The Devil Fruit user spoke, all the while his hands twiddling with something in front of him.

Suddenly, Strawhat Luffy's large, wall height photo somehow sprouted from the ground and glued itself on his cabin's wall.

When the insufferable green head stepped back, Cavendish's jaw fell as the reality of what the freak had just constructed slapped him in the face.

"Why the fuck did you built an altar?! He's not dead, goddammit!"

His cries made most of his crew stop and look in the direction of said cabin. It did not help that the door was open.

"I know, you idiot!" Bartolomeo took another step back, admiring his work with a critic's eye. "But that's exactly why I've built it! Everyone needs to pray at the amazing Luffy-senpai!"

His cries made the blonde pirate in front of him take a step back and shake his head. That man had entered full fanboy mode.

Not good.

"The hell are you spouting from your mouth now!"

The ship suddenly rocked and Cavendish turned his head around in time to see the other representatives climb aboard. Judging by Sai's livid face and Ideo's twitching eyebrow, nothing good awaited the barrier freak. Only Leo was smiling amiably and the blonde swordsman had to ask himself why.

"What the hell are with those altars of Strawhat on our ships, Bartolomeo?!" The others, minus Leo, shouted collectively.

Cavendish took a side step closer to them. He'd like to join in the skewering of Bartolomeo too.

Suddenly, Leo grinned and spoke.

"I'd like to request more candles for our altar, Barto-land. We've already burned them out praying."

"WHAT!"

Perona hummed a new cursed song she had learned just yesterday in a melancholic kind of rhythm. Despite the small movement of her head in time with said pace, her eyes were distant, fixed on the dark horizon.

A small breeze whistled, making the fin trees surrounding the castle give an even more eerie atmosphere.

"As much as I appreciate the silence, it surprises me you are so quiet." The deadpan voice behind her made her huff reflexively.

Pink locks flew in time with the turning of her head and she glared at Mihawk.

"You should stop complaining then."

The swordsman smirked, something that immediately struck her as suspicious. The man wanted something.

"What do you want?"

Her thoughts were confirmed when he replied easily.

"I've heard you got yourself in another mess with the Strawhats." He sighed, sitting himself on the lounge chair, glass of wine in hand. "How was my precious student doing?"

The mocking voice made her roll her eyes. Clearly the man wanted to know if Zoro got more powerful.

Deciding that she didn't have anything else to do in that moment, she supposed she'll indulge him. If only to have something to blackmail him with later.

Elder Nyon watched with exasperated eyes the black haired woman in front of her. The pirate Empress was currently acting like a love-struck teenage girl again, doing silly little pirouettes around the room and writing yet another love letter to that clueless raven head that she was so in love with. At least that was an improvement from the desolate atmosphere that had been permeating the island in the last months. It felt like everything was back to normal again.

Taking a long look at the half meter stack, the older woman decided to screw this along with normality. They didn't have enough trees to make paper for Hancock to write all her love letters on.

"Get a hold of yourself, Hebihime!"

Admiral Fujitora listened closely to what the officer, who came to report, was telling them and slowly shook his head. It was no wonder that everything had gone to hell. All because of the corrupt government that was leading this world into chaos, if nothing else.

The man had been saddened to hear Strawhat Luffy was deemed dead, even if he knew from his dice gambling game with Sengoku, that it was not the case at all- the pirate was alive. And now a major break-in, that only served to question everyone's trust in the Government further, had happened.

It just went to show how everything could crumble down at the slightest touch; lives, money, pirates, nobles, everything that strayed too close to the source of all disgrace in this world- in his opinion- could very well be only mud on the ground. Their blasted way showed no mercy and no merits were given to anyone that could do such thing.

Tsuru eyed her two companions, before her eyes locked on the now silent man. Nodding her head in thanks for the news he brought, the old woman looked back at an inwardly fuming Admiral Fujitora and a laughing Sengoku.

The man looked completely unconcerned, if a little miffed by the whole situation. The permanent upward curve of his mouth was a dead giveaway that he could have cared less if the Marines ended up in deep shit or not and the twinkle in his eyes condemned him to the fact that he'd have thoroughly enjoyed such thing happening- along with a side-dish of the current Fleet Admiral being skewered in front of him for good measure.

"These years have transformed you into a reckless fool, Sengoku. Stop wishing such grim things." Tsuru shook her head again, her eyes becoming slits.

The white haired man boomed a laugh, spitting some of his crackers with the motion. When he spoke, both the Admiral and the Vice Admiral could see flower fields open up behind him.

"I can do whatever I want now, Tsuru. It's not my problem anymore!"

The last part of his sentence was mostly said for his own entertainment as the man continued to laugh merrily, definitely opting to ignore Issho's growing ire or her own tremendous sigh of exasperation.

Trafalgar Law watched the unknown island they were planning to dock on grow ever closer. His narrowed eyes tried to concentrate on any attack that might happen, but in reality his efforts proved fruitless.

His jumbled thoughts continuously returned to the happenings of the last few months and the doctor had to admit that Rayleigh's plan had been impossible from the very beginning. The very foundations of it had been out of this world, culminating with the Mariejois break in. Law was sure the former pirate had known it. Hell, the man surely must have seen how absurd his concocted strategy had been.

Entering Impel Down- fine. Entering the Holy Capital Mariejois and escaping without any casualties besides that red haired girl was unimaginable. It was simply defying the very laws of nature! Though, he had a nagging feeling that none of their enemies really tried, something that served to make him even more astonished.

A distant memory of long lost words spoken what felt like ages ago resurfaced in his memory.

"The Straw Hat crew has left nothing but sheer miracles in its wake."

Miracles? Yes. True miracles.

Though the doctor felt like this time, the Strawhats weren't the ones pulling all the magic tricks.

"Surely, D will once again call forth a storm!"

That Strawhat-ya, however amnesiac he was, somehow did it again.

"He called freaking miracles without even knowing it."

"You still on about that?"

The voice next to him snapped him back to reality. Law looked to the side just in time to see Jinbei prepare to dive into the dark waters.

"Thanks for bringing us here."

The fishman nodded. "You shouldn't beat yourself up about what happened." Jinbei cracked his knuckles. "Luffy is a strange enough fellow. If you start to analyze everything, you'd never see him as a normal person again."

The blue skinned man chuckled at the resigned expression on the doctor's face. Saying his goodbyes, Jinbei disappeared to the ocean's depths, leaving Law with his thoughts once again.

Dark eyes watched the purple tinted horizon with a detached light and only a sentence spoken by the man who he will always admire broke his line of thought. After everything that he had seen happening in Mariejois, Law could only agree.

"And in a certain land, there are those who call the line of D by another name. The 'Natural Enemies of the Gods'."

A/N: Happy holidays! :'D

I've come back from the depths of mountains of food and, since today, snow to post this last chapter.

BlackGryphon101, I managed to include the Fujitora and Sengoku part... I hope I did it justice :D Credit goes to you for reminding me about them xD

Hopefully, the ending does everything justice too o3o

I feel pretty sad that this fic is over, even if I finished it for a long time now sniff

On another note, for those who have read The Reverie did not see it coming, you'll have a little surprise next year! .3.

And some other OP fics will pop up too xD

So with everything said, I wish you Happy New Years! ^^

Reviews and Feedback are loved!