Luffy was, for the lack of a better word, worried. He had been sitting on Merry's head for some minutes while thinking that nothing was going according to his first plan and now trying to sort out everything. But man, was it boring to think!

What had gone wrong:

1) his crew found out they were from the future, which wasn't meant to happen.

2) he was going to meet Whitebeard in person and staying there for god knows how long, because he didn't know the exact day of murder.

3) he was going to let Zoro get the crew on Grand Line alone.

4) his crew would undoubtedly want to take part in the war as soon as they had their memories. And Luffy had the feeling Zoro was going to cut him in two were he to not give the crew their memories.

Luffy pouted, tired by all that thinking. It just wasn't his style. Oh well, he'd just let everything play out itself.

"Minna! I'm ready!" Luffy called, and soon the whole crew was there. Nami was still worried, Ussop and Sanji seemed uneasy while Zoro yawned. Luffy caught Nami's stiffened form and frowned. He didn't like it when his friends were sad.

"Nami, don't worry." He reassured her and Nami looked up. "We are from the future, and Zoro is the greatest swordsman in the world. If he could be beaten by ones like Arlong-"

"I'd drown myself." Zoro cut him off. Seriously, beaten by Arlong? Like he was gonna let that happen. Mihawk would have his head.

Nami smiled, seeming more confident. She had almost forgotten that fact. "Okay, now that that's done, let's get back to you. Even if I'm still completely against the idea and still think you're out of your mind for even thinking this... Are you ready?" She asked sweetly.

Luffy nodded excitedly. Then his eyes widened as he remembered something. "Oh right!" He said as he took out what the crew recognized as Mihawk's vivre card. He reached it at Zoro, who raised a curious eyebrow.

"When we go save Ace, you'll need to...find your way there." He elaborated, also enjoying the frown on Zoro's face, who knew where his captain was going with that. "Mihawk is gonna be there, so this is the best way to have you not getting lost."

"Your death will be slow and painful." Zoro threatened, but accepted the paper, while Luffy laughed, knowing full well that Zoro didn't mean the threat at all. Luffy took some steps back, forming a safe distance from the crew and went into Gear Second position.

"Well then, Zoro, I'm counting on you!" Luffy called as his body became red and started steaming. The crew watched in awe as his legs became black and started growing larger, which wasn't something you saw everyday. They could also see that Luffy was struggling, as his body was sweating bullets and his veins were visible. In a blink of eye, their captain turned around, now facing the ocean and shot up at an incredible spee, leaving behind a cracked floor and a wave of air that nearly sent the past trio flying away.

"He left." Zoro murmured to himself. "Hope he doesn't really fall on the ocean." He then turned at the rest of them who were still gaping at the direction Luffy flew off.

"Okay, we are going to reach our destination soon, so be ready yo fight." Ordered the first mate. The trio snapped out of their awe and nodded determinately.

Luffy did not like this technique. He did not like the wind nearly cutting his body and he did not expect for the fact that he was on a moving ship to slow down his depart. Now he was going to crash on the reverse mountain or any island near it and his vision was blurred because of that stupid wind! Oh well, he should have been used to it by now. Used to the fact that every damn thing he planned wouldn't play out like he wanted it to!

'If this is some kind of side effect of Roger's time travel and he is up there laughing his head off, then I swear to any god I can think of that I'll find a way to make him pay for good!' Luffy thought aggravated. (A/N: And isn't it unfair of me to pin my fault on Roger? *evil grin*)

Luffy narrowed his eyes and put a hand in front of his face, so he could block the wind and have a better view of what was in front of him. Suddenly, he caught sight of an island. A very familiar island at that, where he had quite the memories. That certain island where it all began...and where it ended.

Luffy crashed head on, in the middle of the city, on the most famous island in the world.

"That was unexpected." Luffy said, as he got up slowly and dusted his clothes, totally ignoring the startled crowd he had unconsciously gathered. He grinned. "I didn't think I'd land on Lougtown of all places."

Zoro yawned. Again. He was waiting in front of Arlobg Park along with Sanji and Ussop for Nami to come back from her village so he could kick Arlong's ass and be done with it. But no! The villagers just had to form a revolution in order to take down Arlong and Nami just had to try to stop them, so now he and the rest had to wait until said villagers reached here.

"Ne, Zoro." Began nervously Ussop. Zoro looked at him. "How difficult do you think this fight will be?" He asked and Zoro tapped his chin in thought.

"Well...really easy for me, medium for you." He replied, making Ussop sigh in relief. "But you'll have to take down one of his elite officers, too." Zoro added, remembering that was what had happened last time.

Ussop yelped in shock. Him? Fighting a fishman? Was Zoro out of it? "Are you kidding?" He yelled, sounding scared. "You two are enough to deal with them!"

Zoro glared at him. "You are a straw hat pirate." He announced, sure Ussop didn't understand the weigh of that title, judging by the way he flinched. "And right now, one of our friends is in danger. Will you just sit aside and let it happen? They are four elites together with Arlong, how do you expect me and the cook to hold all of them in the same time, while also protecting the villagers?"

Ussop looked down in shame, remembering how they had fought when Kuro had threatened his village. He looked up at Zoro and nodded fiercely. Zoro smirked in satisfition.

Ussop then remembered something. "Hey, Zoro, what did you mean by 'protect the villagers' ?" He asked and Sanji, who was listening in, also looked at the swordsman for explanation. Zoro was about to answer when he felt the auras of said villagers and his nakama nearing them.

He smirked again and pointed at the direction opposite to them. "I meant that." He simply said. They turned to see a crowd of people armed with swords, guns and other weapons., with Nami leading them, a fire burning in her eyes. Genzo, who was the closest to Nami, leaned to her and whispered.

"Nami? Were you expecting someone?" Nami grinned in response as she gestured at the trio of pirates. "These guys are my crew mates. They'll beat Arlong good." She declared and said 'guys' stood up and approached the group. It was the Doctor of the village that asked the question they were all wondering.

"Who are you lot?" Zoro smirked as he took out a sword and shot it on the ground, his hand resting on its shelter. Sanji and Ussop stood at both his sides, straightening as Zoro introduced them.

"We are the Straw Hat Pirates, here in order of our captain to take down Arlong Park." Zoro declared proudly, thinking about his idiotic captain and how he must have given the villagers the image of a powerful man instead of an equally powerful idiotic, cheerful teenager.

The villagers looked at them in surprise. News spread like wild fire after all. Nearly all of East Blue knew about their triumph against Don Krieg with relative ease and how a rookie pirate was able to injure the greatest swordsman, Mihawk. They had built quite the reputation.

Luffy wandered around Lougtown, searching for some place he didn't get to enjoy last time. Yes, he was searching for the execution platform. And strangely enough, he ran to the same person that told him where the platform was last time.

"Whoa! It's Smokey!" Luffy thought, feeling glad he met his marine rival. "Wow, he doesn't look like an old man now."

"Hey there, marine guy." Luffy called to Smoker while waving his hands. "Would you mind showing me the way to the execution platform?"

Smoker's face remained unchanged, as serious as ever. "Why do you want to know where the platform is?" He asked calmly.

Luffy grinned, his eyes shadowed by his hat. "I want to see it." He stated simply. "The place where the greatest pirate to ever live...died. Died a honorable death."

Smoker had to admit he was a bit taken aback. The kid didn't look older than 17, he couldn't have known how Roger died, and certainly not simple people would use the words 'Roger' and 'honorable' in the same sentence.

"Hoooh? And why do you say so, boy?" Questioned the marine, feeling a little curious about the kid's answer. Luffy grinned, his face had such a big smile and Smoker could have sworn he had seen that smile somewhere else. But where...?

"Because... He died smiling." Luffy replied. "He lived without regrets, he had what most people nowadays haven't. Freedom."

Smoker was baffled, but only a bit of his shock was shown by his wide eyes. He took a step back, as in front of the smiling straw hat, now was the image of a powerful pirate in Smoker's eyes.

'His smile...' Smoker's thoughts trailed off, as his smoke unconsciously directed the boy towards the platform. Luffy thanked Smoker, who only could only stare at the kid's back as he ran. 'I have more than 20 years without seeing a smile like that. Just who is that kid...?'

"Hey kid!" Luffy stopped and turned around when he was called.

"Yes?"

"What's your name?" The marine asked. Luffy stared for a moment, before grinning widely.

"Monkey D. Luffy." And with that, he was off. Smoker stood there, staring again at the kid. 'A D. again, kah?'

A/N: hey guys! Now, I made the smiling part here because I'm not going to have Luffy smile while being almost executed. And I want to know if you want the battle with Arlong to be long or cut it short to the fun parts. I personally think it's not worth it, as Arlong goes saying how they should bow before fishmen and how fishmen are higher creatures and such and it really pisses me off. So, I'm thinking of not having much of it. The east blue arc is boring, so I thought to make it over soon, but Luffy won't miss his bounty, no. He'll have it by now. So please let me now what you think! And yes, I edited.