To MawVax: Thanks for the reviews! And don't worry, I like the caps! I hope you like this chapter as well!
Flashback chapter.
The battle had ended. The captain was in his way to the famous last island, Raftel, to find the One Piece. But, it doesn't mean anything now.
Luffy had considered stopping. Yes, he had considered giving up on finding the One Piece and becoming Pirate King. After that damned Yonko beast had killed everyone expect Zoro, he had been broken. His eyes had lost that cheerful, happy glint that he was known for. If Zoro hadn't been there to help ease the pain in his heart, maybe he could have even pulled the trigger. That's what he was thinking as he sat on the figurehead of his ship, the straw hat laying quietly on his red captain coat.
As always, the words of his first mate had him think again. 'They wanted you to be Pirate King, don't let them die in vain' he had said. But what did it matter? He had become wiser and now when he thought back, he almost laughed humorlessly at the idiot he had been. How much can loss change people
"Captain, we have arrived." Zoro's words broke Luffy's train of thoughts. Of course Zoro would stay strong! He had accomplished his dream and now was helping his captain's.
The batted Thousands Sunny stopped. The anchor fell down. Luffy jumped and felt the sand of the island beneath his sandals. This wasn't how he had pictured it. No, the search for the One Piece was supposed to thrill him. He was supposed to be laughing in excitement! Cause his crew was supposed to be with him.
Suddenly, Luffy stopped. Zoro stopped with him, looking up at his captain.
"Captain, what's wrong?" He asked, his hand reaching for his white sword, ready to counter attack if necessary.
Luffy though, was spinning his head right and left, likely searching with his eyes for something in the endless trees. What was that? The feeling, it rushed through Luffy's body, making his hair run up.
"Did you feel it?" He asked Zoro, his voice measured and quiet, as though someone would hear him.
Zoro raised an eyebrow. His Observation Haki was activated as soon as he neared the island, it never hurt to be cautious. But he hadn't felt anything out of ordinary since he entered the island. Now that he thought about it, it sriked him as odd. This WAS Raftel, after all.
Luffy didn't wait for his first mate's answer and just kept scanning the area...until his eyes fell on a strange cave. It looked so out of place, that it would be noticed immediately, but strangely Luffy had almost missed it.
"Zoro, stay here. I'll be right back." Luffy said and after Zoro's nod, he walked towards the cave. With each step, Luffy felt the feeling grow stronger. Determined, he entered the cave. It wasn't dark, as outside was broad daylight, though it was quite deep. Luffy walked further inside, unaware of the spirit lurking around there.
The soul of Gol D. Roger floated some feet away from the upcoming captain. He couldn't help but notice the straw hat that the young man wore. Roger was delighted. Finally someone had been able to find the One Piece!
'But...Those eyes of his.' Roger thought with a frown, as the black orbs studied the lifeless eyes of Luffy. Roger thought he would test Luffy, if he was or was not worth the world's greatest treasure.
Luffy stopped and blinked at the sudden image. In front of him showed a mountain of gold, jewels and diamonds. Roger was eager to know the kid's, cause that's what he was to Roger a kid, reaction towards the material treasure. Luffy blinked again, before a small, sad smile appeared in his face. Roger stared, as Luffy used a treasure chest as a chair or stool and took in his hands some gemstones and played with them as if they were mere rocks. The gold didn't interest him at all!
"Nami would have loved to be here." Roger heard him say softly, with a hint of melancholy. Roger saddened.
"What has happened to you, boy?" He asked quietly...not expecting to be heard. Roger froze when Luffy's head snapped up, looking around till his eyes landed on Roger's transparent form, making his mouth get as wide as his rubber ability let him.
"A-A g-ghost!" The dark haired teen exlaimed, pointing at Roger who couldn't help but chuckle. It seemed this kid was the one to inherit the Will Of D.
"You can see me kid?" He asked, although he knew the answer. Luffy rubbed his eyes, disbelief evident and Roger had to admit, his shocked face was much better than his broken one. "So, I think we should introduce ourselves properly. I am Gol D. Roger, former Pirate King."
If possible, Luffy's eyes widened even more along with his mouth. "You're the Pirate King?!"
Roger laughed hard. Really, this was quite fun. It seemed that the kid believed this all was true. Well, back to the matter in hands.
"So, you're my little successor?" Luffy furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.
"I'm not Pirate King, I haven't found the One Piece." He pointed out.
"But this is Raftel, and if you see me, it means you have founded the One Piece." He reminded him and Luffy shrugged, not really understanding but accepting whatever Roger's spirit was saying. Roger approached Luffy, who was now standing and only a few feet away. "Tell me, kid. What's your name?"
Luffy grinned, though his grin was not as bright as before. "I'm Monkey D. Luffy! Nice to meet ya!" Roger blinked at the awfully familiar surname.
"Monkey D.? Any relation with Garp, the marine hero?" He asked and Luffy paled at the mention of his grandpa.
"You know Ji-chan?!" Well, it's not like he wasn't stupid anymore, he was still very clueless about the world. Meanwhile, Roger was laughing hard at the irony.
"You are Garp the Fist's grandson and you became Pirate King?! Gwahahahahah!" Luffy still shook from fear, his childhood memories rushing through him and quickly asked the previous Pirate King to change the subject. Roger understood full well that Garp wasn't the best with children and likely had terrorized the poor child, so he decided to change the subject.
"It seems the gold doesn't interest you." He simply said, while Luffy remained silent. "Why did you sail out at sea? Why did you want to become Pirate King?" He asked after a small pause, curious to hear the reason. Luffy's eyes, he noticed, became sad again. No, not sad...Empty.
"I...Wanted to be free." He said slowly, like his body was there but not his soul. "Freer than anyone else. I believed the Pirate King had the most freedom in the world. That's what drove me forward. That's what sent me here."
Roger was startled by the answer. He hadn't expected his reason to be that. There's no more doubt in his heart. This kid was the heir of the Will of D. This kid could change the world. No, the history.
"Are you?" He asked, then seeing the confusion in the younger's face, he added one word. "Free?"
Luffy's lips curled in a bitter smile. "No." Roger's shoulders stiffened at the hurt and pain in that single word. "My crew helped me be free. Now that they're not here, I think I've lost my wings. Without wings, the bird can't fly free in the blue."
Roger understood. That was the hardest and most painful thing to take for a captain who called his crew family. To lose them. The kid was broken, Roger knew. But it seems he had to fix it.
'Then he should really change the history.' Roger decided and asked another question. "Do you know why my treasure's name is One Piece?"
Luffy looked surprised at the sudden, rather odd question. Looking straight into Roger's arms, he shook his head no.
"It means that it allows you to take one piece of the world, meaning one wish, one chance, one change. As selfish as it sounds, that's why it's called One Piece, to give you the opportunity to shape the world as you want it. That's the power of my treasure." Roger explained.
Luffy stared in disbelief. Was that really true? But what could he possibly...
Roger spoke again, he wasn't quite finished. "But you can do more." He says. "With my help, you can have the power to change the universe's order. The time's order."
Roger grinned and Luffy finally understood where he was going. His whole body shook in astonishment as the last words of hope left the older captain's mouth.
"To travel back in time."
Silence settled after the words of the late Pirate King. Luffy thought about the ridiculousness of that statement, but also about the endless doors it opened for him. His crew would be safe. He would be able to save so many people!
"Are-Are you serious?" He asked, just wanting to make sure. Roger grinned like always.
"Of course I am." He answered. Luffy narrowed his eyes when something clicked inside his head. He said that he would be able to go back in time if Roger helped. That meaning-
"What's in for you?" Luffy found himself asking "You said that I could time travel if you helped. Why would you do that for me? What do you want in return?"
Roger blinked at the sudden questions. Then he thought it was quite obvious for the boy to be suspicious. Oh well, if he wanted to do something in return for Roger, then Roger didn't even need to think about what he would ask.
Roger held out his hand, which was swallowed by golden light and Luffy could see there was something appearing. When the light was gone, there was a silver pendant. The bottle had the form of a "D."
"What's that pendant for?" Luffy asked curiously, as Roger walked towards him and Luffy allowed the man to tie the pendant around his neck.
"Remember to always keep it with you." Roger said and then stated his request. "Please, this is all I'm asking you. Please save my son."
Luffy froze at those words and his eyes widened once again. His head shot up towards Roger so fast it would be a blur to normal people. How could he have forgotten at a time like THAT?!
"You...You are Ace's dad...right?" Now it was Roger's turn to stare in surprise.
"You know my son?" The question almost made Luffy laugh. Did he know Roger's son! Go and ask the marines that were on the War of the Best that.
"Yes, I knew Ace. He was my adoptive big brother." Luffy explained and Roger gaped at him. Small world, indeed. Roger mentally face palmed.
'Of course he'd be Ace's adoptive brother! He is Garp's grandson for crying out loud! God, I hope those two didn't have too much problems growing up together. With the blood they share, I wouldn't be worried, but for all I know Garp could have given the duo to bandits to raise!'
Roger shook his head at the impossibility of that thought. He then laughed gleefully and patted Luffy's head, the latter finding that weird.
"So that means you're also a son of mine! Okay, then I am assured that you'll save your brother. So, can we continue to the next step?"
Luffy slipped into captain mode and narrowed his eyes. "Wait, hold on. What will happen to this time's people? Cause I can't abandon my first mate here alone. And at what time of the past do I get back to? And why did you give me this necklace?"
Roger sheepishly scratched the back of his head. "I didn't explain that to you, huh? Gwahahahaha! My fault!" He apologized and then turned serious, well, as serious as Roger could get. "The future as you know will disappear. The people's souls will be transported into their younger selves' bodies, but will be put into sleep. You can give your crew their memories using Haki, cause the King's Haki you are sure to have represents your heart. Also, your first mate can come back with you since the beginning and don't worry about what time you will go back. Leave it to me."
Luffy kept nodding during the whole explaination, taking in and processing the information. Luffy noticed that Roger hadn't answered the last question, so he simply said.
"The pendant?" Roger grinned evilly and leaned closer to whisper something in Luffy's ear. Luffy's eye widened and his face grew pale, while Roger leaned back with an evil grin, no. Evil smirk.
"S-s-seriously...?" Luffy managed to take out and Roger nodded. Luffy was ready to fall down.
Zoro was waiting outside patiently, wondering what was taking Luffy so long. When his captain finally came out, Zoro thought he was hallucinating. There was no other way to explain the wrecked, impossibly big grin that was almost identical with the one he had years ago, if not bigger. Zoro hadn't seen Luffy grin like that since they lost Chopper, who was the first to die in the battle.
When Luffy came out, he also felt another presence that seemed to follow his captain till he was in front of Zoro.
"Luffy...Explain." Zoro simply said as Luffy grinned harder. He put a hand on Zoro's shoulder, squeezing it lightly and not letting go. Meanwhile, the presence was now between them, feeling stronger.
"Well, my dearest, greatest first mate." Luffy started and Zoro immediately knew something was up. And that something was BIG. So Luffy started explaining about the conversation he had with Roger and Zoro, too caught up in Luffy's speech, didn't notice them being surrounded by golden light and slowly turning transparent. He remembered Luffy's last words before the light became blinding white.
"We are going to the past, back to gain what we once lost."
A/N: Sorry but I needed to do this flashback chapter so the readers could get what happened when he reached Raftel. I am positive that this flashback was needed, so please don't kill me!