They were sprawled across the deck, soaking up the waning afternoon sun with full bellies and contented sighs. They could still hear Thatch's pleads for mercy as he was chased across the ship by angry chefs, their stomping footsteps causing a light tremble to vibrate across the ship. Luffy was still giggling, his eyes following the noise of panicked cries and shouts of ignorance. Ace let a smile play across his face, more relaxed the longer he spent on the ship and observed the crew's antics. He was glad things worked out the way they did, having an emperor on their side, Luffy's side, essentially assured his safety. He could care less about what happened to him, but he still promised his brother he wouldn't die so he begrudgingly admitted it was a good thing for him too. Ace didn't necessarily want to die, he just knew the world was most likely better off without him. Luffy stopped giggling and turned to him, eyes darkening and frown pulling at the edges of his lips. Ace swallowed and glanced away, tugging the brim of his hat down to hide his face as his cheeks colored in shame.

He and Sabo didn't quite know how Luffy was so in tune with them, they contemplated mind reading but that didn't fit quite right either. He glanced down when he saw Luffy shuffle over to him, laying his head comfortably in his lap and closing his eyes to continue basking in the golden rays of the sun. It was times like this that made Ace think Luffy was always something more, something expansive and vaster than he or Sabo could ever hope to understand. His heart remained calm and Ace slotted his fingers through Luffy's hair, eyes softening. He decided long ago that it didn't matter, and even if he didn't value his own life, Luffy did. That was more than enough for him to want to live. For his little brother that looked at him like he hung the stars rather than spawned from the fires of hell itself.

"Ace thinks too much," Luffy mumbled, eye opening to stare up at him, unbothered by the sunlight beaming directly into his face. He just smiled and gave a light tug to his hair, ignoring Sabo's knowing look. Ace looked towards the ocean, watching the waves lap gently and part across the ship. Remembering Luffy's otherness brought questions to mind, some he had been pondering since the conversation they had in the medical bay that morning.

"Hey Luffy," Ace spoke, eyes flickering from the waves to his little brother. "If your mom is the ocean, why don't you have any way to control water?" The thought made sense to him, plenty of powers in the world could be inherited. Ever since Luffy said he had to ask the water, his mother, to do anything, he had become curious as to why. He and Sabo had always figured that Luffy would control water, he talked to sea kings after all. He supposed it was their fault for not asking after so many years.

Wide eyes stared at him for a moment before closing from the force of the grin stretching across rubbery cheeks. He sat up from his lap abruptly and Ace immediately missed the contact but refrained from reaching out. Luffy turned to face him fully, legs crossed under him as he laughed.

"Shishishi, silly Ace! It's mom's job to control the sea!" Luffy spread his arms out, the sun beaming down on him and lighting his figure up in a golden sheen. "Besides, I belong in the sky!"

And that just made no sense. Ace scratched his head, dumbfounded. He glanced over to Sabo who looked equally as confused and resigned himself to not getting a proper answer. Luffy had always been like that with these aspects of his heritage, though Ace was pretty sure he didn't do it on purpose. Luffy understood what he was saying so obviously everyone else should get it immediately too. He groaned and tugged his hair, hat falling back as he tilted his head up towards the sky and wondered how a sea child could belong there.

"But you're in the water most of the time!" Sabo blurted out from his left, his curiosity getting the best of him even if he knew his question wouldn't be answered.

"Well yeah," Luffy tilted his head, eyes sliding over to watch the rolling sea. "Mom's way older, and she says I'm still too little. So she likes to keep me close until I'm me again."

Ace decided to let his frustration out on Sabo by smacking him on the back, eyes accusing. "See, now I'm even more lost!"

Luffy's laughter drowned out Sabo's dejected apology and soon, Ace found himself forgetting about the conversation.


xxx

Marco took a quiet step back, brows furrowed at the conversation he just overheard. His mind was racing, possible answers slotting themselves into place, yet they seemed too ridiculous to seem feasible. His feet were leading him back to the front of the ship even as he tried to organize his thoughts. Ace called the ocean Luffy's mother and Marco wanted to believe that it was a nickname, possibly a way to identify her if she were as wanted as Luffy seemed to be. The theory didn't sit right with him, something nagging at the back of his mind shouting to him that it was wrong. Devil fruits were hated by the ocean and he had yet to see one that could control something so vast and everlasting. When pop's chair came into view he didn't hesitate to jump onto the armrest, his pops easily shifting and helping him up to perch on his shoulder. His brothers and sisters made fun of him for leaning towards his bird instincts and perching on his father, but that was hardly the reason. Though it gave him a good excuse so he played along, not wanting to admit the safety he felt up on his shoulder was from everything but due to his devil fruit.

"You seem troubled," Whitebeard's voice was low and Marco felt the vibration of it travel from his chest to his legs. He wasn't surprised he was read so easily, his father had raised him since he was young, and he wasn't really trying to hide. There wasn't one thing he would hide from the man that had saved him from a life of anger and despair.

"I overheard the boys talking," he leaned forward and whispered in his ears, eyes flicking from him to the back of the ship to see if he had been followed. No one came. Pops didn't say anything, just gave him a long, searching look before nodding slowly, as if bracing himself for the news. A part of Marco wondered at how much his father knew sometimes, because even now it seemed like he understood what Marco was going to say would irrevocably change things in their lives. The knowledge sat heavier on his shoulders and he pursed his lips, making sure to quote them directly in case he had missed something in his own interpretation.

"Luffy…. If your mom is the ocean, why don't you have any way to control water" Marco opened his eyes as he finished speaking and he could see his father understood what he had said. The muscles of his pop's shoulders grew tense and he felt unnaturally still under Marco's body.

"What else?" Whitebeard's voice was calm and neutral but Marco could feel something terribly wrong brewing in the backdrop of his mind. Instincts recoiling at some hidden signal he hadn't been able to see. He swallowed his spit, blue eyes wearily taking in his father's stony face as he continued.

"Luffy didn't deny it, but he just…laughed and said he belonged in the sky?" Marco wasn't sure how he was supposed to say that in a serious tone but he managed. His father remained tense under him for a moment longer before he relaxed and threw his head back to laugh. Marco jolted, scrambling for purchase on his giant shoulder so he wouldn't be thrown off as they bounced in his mirth. His father's laughter was loud and others stopped by to smile over at them, content in the joy they could hear in the older man's voice. Marco waited patiently for it to pass, still lost as to why it made him laugh so hard. As his chuckles died down several minutes later Whitebeard took a chug of his drink, swirling the bottle a bit before downing the rest.

"Tell me, Marco. How long has it been since Oden has passed?"

He frowned, knowing full well that Whitebeard knew exactly how long it had been but answered anyways. "15 years, yoi."

The giant man rubbed at his chin, eyes growing distant as he looked towards the horizon. "So, it has been." The sad smile that etched itself on his face made Marco's heart stutter, his own face contorting in pain at the memory.

"Why?" He didn't receive an answer for a while and Marco made himself comfortable, slouching forward and resting his elbows on his knees, idly observing the activity on the deck.

"How about I tell them a story, and you come to your own conclusions? I fear my judgement might be skewed."

Marco frowned, knowing full well his pops was hardly ever wrong but acquiesced anyways. "Alright, I'll get them."


xxx

Sabo dragged a reluctant Ace along as Luffy skipped ahead with Marco, pointing at random things and no doubt talking his ears off. He wasn't worried about the captain's request to see them, but he was apprehensive. It was hard to hide anything around Whitebeard and while the man never pushed, Sabo still got the feeling that he knew more than they wanted him to. The three of them stopped in front of the giant chair, Marco splitting off and jumping up to settle himself on Whitebeards shoulder, nearly fading into the background by the captain's presence.

"I was told you might like stories?" Whitebeard grinned down at him and Sabo saw Luffy's eyes light up, instantly hooked. His vigorous nod made the pirate chuckle and gesture for them to come closer. "Then have you heard about the crowing of the pirate king?"

Luffy hummed and made a seesaw gesture with his hands. "Uhm kind of? Dad never went into that much detail." A grip split Luffy's face and he bounced where he stood. "Ohoooh! You have to tell us!" He flailed his arms and Sabo dodged a rubbery limb that missed him and smacked Ace in the face.

"He's told you so little it seems!" Whitebeard rubbed at his chin, grin on his face as he looked down at them. "Make yourselves comfortable, I have a story to tell you."

Luffy cheered and threw his hands up in excitement before flinging them forward, deciding that Whitebeard's lap was the most comfortable place he could find. Sabo likely thought it was also so he wouldn't miss any of the man's story, knowing his little brother practically lived off them. He wondered if this would be one Luffy didn't know, since his mother had a habit of whispering in his ears when she could, filling his imagination with tales of the world.

Ace huffed and dropped down next to him, content to sit at the captain's feet and lean on his back, arms behind his head. He glanced at Sabo and tapped the space next to him, "C'mon already. You know we won't be able to leave until Luffy's had his fill." Sabo could see the stiffness of his brother's features and frowned, knowing this was something that Ace had a hard time hearing. It was easier now than it had been, Luffy's love for him nearly taking away the darkness in his heart, but it was still there, and Sabo hated to think that it would never truly go away.

He laughed and nodded, accepting the fact that it was and sat next to his brother, tilting his head up to watch Luffy's smiling face as Whitebeard began.

"The pirate king, Gol D. Roger was the freest man that I knew." Sabo winced and took a quick glance at Ace, laying a reassuring hand on his shoulder and pursing his lips at how stiff he was.

"He was my greatest rival, but a man I deeply respected..." Whitebeard went on and regaled them about who he thought Roger was, his character and his worth as a man. Sabo could nearly feel Ace's confusion, but Luffy didn't bat an eye. His baby brother smiled fondly, like he had heard of the man before from someone who cherished him.

"And before his death, he found the greatest treasure to ever exist." Sabo found himself leaning forward, eyes going wide as the story gripped him. Even Ace who had been stiff and simmering was paying rapt attention, eyes narrowed against the sun as he stared at the pirate captain. Luffy was vibrating in his seat, eyes wide and smile straining his cheeks. His hat was clutched in his hands, gripping it like his life depended on it.

"Is that how he became king?" Ace blurted out next to him and sat up, lips between his teeth.

Whitebeard hummed and shook his head, "not quite. It takes more than finding a treasure to become king. He was well respected and it was along his journey that it occurred. Of course, navigating the world also meant he had conquered all there was to be."

Luffy's noises of awe lightened Sabo's heart and he wasn't quite willing to let this time slip by so easily if it made his brother so happy. He dredged up a memory, keeping the conversation going. "It's the One Piece, right? The greatest treasure in the world? Supposedly on the last island of the grandline?"

Luffy snapped his head towards him, smile falling off his face for a moment and Sabo wondered if he asked something he shouldn't have. If Whitebeard noticed Luffy's change in mood he didn't mention it.

"Roger always said he was the one to rediscover it. And even if that in of itself didn't make him king, that's when no one could deny it any more."

"So finding the One Piece makes you king to everyone else?" Ace rolled his eyes and leaned back, supporting his weight with his hands. "What a lame way to be crowned."

Luffy's low laughter drew his attention away from Ace and he quirked a brow when he saw his little brother with his hands covering his face, a glimpse of his wide smile through his fingers. His shoulders were shaking and he finally threw his head back, eyes closed in mirth as he moved his hands to clutch his sides. Sabo blinked, surprised and unsure of what he found so funny, but knowing Luffy it could have been anything.

"Lu?" Luffy didn't respond, his laughter only grew louder and so boisterous that his entire body shook with each roar. Whitebeard was looking down at him, amused, but there was something in his eyes that made Sabo uncomfortable, something knowing.

"Luffy?" He tried again, standing up and walking closer to Whitebeard. Tiptoeing to grab at his brother's leg and hopefully ground him.

"That's so funny!" His brother wheezed out.

Ace gave an annoyed huff from behind him and Sabo could hear the scowl in his voice. "What's so damn funny?

Luffy finally turned to look at them, eyes glistening with tears and cheeks red with exertion. "I'm just happy that's not all it takes to be king!"

"Ehh?" Ace shoved Sabo out of his way and grabbed at Luffy, pulling at a rubbery cheek, uncaring that they were practically sprawling themselves over the giant captain's legs. "Why? I thought you'd be more upset, it's more work!"

Luffy nodded in agreement, "Yeah it is!" He seemed happy about it and Sabo got the foreboding feeling that he was about to say something he couldn't talk his baby brother out of. Before he could get a sound out of his lips Luffy spoke again through his chuckling.

"That would be so lame! I already know where my treasure is!"

He heard Ace's sharp intake of breath just as his stomach dropped. He swallowed and gripped Luffy roughly, finally getting him down and chuckling nervously.

"Yeah-" His voice came out choked and Sabo subtly tried to force it to come out even. "Yeah, you sure do it's in the cafeteria right?" That sounded lame even to his ears and Ace's visible cringe made Sabo self-conscious. He stilled then, noting that Whitebeard hadn't said a word and he hesitantly glanced up at him. His hands were holding the bridge of his nose, eyes closed as he rubbed at the skin there. Sabo's breath was frozen in his chest, heart stuttering when he saw Whitebeard open his eyes. There was a knowing look there, the kind one got when their long time hunch had been confirmed. He swallowed, forcing himself to breathe and tensing for a fight. Whitebeard blinked and a weight was lifted off his shoulders when the man gave him a kind, knowing smile.

"Go find Thatch and he'll show you to your room." It was a solid dismissal and Sabo bowed stiffly before forcing his brothers away, finally glad that they followed without a fight. He was grateful for the easy out but knew this would not be the end of the conversation.


xxx

Rayleigh sat in the shadows of a resin tree, high on a branch where the popping of the bubbles echoed louder. Moonlight cut harsh lines where the leaves weren't enough to block and he found himself unconsciously leaning away from it. Like any light would burn at his skin and forcibly fester up unwanted memories. His hands were bandaged and cupped a bottle of sake, grip weak in his drunkenness. He could almost hear Roger's disappointment in his thoughts, piercing through the silence of the night and digging into his mind. Or maybe it was the look Shanks was leveling at him from the other side of the branch, knowing and flat. In contrast to him, Shanks was doused in moonlight, red hair nearly white under the blinding sheen. He was still drinking too and part of Rayleigh felt justified in his own lack of sobriety. Like he wasn't the only one who couldn't deal with the emotions crawling up and threatening to consume him.

Shanks didn't seem to hide away from it like him, instead festering in his anger and worry. Like earlier when Shanks told him that the moon was just the reflection of the sun, he gladly stepped into the light that Ray wanted to distance himself from. It felt undeserved in a way, like every step he took into the light was a betrayal to his captain's dream. The logical part of him knew that wasn't it, that he could live for them both, but it felt wrong having to do so. He took another swing of his drink, lips pressing into a hard line when he found it empty.

Shanks offered him his own and Rayleigh wondered if he should be enabled like this. He would never get over his captain's death, but he thought he had at least managed to somewhat move on. And in a way he had, by burying the emotions and telling himself he would deal with it the day the prophecy came. Which now that he thought about it, wasn't quite lining up with what they had been told. He glanced over to Shanks who had his head tilted back, eyes closed and face taking in the light of the moon.

"How do you know?" His voice was rough from booze and dehydration, but he powered through. "That it's him?" Ray watched as Shanks opened his eyes, red glowing oddly as he turned to face him. He reached up towards his head, grasping at a hat that was no longer there and smiled fondly, the anger that creased his face momentarily receding.

"I had no clue at first, when I gave him captain's hat." His voice was low and Rayleigh almost had to lean forward to hear him past the popping bubbles. It had been the first thing he noticed about Shanks, the lack of the straw hat. He didn't question it though, knowing the younger man treasured it above all and would fight tooth and nail to keep it safe. So now, to hear that he had given it away had him invested.

"He was just some kid, the kind you see all the time when you dock and they have no fear to them, no sense of what it really means to be a pirate. They want to hear all about grand adventure and what's out there, and Luffy did too. But," Shanks paused, dropping his hand from his head and staring up at the moon. "There was something to him besides how odd he was. Something pulling me in and grounding me, like it was a place that I knew I could always return to. Like I would never be judged."

Rayleigh swallowed and shifted closer, letting the moonlight cast its blanket over his form. He didn't miss the kid's name, Luffy, and how Shanks was referring to him and Nika being one in the same. "What made him odd? He was just a kid, right?"

Shanks let a genuine smile settle on his face and he closed his eyes, clearly lost in memory. "Yeah, it's hard to explain, but I think you'll understand when you meet him." He ran a hand through his crimson hair, letting it fall through his fingers. "But for the sake of trying, I guess you could say…" Shanks trailed off and let out a chuckle as he shook his head at a silent joke. "Luffy's warm, bright, hard to miss and even harder to hide. He's like the sun in human form and I guess now that I really think about it, that makes sense."

Rayleigh noted the hint of pride in Shanks' voice, at the way his shoulders eased ever so slightly and wondered who Luffy was to him. "You sound awfully fond of the boy, Luffy." He tasted the name on his lips and found himself smiling at how easy it flowed off the tongue.

Shanks threw a smirk at him, the silent fury in his eyes returning along with a surge of protectiveness. "Of course, I love my son."

Rayleigh thought back to the time on the Oro Jackson, how he and Roger were fiercely protective of their boys and how they would have turned the world upside down for their sake. Sure they had made mistakes and some dug into his heart as regrets now, but he would never regret loving them. Now looking at Shanks, he could see the same kind of fire in his eyes, if not more so, since his was backed by the sting of failure.

"I left him on that little island in the East Blue, I wanted to take him so fucking bad Ray. I couldn't stand it. I stayed there for a year and every day I tried to convince myself to go." Shanks' face darkened and the slightest slip of his haki buffeted across Rayleigh's senses. "And now the fucking marines are out for him just because he's different, just because of how he was born." The rage in Shanks' voice leaked into the air and despite himself, Ray felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, warning him of danger.

It made sense now, why Luffy would be presumed dead if he didn't respond. If the government was after him then it would be quite difficult for a young boy to escape their grasp. That begged the question though, if Shanks was so concerned then why was he here? He asked as much, wondering at how he could bare to sit on his hands and wait while the world government was after one of the only things Shanks treasured in this world.

"His mother, she can protect him better than I ever could." It was a simple statement, but it was loaded with so much more. Rayleigh's eyebrows rose into his hairline, hard-pressed to believe in someone stronger than the emperor.

Shanks saw his surprise and leaned forward, eyes intense and hand landing heavily on his shoulder. "Do you believe in gods, Ray?" Shanks eyebrows were drawn down in contemplation as he continued. "Nika, Joyboy, they're a different class of things we can't explain, people so great in magnitude that the world itself had to band together to lock them away." Shanks closed his eyes and a frown carved itself onto his face, his fists clenching and gripping his shoulder in a bruising hold. "Because I think they were gods."

Rayleigh leaned back, a sigh leaving his lips as he gripped his chin in thought. It was an idea he and Roger had considered before, when they were both drunk and trying to forget the events of a particularly harsh day. Almost similar to how he and Shanks were now.

"Sometimes I want to, it's nice I think, to believe in something more." He shrugged Shanks off him and took a sip of the sake, swirling it on his tongue and giving him another moment to gather his words. "But then I look around at the world and think I don't want them to be." Shanks nodded as if he understood, and Rayleigh was glad he didn't have to elaborate.

"I get it," Shanks paused and a bitter smile twisted on his face. "I believe in gods now, Rayleigh. And I know Nika had to have been one too, because no other word fits Luffy."

"You sound certain." Rayleigh was slightly surprised to hear such an admission from Shanks and it echoed in his voice. Shanks was intelligent and calculating, never one to rely on faith when the world provided enough answers.

The younger man ignored the jibe and he grabbed the bottle out of Rayleigh's hands, chugging the rest of it down and letting out a harsh breath. A savage grin stretched across his face and the moonlight manipulated it into something darker. "Luffy is in good hands, better than mine for now. His mother is as divine as him and far older, I doubt anything will be able to hurt Luffy in her domain."

"You've seen her then?" Rayleigh played along, a part of him wanting to believe just as badly as he didn't.

"You have too."

That gave him pause and he furrowed his brows, adjusting his posture on the thick branch he sat upon.

"Every day I bet." Shanks gestured towards the floor far, far down. Nodding to where he knew the shore was. "She's wild and vicious, uncaring of the status of men. Everyone drowns the same in her embrace."

Rayleigh wished Shanks' hadn't just finished off the bottle, because if what he was saying was true, then he was going to need more to drink.

"But don't take my word for it old man, you'll see."

That didn't give Rayleigh any reassurance.


xxx

Dragon stared out towards the sea, eyes catching the small raft that was slammed by harsh waves and threatened to capsize. He flexed his power, willing the winds to calm but there was little he could do against the raging ocean. The boat shattered into pieces in the next wave and Dragon gritted his teeth, feet at the edge of the shore and fists clenched at his side. A bulky figure emerged from the water and staggered as he tried to stand, fighting the currents that threatened to pull him back.

"Damnit stop! It's not my fault!" His father's voice fell flat with nothing to bounce off and the sea seemed to churn even harder in its anger. Garp stood fully, water drenching his form and dark clouds obscured his face, the lines of his cheekbones harsh against the little moonlight that broke through the clouds. Dragon made a conscious effort to unclench his hands, shoving them into his pockets and taking a deep breath as he met his father's gaze across the shore. His mouth tugged down in a sharp frown, taking in the bags under his eyes and the grey hair that now covered most of his head.

"Damnit Dragon," Garp's voice was annoyed, and his eyebrows were drawn down. He put one foot in front of another, water sloshing as he waded in. "Can't even help your old man get to shore?"

Dragon stayed firmly planted on the dry sand, eyes flicking down to the water that would consume him if he came close. Garp froze, waves smashing into his side as his face grew pale.

"You didn't-" He cut himself off and Dragon didn't respond, knowing his father would get the message easily enough when he had to take a step away from a wave that came too close.

"You fool."

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Hey! I felt bad about giving you guys such a short chapter so here's another! Thank you for your lovely reviews, they help the writing come along faster knowing that you enjoy the story. I read them all even if I don't reply (ff is weird with replies). But thank you so much! Happy April Fools!