Just to avoid any confusion, the first chapter shows Lucian as a famous pirate already(future setting). Chapter 2 is where the actual storyline begins. We go back in time to when Lucian was only 10 years old, and we will follow his journey as a pirate as he grows up. This chapter is sort of like a set-up chapter to set up the rest of the plot. It`s short and to the point. I`ll be posting Chapter 3 very quickly. But enjoy, and let me know what you all think.
Also, as you noticed, the beginning of the story will be set in Lucian`s POV, but later on in the story, I will introduce other characters' POVs.
Until then, enjoy!
Chapter 2: The South Blue Gem, Aragonia!
Over 13 years ago, Gol D. Roger, King of the Pirates, attained everything this world could offer.
Wealth, Fame, and Power.
Roger turned the world upside down and inspired what we now call the Golden Era of Piracy. After his execution in Loguetown, a ripple effect greatly impacted the world.
"Now tell me, children," the teacher said in the background.
Lucian had one hand on his cheek, and his head was directed towards the window. He longed to go outside and explore, but he was stuck in this hell.
At this point, he had heard the story of Roger over a thousand times, and the voice of Professor Rhuxa dimmed quietly in the background as it always had for him. He never minded paying attention when it mattered the most, especially during history lectures.
History interested him, sure, but the way it was taught in school bothered him. Everything just sounded boring and slow to Lucian, like he did not have the attention span for it.
"Mr. Xebel, sit up straight!" the professor yelled.
Lucian looked up, and he obeyed. She wasn`t the worst professor he had, but she certainly was one of them. He wished for the class to be dismissed. Oh, how he missed messing around with his friends in the village.
Where he lived, the South Blue. One of the four major oceans of the world, the South Blue has the most exotic and beautiful islands you`ll ever see.
Aragonia was the name of his country.
It has one of the most beautiful landscapes and some of the most pristine beaches you`ll ever set eyes on. Sometimes, Lucian couldn`t believe he even lived here.
Aragonia was the perfect place for vacationing and messing around. During the summer seasons, tourism is at an all-time high, and that`s when Father`s Bar gets the most profit. Summer was his favorite. There was no school, just messing around, going to the beach, playing football, and having sleepovers every day.
He remembered how just last week he and his friends pranked the wine merchant far left of the Ionian Riveria by switching his bottles out for vinegar and salt and mixing it with another wine to contain the smell.
Let`s just say when he got home, his ass got beat pretty badly, but he had no regrets. He always wanted to explore and have fun, but life throws responsibilities at you, and helping out his father at the bar always seemed to be the end goal for Lucian, at least he thought it would be.
His mother was a traditional housewife with an amazing skill for weaving, she wove his suit for Lucian when they attended social events, she also sold a lot of her clothes in the marketing district and Lucian would hang around the trade merchants and bother them. Reminiscing about simpler times perhaps, but he was only 10 so he knew he had much more life ahead of him,
"Answer me, boy," he heard in the faint background.
Professor Rhuxa was angry, and Lucian realized he daydreamed too much and had to answer the question on the board. He squinted at the board and waited for the professor to say something.
"The Question was where Roger was executed." Lucian scoffed. Pirates, huh? He never had much admiration for them, but he also had none for Marines. He`d prefer to stay away from all that trouble.
"Loguetown," Lucian answered confidently.
Professor Rhuxa smiled. "Correct... If you were listening to my original question, which I had asked specifically about how Roger was captured, perhaps a little less sleeping in my class next time would benefit you."
Lucian was confused. How did he not know the answer? He stayed silent. She came over looking smug. He hated that look.
"Don`t know. Perhaps if you didn`t sleep during history class, you`d learn something, boy." She crossed her arms and assumed a waiting stance as if she expected him to magically know the answer. Lucian stayed silent.
"He got captured by the Marines, specifically Vice Admiral Garp," said a voice to the right of Lucian. The professor turned to address the voice.
"Ms. Latifi, I expect you to keep quiet, not be a know-it-all, and let the boy answer." Lucian turned to his right and saw his best friend, Mikasa.
Mikasa and Lucian are neighbors and best friends; they grew up together. She was the same height as Lucian, which annoyed him. She had long brunette hair and hazel eyes. Also, she was a genius and way better than he ever was in school.
"Next time, let others answer." Mikasa smiled and nodded. She was a whiz at anything you could get a perfect grade at, and she had helped him pass all his exams for as long as he could remember. Mikasa looked at Lucian and smiled.
After school, Mikasa and Lucian were walking home. "Hey, Lucian," Lucian looked at her.
"Isn`t your brother coming back home from cadet training? It`s been so long," Mikasa said.
Oh shit, he had forgotten that Karas was returning from training; his older brother Karas applied to the Marines around 3 years ago and hasn`t seen him since. Once Karas turned 14 he was accepted into the academy to train for the Marines, it was always his dream.
"Yeah, Mikasa, obviously I didn`t forget." What a lie, Lucian thought.
"Bet you miss him a lot, huh," she said.
"Definitely, bet he`s gotten really powerful since then," Lucian responded.
"You think he ate a devil fruit," Mikasa said enthusiastically.
Devil fruits were a tricky subject. Our professors made sure to instill in the brains of all students that they don`t exist, but Mikasa thinks differently.
"Highly doubt it… they don`t exist right," Lucian said.
Mikasa shook her head in disagreement with a smile. "No, they do exist, but don't tell anyone. I snuck out one of the encyclopedias from the teacher`s office, and they confirmed its existence. How cool would it be to eat a devil fruit?" Mikasa said enthusiastically
"Amazing, probably, but if you eat one, not only can you never swim again, but your power can also suck."
Mikasa pondered for a second, "Let`s ask Ilir then" she said.
Ilir Abrojo was like a brother to Lucian.
Ilir's parents owned the largest trade port in the country.
They specialized in exporting and importing products such as food, fresh water, clothes, and other such items. They were also the richest family in the country. Mr. Abrojo was a sailor in his early years. He went to the Grand Line, and that is where he started his business. Long story short, he accumulated a lot of wealth and was revered in Aragonia for bringing economic prosperity.
He was a big deal.
Ilir`s two older brothers are currently overseas for business meetings if he could remember properly he`d remember more details, if it wasn`t for Mikasa's keen observations he`d always be out of the loop. Nonetheless, Mikasa told him they helped Mr. Abrojo maintain his business overseas. Though Ilir's family helped Lucian a lot, they weren`t blood-related but as close to family as you can get. Mr. Abrojo loaned Lucian's father the money needed to build his bar, and once he paid him back, the bar became the most popular destination in the country.
They walked to Ilir`s dojo.
For reference, Mikasa and Ilir are cousins.
They always hung out and fought together like an old married couple, and he found it amusing. Mikasa's mom is the younger sister, and she`s cool. She lets him have all the ice cream he wants. Mikasa is an only child, so you can assume she got bored at home and wanted to always hang out with them.
Now, Ilir was obsessed with martial arts and always proclaimed his dream of becoming the greatest fighter in the world. The problem was Lucian always beat him. Ilir was no slouch either; he was one of the best fighters he`d seen. It was a talent vs. hard work situation between both boys.
Mikasa and Lucian neared the dojo. They walked in and took off their shoes.
"Hey, Ilir," Lucian called out.
Ilir was training with Sensei Ryko. Ryko was a skilled man who sailed through the Grand Line. He came from a land called Wano, but Lucian didn`t know much about it. Lucian and Mikasa bowed before him, and he returned the favor. Ilir was practicing his footwork and blade technique. He was preparing for his exams next month. Lucian was helping out any chance he had; he was pretty skilled with a blade himself.
"Ah, Lucian-san, welcome. Would you like to end Ilir's training today with a sparring session?" Sensei Ryko asked.
"Sure, Sensei, I`d love to."
"Sure idiot, try if you can," Ilir responded.
Usually, after school, Lucian would swing by the dojo and occasionally train with Ilir. Lucian picked up a sparring blade and Ilir was ready, Mikasa sat on the stool she loved to watch them duel.
"GO."
The crack of the wood rang out as Lucian's katana deflected Ilir's jab, both boys moving in a blur of speed. Ilir pressed forward relentlessly, his strikes fast and wild, slicing through the air. Lucian, however, was fluid—dodging, parrying, stepping just outside the reach of each swing, his katana always in the right place at the right time.
Blades clashed in a furious storm, a rapid back-and-forth exchange that seemed like a flash of lightning—sharp, relentless, and blindingly fast. Ilir's offense was powerful, each strike coming with full force, but Lucian's sharp eyes caught it—the slight misstep, the opening he needed.
He lunged inside Ilir's guard, delivering a precise thrust to the ribs. Before Ilir could react, Lucian twisted his wrist, disarming him with a swift flick, and, in one seamless motion, hooked his leg to flip Ilir to the ground. The entire exchange took seconds—Ilir lay breathless, his blade clattering away as Lucian stood victorious above him.
"Damn, not again," he offered his hand to Ilir. Ilir took it and got up, Mikasa came over giggling "Nice try you can`t beat Lucian" she said laughing.
"Shut up, brat," Ilir growled.
Mikasa laughed again. "He doesn`t even practice as much as you."
Lucian looked at Ilir and said, "Don`t worry; you`ll pick it up, bro." Ilir tried to hide his disappointment. They all turned their attention to Sensi Ryko and bowed goodbye.
Walking home was usual, Ilir and Mikasa often fought and Lucian just enjoyed it. "So tell me, Mikasa" Ilir said.
"Why do you always praise Lucian every chance you get? Are you in love?" Ilir continued.
Mikasa's cheeks turned red, "No you idiot, I`m just stating the truth that`s all, don`t take it out on me because he beats you all the time," she said defensively.
Ilir sighed and sarcastically said. "Sure, ok."
Ilir made it a habit of informing Lucian that whenever Mikasa was fawning over him, he was convinced she liked him, though Lucian didn`t notice much.
As they walked home, the sun started to set. If you`ve never seen a sunset in Aragonia near the summer season, you were missing out. It is hard to describe, but the colors of the sky blend perfectly together to create some sort of beautiful portrait. It never got old and never will.
"Hey we have no school tomorrow, let`s go into town and mess around," Mikasa said.
Ilir was quick to respond. "No, Mikasa, Auntie made me promise to bring you home as soon as possible, and I am not getting in trouble for you again, you heard." Mikasa scoffed.
"So bro, Karas is coming back. Should we be going home now," Ilir said.
"Yeah, why are you coming?" Lucian responded.
Ilir nodded. "Yeah."
At this point, Mikasa became visibly angry. "How come you get to go, and I don`t?" Mikasa yelled.
"Because Auntie will kill me. I don`t care if you come, but ask her first," Ilir yelled back. Mikasa scoffed and turned away, and they were approaching their houses.
Sadly, Mikasa's curfew had just passed, so the two boys were just walking to Lucian`s home.
They all live right next to each other, so Lucian is confused about why Aunt Elda didn`t let Mikasa come, but he knows better than to argue. Regardless, they arrive home and approach the door. They hear chatter and the clink of drinks. Ilir looks at Lucian.
"Nervous," Ilir joked.
Lucian rolled his eyes. "Just open the door". As Ilir laughed and turned the knob.
Lucian saw Karas, and he changed immensely.
He gained 3-4 inches and got way more muscular. He had a Marine uniform on, and the room was filled with relatives and family friends. Becoming a Marine is a big deal in the South Blue, mainly because it has the fewest active personnel. So, to say it was an accomplishment was an understatement. Karas saw Lucian and Ilir and grabbed them for a hug.
"Little bros, what`s up? Long time no see," Karas said as he grabbed them.
As they struggled to catch air, they groaned, "You too." They both said.
Mother would not stop flaunting Karas's achievement to everyone, and Father was equally proud.
Ilir and Lucian stood there as they ate leftovers from this wonderful feast no one had saved them any food for. After an hour of catching up, Ilir convinced his parents to stay the night, which was easy since Karas returned, and they didn`t mind. Ilir had sleepovers nearly every weekend. Once everyone went to sleep, Ilir started doing typical Ilir things, such as asking stupid questions.
"Hey Karas, do you have… a devil fruit," Ilir said.
What an idiot! That's a nice first question. Karas's facial expressions were hard to read, but he didn`t seem offended.
"Nah, but they are real. I can tell you that for sure. I have fought against Devil Fruit users, though," he responded.
Both boys jumped from their chairs, excited to hear more about the Grand Line. Karas calmed them down and began to tell his story. All Lucian could think was how amazing it was and how he longed for a journey like that. He had 1000 questions, but he wanted to ask one first.
"What did you do for the Marines?" Lucian asked.
Karas took a moment, perhaps, to give a proper answer without giving much away.
"I`m a Rear Admiral now; I trained for years under Vice-Admiral Garp, and what a privilege that was."
Lucian was confused, but Ilir was excited, and he was fanboying now.
"Wow, Karas, I didn`t know it was that wonderful. Tell me which Pirates you eradicated first," Ilir said.
Karas's face was stern. Lucian recognized that he may be hiding something, but he had also just returned from Marine duty. Maybe it was the stress.
"Hey Ilir, another time, okay," Lucian said.
Ilir looked disappointed, "Nah, screw that, I want to knowwwwww."
Ilir looked like a spoiled brat who had just been denied ice cream privileges. But Lucian understood Ilir's desire to know about the Grand Line, the most dangerous ocean in the world. They barely knew much about it. Karas was essentially an outlet for the information that everyone wanted to know. Karas turned serious for a second, then joyful. Something was wrong.
"How about this, Ilir? For each rank you level up with Sensei Ryko, I will tell you one thing about the Grand Line that I experienced," Karas said with a large grin.
Ilir pondered this for a while, then decided to happily accept it. "Deal".
"Now go to sleep, guys."
And that was the end of the grand return.
On weekends, Lucian usually had a specific routine.
He would wake up late and make breakfast. Depending on the weather that day, he would leave. Most days were sunny in Aragonia, and it rained once in a while. He would then travel down to the town center to his father`s bar.
He would help him clean and readjust inventory for later in the night. He saw his little sister Amante come by the bar and do homework after her tutoring sessions.
Amante was 7 years old. She was very quiet and reserved, but Lucian`s parents were joyful. They always accommodated her needs, which didn`t bother him because he liked not to be bothered.
Today, he would usually hang out with Mikasa or Ilir, but his school friends invited him to play football. It was a warm summer day, and every day was around the same in Aragonia. Everyone minding their own business doing what they enjoyed. Aragonia rarely had any uninvited visitors.
There was a Pirate invasion before he was born, but according to his father, it wasn`t bad.
Lucian was finishing up his shift at the bar, adjusting the alcohol barrels to get ready for the party tonight. He had no idea what the party was for or about, but tourism was in high demand this month, so Father was excited about the amount of customers he would receive.
Then Mr. Abrojo walked into the bar, "Hey, kid," he said to Lucian.
"What`s up, Uncle?" he called him Uncle since their families were very close.
He walked over to his father and hugged him. Father looked at Lucian and motioned for him to leave; they had to speak alone. Lucian left anyway. He finished his chores at the bar and ran to the football pitch, where he met his school friends. They always played football, and the loser had to jump off the cliff at the Ionian beach. It was a scary jump, so no one wanted to lose. Spoiler alert: Our team lost.
Now, Lucian invited Karas, but he had Marine duty, whatever that meant. Karas was still around a lot, but he also came back occasionally on weekends, and he promised Lucian they`d play football.
Karas doesn`t break promises.
He waited on the pitch's bench for two hours. All his friends had left after a couple of games. Then, finally, Karas showed up. Lucian sat there, angry.
"Sorry, lil bro, had stuff to do, now wanna shoot around."
Lucian turned the cheek, angry at him for showing up late.
Karas sighed. "Look, I had business to deal with. I…" Lucian cut him off. "You promised you`d come. Is it so hard to honor that? We lost because we had no winger. Jax can`t attack; he`s too slow."
Karas sat beside him and started lightly juggling the ball between his feet.
"There is so much you don`t understand about the world. I dont blame you; you are still young, but once you grow up, you`ll realize the world for what it is."
Lucian looked at his brother. He looked conflicted most of the time, so he decided to cut him some slack. He had no idea what he was going through, and he could tell he had been bottling up some emotions since his return. It made Lucian think about what happened to him out there.
"Sorry, but tell me at least one thing that happened out there when you were gone." Lucian decided to press his luck. If he didn`t get answers now, then when would he? Karas paused as he looked at the horizon.
I`m going to tell you a secret, but you must promise not to tell anyone."
Lucian jumped excitedly out of his seat. "No worries, I won't say a word, I promise."
Karas sighed and put his hand on Lucian`s shoulder. "Now listen carefully. I understand you`re young, but it's better that you learn from me than from the hard way. Don`t trust anyone but yourself and your friends and family." Karas paused.
Lucian was confused as to why Karas was speaking like this. "What are you talking about, Karas? Explain," Lucian said.
"Justice," Karas said and looked at his little brother. Lucian stayed silent.
"Listen closely. This is a lesson.
The Marines are a facade, and justice is a term they use as an excuse to bend the rules and play to their evil intentions. I have seen real struggle, and that struggle can only be overcome by those who endure it, take all the bad shit coming their way, and become better because of their situation.
The problem is that the Marines will let you suffer and won`t let you live to tell the tale. They`ll watch you suffer right before your eyes and laugh. You are a pawn on a chessboard. You think Pirates are evil. Marines are good.
Perspective matters; it`s all subjective at the end of the day.
True justice will never exist in this world in the form of Marines; they perverted the meaning of that word. What I saw, little brother, sickened me to my stomach and made me question my allegiance. Once you experience it for yourself, that feeling never goes away. It makes you question yourself, your morals, and your purpose."
Amazed, Lucian stood there with eyes wide open.
He only half understood Karas's speech, but even though he didn`t comprehend everything, he still understood that it must mean something bad had happened.
Karas smiled as he patted Lucian`s head. "Don`t worry, bro. Everything will be alright. You want to kick the ball around," he said.
Lucian nodded.
They got off the bench and walked onto the pitch.
Lucian was still trying to make sense of the speech and what justice was occurring with the Marines.
Growing up, he was taught the importance of the Marines and how they lived to protect the common people.
Was it all a lie?
Karas would never lie to him, right? Many questions raced through his brain, but he knew one thing for sure: Karas was angry at the World Government.
Stop the bad thoughts. He promised him everything was going to be okay, and Lucian trusted him. They walked and passed the ball around for a while; everything still felt normal.