Notes:

I have made a decision on the break down of this story, I don't want to follow every arc as some wouldn't really have an effect on the plot, but others like the Baratie I can split down further to explore more.

I am trying to decide if I'll do the story as multi chaptered or break into different stories with this one ending at Loguetown.

I will be doing Alabasta but not all stories within that, then will probably go straight to Water 7 cause I can't think of much that would be affected by Luffy's time travel in Skypia, then on to Thriller Bark, the last arc I'll be following the manga/anime plot lines will be Marineford cause that is where everything will come together. Even by then a lot of changes will have been made but it will culminate in Marineford with a few follow up chapters.

(See the end of the chapter formore notes.)

Chapter Text

Sanji had been running and fighting for what felt like days, pirates and marines alike falling from the fire of his legs. Nami had remained held securely in his arms too weak to carry her own weight. Sanji had been searching, determined to make it back to his captain. Once they were together again everything would be fine.

As he ran, he could hear the distant sounds of war and death, he barely blinked at the screaming, but Nami flinched with each one piercing through her battered brain.

A sudden heat informed the chef just in time to turn from his path, throwing himself into a roll to the right Sanji narrowly avoided the lava that surged towardshim.

"Slippery little brat, aren't you?" A sneering voice came from the figure emerging from the orange projectile. "Shame the rest of your crew haven't been so lucky."

Sanji froze, his heart stuttering to a stop. Him and Nami hadn't seen or heard from a member of thecrew in days, he had prayed to anyone who would listen that they had all been okay, that by some miracle they would find their way back together. It was a childish hope.

The sound of Akainu's cold laugh brought Sanji back to reality.

"That long nosed one was too easy to hit, wasn't even worth finishing off that one, not that he could do anything without his arm."

Sanji didn't think he just moved, gently placing Nami on the ground out of the way he gently stroked her face as she whimpered reaching for him, "Sanji, don't..."

But the chef wasn't listening, his legs lighting up with blue flames as he threw himself forward."Don't you talk about Usopp like that!"

As Sanji's leg blackened with the power of his haki he struck true, smacking into the back of the Marines head knocking him from his feet. As the marine was launched to the floor, he raised a magma fist prepared to skewer the chef in two, but before he could make impact a cold feeling enveloped his arm, a sickeningly familiar cold.

"Not so fast." A figure approached from the trees, coming to a stop before the fallen Fleet admiral who shook the ice from his wrist.

A dog likelaugh escaped the admirals'lips, as he rose determined to his feet. "We've been through this before, you want to lose again Aokiji?"

"You should run Straw-hat" Aokiji stepped forward ice spreading as he stepped, spreading out to encase the field as Sanji backed away back to Nami braced to protect her from either man.

"Shouldn't you be busy following after you're captain, you dirty pirate" Sakazuki smirked at his former colleague lava dripping from his arms.

"I'm free to go wherever I want." The ice devil user threw up a wall encircling the two former colleagues, blocking the two straw hat's view.

"Straw-hat!" A gruff voice broke free from the trees. "With us, now, this won't hold the mad dog long."

Sanji blinked looking around for the person who had spoken, shocked to find afamiliar figure stood in the trees, arms crossed and two cigars in mouth.

Sanji dropped into a fighting stance trying to block Nami from view.

"Don't do anything stupid Straw-hat, I'm not here to kill you, yet." Smoker growled.

"Sanji, we should run, try and get to Luffy." Nami weakly touched the back of Sanji's leg grounding him.

"Please don't run." A different figure emerged from the trees, one with pink hair and a familiar smile. "We're here to bring you somewhere safe, I give you my word as an honourable marine."

"You're Luffy's friend." Nami murmured, trying to push herself to her feet.

"Koby." The figure informed with a small smile. "Please come with us, we have doctors."

Sanji glanced at Nami, noting the dried blood on her head and the way her eyes couldn't focus even days later, he nodded shortly before picking the red head up gently. As they made their way from the field, they could smell burning flesh and hear a choked scream from behind the wall of ice.

Sanji was surprised and thankful as the two marines led them deeper into the wilderness through winding paths that he would not have found on his own, suddenly they came to a large clearing, even more shocking was the sheer amount of tents gathered around all with differing flags, some Marines, some pirates the majority held the symbol of the Revolutionaries.

He was led deeper through the base towards a large tent set up in the centre, the chef could hear an argument coming from inside.

"We will go with my plan"Sanji stepped inside the tent to see the leader of the revolutionaries Monkey D Dragon and the marine hero Garp standing nose to nose spitting in each other's face.

"You're a fool if you think that we can win this while divided, the Sakazuki alone is a powerhouseif the dragons themselves appear we are finished, not to mention they have that damned pirate Shanks acting under them and then you have Blackbeard, if he gets to the treasure then it'll be no better than what we have now."Garp shouted back his fist alight with power.

Smoker entered the tent walking straight up to the two Monkey D's. "We've lost Aokiji, but we recovered two of the straw hats."

Garp and Dragon continued to glare at each other, both had steam flooding from their ears ignoring the other marine.

"Sanji! Nami" A happy voice approached from the outskirts of the tent.

"Sabo?" Sanji asked blinking at the figure who smiled back behind a disfigured face, the remains of his top hat in scraps on his head.

"I'm glad you are both okay, I know my brother will be happy to see you." Sabo smiled warmly his mouth stretching grotesquely.

"You've seen Luffy!" Sanji burst out a feeling of happiness and relief appearing for the first time in days, he could see Nami brighten up in his arms.

"Well no, but we have an idea where he is, we ran into you're shipwright a day ago, Frankie, he's currently leading a team back to the Lu so we should make contact any time now." Sabo explained.

"Frankies alive, good." Sanji nodded. "Did you hear that Nami, Frankies taking a team to Luffy now, I'm sure our ridiculous captain is so close to the treasure. We just got to wait a bit longer okay?"

"Sure Sanji, we got this." Nami raised a shaking thumbs up.

"What is all this anyway, never expected a group of marines to come help us?" Sanji queried.

"Apparently the old manhad been keeping secrets, there's a faction of marines called SWORD who are out to protect the innocents of the world, don't get me wrong they aren't too happy to be teaming up with pirates and Rev's, but it's that or the Marines who have been burning countries to the ground." Sabo explained turning to look toward the father and son duo who had returned to arguing while Smoker watched on unimpressed and Koby fussed around trying to get the men to stop.

"How about the ice guy, last we heard he was with Blackbeard." Sanji pressed curious.

"Ah, they've had people undercover for years, even Law is connected to them, he's around here somewhere."

"LAW!"Sanji spluttered shocked.

"His father was one of the founding members" Sabo shrugged. "We should probably get you both to him, he's been helping patch us up after Kuma... well he's acting head doctor. Let's leave these hard heads to hash things out, I'll bring you to his tent."

Luffy took a deep breath drawing oxygen to his lungs, chasing away the taste of iron thick on his tongue.

Closing his eyes he allowed the feeling of merry around him to calm his beating heart, he wasn't there, not anymore, never again.

He closed his eyes concentrating on his crew sleeping around him, focusing on the sounds of their breathing, in and out.

Soon he reminded himself he would have half his crew back where they belong, home.

Talking to Shanks had helped calm Luffy's frazzled nerves, his father's jovial nature a balm to Luffy's fears. He had carefully listened to Luffy's tales of his adventures so far, they had both been concerned with Luffy's lack of memory of the end of his fight on Syrup Village.

He may not have the best memory for things like names and places, but he had never before forgotten a fight. The more Luffy tried to remember what had happened that day the more a sharp blinding pain would shoot across the boy's brain.

Coupled with Zoro's concerned glances when he thought Luffy wasn't looking it had Luffy concerned.

Shaking the thoughts from his head Luffy rose from his perch on Merry's mast.

No matter what had happened his crew was safe, that was the only thing that mattered.

Zoro groaned from where he was trying to nap, blinking one eye open he watched as Luffy and Usopp charged around the deck launching cannon balls out to sea. The sniper certainly brought out a side of the captain that made it difficult to get rest, but the swordsman couldn't hold it against long nosed boy as he chased the shadows from the captains' eyes.

Laughter had become a regular sound aboard Merry, chasing away the stress of their first few weeks at sea. Luffy flourished on the Merry often found bouncing around the ship causing chaos, the first time Zoro had seen the rubber boy act truly free. The boy may have pretended to be carefree those first few weeks but there had been a falsehood to every action a double guessing and tightness around the eyes that would not fade. Something about the Merry and Usopp brought out a new side to the captain that had Zoro privately smiling to himself.

The further away they got from Usopps hometown the more Zoro could convince himself that the sights he had seen had been a figment of his imagination, the bouncing bundle of joy that was his captain could not be capable of such darkness.

"Hey, Usopp, is it just me or is there people on that rock?" Luffy queried his head turned as he looked out to sea where they had just launched a cannon.

"Hmm" Usopp muttered bringing his telescope to his eye, Zoro could see as his eyes focused on the nearby rock tightening as he strained to look before going wide in shock.

"Oh no, we killed them, I'm a murderer!" The long-nosed boy panicked causing Zoro to roll his eyes.

"Wait, what?" Nami's shocked exclaim cut through the air, coming over to take a look her body tense. As she looked out the tension eased turning to frustration. "Dead people don't move you idiot!"

Nami hit the sniper over the head before turning completive.

"You know we really should see if they need any help, after all you did hit them with a cannon. Plus they may be so thankful and give us lots of gold!" Nami started to drool at the thought of treasure.

"Shishishishi, well in that case..." Luffy stood at the edge of the ship stretching his arms out to the stranded people on the rock before depositing them on the ship.

"Luffy, you can't go around grabbing people out of nowhere." Zoro shouted standing up ready if the strangers wanted to start something.

"Sorry." Luffy grinned stretching his cheeks wide.

"You need to take this seriously you never know who you could be dragging on board..."

"Big bro Zoro!" One of the figures exclaimed.

"Wait, Johnny and Yosaku?"

"Big bro you gotta help us, Yosaku isn't doing so good."

"Wait you know these two?"

Once Nami had helped Yosaku back to health and they decided to head to the Baratie to pick up a chef Luffy took a moment to himself in the captains quarters.

In another life Luffy had no wish to have his own room away from his crew but in this one he need privacy, a place he could seek solitude with his mind. A place he could speak to his father and grandfather without having to worry about who was listening.

Taking a seat on the floor Luffy focused his Haki inwards, organising his thoughts on what was to come. This was it the beginning of the most difficult trials he would need to overcome in the east blue. A lot of good things had come from their visit to the pirate's restaurant, (finding his Sanji) but so had a lot of pain. It had been here that Nami had felt the need to return to Arlong, fear driving her away from her family. This was also the place Zoro had received his scars. What hurt the most was the knowledge he could not change either of these events.

Nami needed to learn how to trust, and Zoro would never forgive Luffy if he stood in front of him and his dream. Luffy had to accept he could not protect his crew from every scar, he had to endure.

He had been feeling more settled than he had since his journey began, the demons of the future retreating to the far precipice of his mind but worried the next few trials would set him back. He sighed as he felt the ship pulling into the Baratie, everything would be okay, he just needed to remember that they would come out of these waters stronger for all they had gone through.

It pained Luffy to send Fullbody's cannonball flying through the roof of the restaurant, but he needed the excuse of being a chore boy to get close to Sanji, so with a grimace he redirected the projectile, this time around ensuring it didn't hit anyone, only causing damage to the ship, something that made the captain internally wince.

Once the dust had settled on his agreement with Zeff to be a chore boy for the restaurant to earn back the repairs cost Luffy happily threw the door open to the main restaurant. "For my first job did you want me to help the staff beat this man up?"

"What!"

Luffy laughed as he watched Sanji try to rip Fulbody's head from its body, the other chefs trying in vain to hold him back.

This truly was a pirate restaurant, rowdier than any he had seen in the new world.

Zeff however seemed less impressed with the scene in front of them, kicking his charge to put a halt to his rampage before firmly putting Fullbody to the ground.

Before the marine could recover Gin appeared. Luffy no longer a stranger to the pangs of starvation felt Sanji's pain as they watched the other chefs decline the man a meal. Luffy could see the respect in Zeff's eyes as he watched Sanji silently make his way to the kitchen to prepare food for the emaciated pirate.

The sound of Sanji preparing food in the kitchen overwhelmed Luffy with a warm feeling of home, his cook was the best on the seas and had a large heart for helping the helpless even though he tried to hide it.

Luffy silently followed Sanji as brought he brought the desperate man his kindly prepared feast. A sad smile appearing on the rubber boys face as he heard Sanji speak of pride, he knew that the Chef had his own war against his pride that he would spend years overcoming.

Taking a deep breath Luffy made his presence known throwing a goofy grin to his face he lent over the railings to demand Sanji take his rightful place on the straw-hat crew.

Shocked Sanji spluttered as he declined the offer to become a pirate, a fact Luffy refused to accept, unlike Nami the chefs decline came from a place of self-sacrifice, something Luffy would have to help the cook overcome.

Sanji was worthy of his dreams and Luffy would ensure he knew it.

As the conversation grew into bickering between the two Gin watched the tennis match as he ate.

"I'm sorry to interrupt." Gin brought the two from their argument. "You say that you're a pirate yourself what is it you seek. "

Luffy looked to Gin accessing the man before grinning wildly, "We're going to travel the grand line and achieve our dreams!"

Luffy frowned as Sanji's lips downturned at Luffy's words, he wished he could help his cook ease his pains.

"The Grandline isn't a place for rookies' kid, you can't have a large crew if you've not even a cook yet." Gin advised gently.

"I'll have my crew in no time, just you wait Sanji may only be the fourth member but the fifth will be ready soon and then we just need to get to the Grandline to get the rest." Luffy advised knowingly nodding.

"I told you I'm not going so don't count me!" Sanji screamed at the rubber boy who politely ignored his silly cook.

"You seem like an alright kid so let me give you some friendly advice, the grandline is a place you want to avoid" Gin looked past Luffy, looking into the horrors he had experienced but couldn't remember. "You're still young so there's no need to rush into anything, remember the grandline is only one part of the ocean there are plenty of other places to explore. "

Luffy's face darkened a knowing determined look overtaking his young features aging him. "The grandline may be full of danger, but I'm willing to overcome any danger so my crew can achieve their dreams."

Sanji looked at the kid in awe, he had sacrificed so much of his dream, given everything to the man who gave him his leg, but this kid struck a chord within him, as he looked at the Straw hatted captain Sanji could see it, the All Blue.

He shook his head, no, he had to stay here to help keep the old man's dream alive, he didn't deserve to see his dream, he was worthless.

Sanji spluttered in shock when the straw hatted boy met his eyes, his gaze cutting the chef to his soul.

"What's your dream?" The boy asked eyes alight.

"It doesn't matter." Sanji said breaking eye contact and looking out to sea, smoking his cigarette sadly.

Luffy followed his gaze coming up to stand beside his chef, his tone serious. "Of course, it matters, when we give up on our dreams we may as well give up on living."

Sanji sighed glancing at the boy before throwing his cigarette over the edge and lighting another, turning away from the two pirates he headed back inside without a word, not seeing his father figure sadly watching from the shadows.

Luffy watched as Sanji worked around the restaurant his anger and resentment at the world coming out in his interactions with the customers and the other chefs. It made Luffy sad that he hadn't seen the effect Sanji's upbringing had on his chef until it was too late, he vowed that this time he would help Sanji overcome his past sooner so he could drop his pretence and become the man Luffy had come to know.

As Sanji and Zeff came to blows over Zeff insisting Sanji leave to join his crew Luffy frowned. He appreciated Zeff trying to get the blond to chase his dreams but the knew how the elderly chefs words about Sanji's worth would cut the boy to his core. He saw as Sanji redirected his negative feelings' into the safety of flirting unashamedly with Nami, fawning over her in a way that kept her at a safe distance, unattainable.

It amazed Luffy what foresight could allow him to see, of course Sanji treated women like goddesses, it was a safe way of keeping them at arms lengths if he treated them as above him they would never see him as an equal and get to know the real him, the him only his mother and sister had ever been able to see.

It was safe.

As Sanji headed outside Luffy followed.

"You know Nami hasn't joined my crew yet." Luffy muttered looking out to sea. "She's not ready yet, so for now she's my friend."

Sanji clicked his fingers smirking. "Well there goes any reason to join you."

"I have a reason to give you, you say your dream doesn't matter, but it would, to me." Luffy declared his eyes ablaze.

Sanji sighed looking out to the horizon, silence falling over the two, as Sanji starred he saw a ship appearing on the horizon.

"Shit, that looks like trouble." Sanji muttered glad for the reprieve from the conversation.

"Maybe Gin is just coming back to thank you." Luffy suggested.

"Doubt it." Sanji responded before heading back inside to warn the other chefs.

Luffy was mad at Don Krieg as the man pushed his chef to the floor after he had fed the starving captain. His anger grew as the man crushed Gin's arm in his own, it was one thing to attack a stranger but his own first mate? What was it with bad pirates who had no care for their crew?

At least the Captain wouldn't let his crew starve ordering the Baratie to prepare a feast for his crew before he would take the ship for himself.

Luffy watched as Sanji brought himself to his feet prepared to make a feast for the starving crew only to be stopped by the other chefs, he could see the passion in Sanji's eyes to ensure that no one went starving, a passion shared with his father figure who provided the Maniacal Captain with enough food to feed the starving crew even as it doomed his own dream.

He would take great joy in helping stop this over confident pirate, no wonder he hadn't been able to make it in the Grand Line, but first they would have to contend with a different challenge, one that would be harder for Luffy to face.

Notes:

I sat and thought about it and it felt like the Strawhats were being absolutely steam rolled in the future so although I was going to do all of their deaths first then go back and explore how we got there later I thought I'd mix it up and have some of the war planning and successful fights they had first, we will also be leveling some of the playing field as the straw hats did take out some big names before they fell.

Next chapter will be Zoro and Mihawks fight and the future battle that led to Zoro's injury in his death chapter. Its also the first battle in the war and the factions are starting to come together.

I know I said that Garp wasn't there at the last battle but Luffy doesn't know he was there and won't be finding out, he believes Garp is dead and isn't aware of his Haki signature so doesn't feel it in the way he does his crew.