Wealth. Fame. Power. There once was a man who achieved all these treasures and more. He was known as Gol D. Roger, and he was the King of the Pirates. But like all kings, his time came to an end. Yet as he stood on the scaffold for his execution, he only gave a smile and a challenge to the world.
"You want my treasure? You can have it! I left everything I own in one place. Now you just have to find it! Seek the treasure of the Grand Line, the One Piece! The treasure I once claimed can be yours, if you desire to succeed me as King of the Pirates!"
And so it was that a curtain opened on a new era, the Great Pirate Era. Pirates of all kinds set sail for the Grand Line, eager to lay claim to the One Piece and gain Roger's title. Yet as the years dragged on, no one could find or even reach One Piece, and many doubted it was even real. It seemed the Age of Dreams had reached its end.
But there were still those who knew the One Piece was real. Those who sailed with Roger and saw the One Piece with their own eyes. And that legacy was passed down to a small group of young friends with big dreams and a shared vow to live life as free as the wide open sky.
The story of these young dreamers starts on the Moby Dick, the personal vessel of Edward 'Whitebeard' Newgate, one of the Four Yonko and considered by many to be the Strongest Man Alive. In his youth, he was the sworn rival and close friend of Gold Roger before his passing and in the present day, he considered his whole crew his children. However, he would soon become a father for real when four babies were born.
"What's going on here?" Marshall D. Teach asked Marco the Phoenix as he boarded.
"Jacquotte is about to give birth!"
"The baby's finally coming? Zehahahaha! So it's true! Pops is about to become a real father!"
He pushed his way through the excited crowd of division commanders, hearing the cries of four newborn babies just as he reached the front. Newgate was gently cradling the infants with a warm smile on his face.
"My dear children... To think I'd become a father for real."
"Two girls and two boys. Look how small they are." Rose Vista chuckled.
Thatch laughed. "They only look so tiny because their papa's so big!"
"So what are you gonna call them?" Diamond Jozu asked.
Newgate's wife, Clisson D. Jacquotte, smiled as she took the babies into her arms. She was an exceptionally beautiful woman despite her age, having long flowing scarlet hair, a beauty mark under her right eye, a silver left eye, and a gold right eye.
"Ferros, Lithos, Merone, and Ariala."
Each of the four babies had distinguishing features that separated them from each other. The first boy, Lithos, had spikey black hair and magma-orange eyes. The second boy, Ferros, had wilder black hair, scarlet red eyes, and white crosshair-shaped pupils. The first girl, Merone, had wavey blue hair with bangs that covered one of her eyes, which were seafoam green. Lastly, the second girl, Ariala, had hair that was a mixture of blonde and scarlet, just like both her parents, the colors blending almost seamlessly and her eyes were a mixture of silver and gold.
Newgate beamed. "Yes, those are perfect names."
The Whitebeard Pirates all smiled, happily welcoming the four newborns into the world in unison.
As the four children grew up, they were practically the nephews/nieces/little siblings of the whole crew. It was also clear they had inherited the superhuman strength of their father as even the dainty-looking Merone and Ariala were able to carry around barrels twice their size just as easily as their brothers could at only two years old.
Sure the four could only carry one at a time each, but it was still impressive strength for toddlers.
Teach chuckled. "Zehahahaha! Those kids are gonna go places, I can tell!"
The Whitebeard Pirates were currently taking a stop at Fishman Island, which was part of Newgate's territory as one of the Four Yonko. Right now, he was in the middle of admonishing an uprising that had attempted to overthrow King Neptune.
"Thank you for this. Some of our people have been demanding war against the humans." Said Jinbe, a member of the Sun Pirates as their captain, Fisher Tiger, scoffed.
"It's disgraceful that we have to rely on a human for help. But I won't turn it away. Our people need to stand as one if we hope to attain peace."
Afterward, as the Moby Dick returned to the surface, Ariala had a question on her mind.
"Daddy, why do Fishmen and Humans hate each other?"
"People can be irrational when it comes to that which is different from them. They tend to hate and fear it just because they can't understand it." Newgate explained as he bounced his daughter on his knee.
"That sounds stupid. Hating something for no reason? That doesn't make any sense." Lithos said.
Newgate nodded. "Like I said, irrational. Humans started attacking and enslaving fishmen, fishmen started retaliating, and humans suddenly felt vindicated in thinking fishmen were monsters because they couldn't see themselves in the wrong. It's a vicious cycle, and only when both sides are made to see their folly will it stop."
"Then that's what we'll do!" Merone said with a determined look. "We'll make both Humans and Fishmen see that it's wrong to hate each other! Even if it takes us our whole lives!"
Newgate laughed. "Gurararara! That's my girl!"
Time went by and the Moby Dick was now docked at Mock Town.
"Hey, you see the wanted posters? They're still looking for that Ohara kid Nico Robin." Jozu said.
"The one supposedly intending to destroy the world? I don't believe that for a second." Haruta said. "We all know the World Government just likes to cover up things they don't like."
Marco sighed sadly. "If only we could find her. She'd have a spot on our crew, for sure."
"Does anyone know where the kids are?" Teach asked, slightly worried.
The kids in question, now seven years old, had just entered a bar, having wandered off and were just looking around.
"Excuse us, mister, can we get some sodas?" Ariala politely asked.
"Sure thing, kids." The bartender said kindly enough as he poured a few beverages for the four.
Unfortunately, as they were sitting around drinking their sodas, some unpleasant-looking pirates approached.
"Hey look, it's those brats who're the children of Whitebeard."
"Maybe if we get them, we can beat the so-called 'Strongest Man Alive'."
"You guys really don't want to do this..." Ferros sighed as he finished his soda.
With impressive speeds, the four leaped out of the way of the encroaching pirates, who crashed into each other in an almost comical manner. Ariala bounced on several of their heads while Lithos kicked one into another so that their heads banged together, knocking them both out. Merone delivered a devastating punch to one particularly big pirate's groin, making him foam at the mouth and collapse while Lithos wrapped his legs around another's neck to perform a Scissor Takedown.
"Well, looks like we missed quite a party!" Vista said as he, Teach, Marco, and Haruta had just arrived.
"Are we in trouble?" Ariala asked worriedly.
Marco laughed. "Are you kidding? Pops is gonna raise your allowances when he hears about this!"
As the four children were taught how to fight by their mother, so too did they eventually become proficient enough to teach others. Case in point, during a visit to the desert kingdom of Alabasta, the four kids had befriended their princess, Nefertari Vivi, and had even offered to train her.
"Keep your stance wide. You're too tight." Lithos said, having the most battle-tactical mindset of his siblings.
Vivi whined. "It's hard to get into that mindset."
"That's because you're still thinking like a future queen. You need to start thinking like a protector." Ferros pointed out, often being the most insightful of the four. "Jeet Kune Do is all about being fluid and reactive within a hair's breadth."
Vivi's father, Cobra, chuckled as he sat next to Newgate and Jacquotte.
"Your children have learned quickly."
Newgate nodded, smiling proudly at his children as he watched them help Vivi improve.
"That they have. Someday they all may just influence the entire world."
"And I firmly believe they will give those who meet them the strength to pursue their dreams," Jacquotte added.
Some years later, after a fun time at Little Garden, Newgate had the Moby Dick docked at a certain island in the New World.
"Now this is a very special island. It has five gods that they worship by way of five Devil Fruit that each have a single chosen one to become said god's avatars." Newgate explained to his children.
"Like the ones you and Mommy have?" Ariala asked excitedly.
"Well, not quite. Our Devil Fruits are both in different classes than the ones here."
Newgate's Devil Fruit was the mighty Tremor-Tremor Fruit, which allowed him to manipulate vibrations and quakes. It was partially thanks to this power that Newgate was considered the Strongest Man Alive.
As for Jacquotte, she had eaten the Horse-Horse Fruit: Model Alicorn, which allowed her to transform into an Alicorn or Alicorn-Human Hybrid at will. With this power, she could harness powers akin to magic.
As the Whitebeard Pirates came ashore, the villagers all welcomed them with open arms.
"It is an honor to have our island visited by the legendary Whitebeard. You're just in time for a rare event." The Chief smiled. "Our last chosen avatars have passed away, so now we are in the middle of choosing who will next be given the sacred Devil Fruits of the Gods of Fire, Water, Earth, Air, and Metal."
Newgate grinned. "Well, talk about a treat. Sounds like a great time for a party!"
The chief laughed jovially. "Oh, there will be festivities aplenty! Feel free to mingle with the villagers in the meantime. I think some of our single women are already eyeing your crew."
Sure enough, some like Marco, Haruta, and even Teach were catching the eye of some of the women. At their parents' urging, Lithos, Ferros, Merone, and Ariala went to mingle with the kids.
Food and drink were served liberally as several candidates were screened and made ready to be chosen in a final competition that was meant to represent the elemental gods choosing their new avatars.
Unfortunately, things took a sour turn as a World Government vessel arrived on the island. A man in robes with a bubble over his head disembarked. His hair was curled upward and had a curly black mustache and fluffy gray beard, and wore black shades.
"Greetings, villagers of this backwater island! And rejoice, for you are in the presence of the great Saint Roswald!"
"Who's this tool, Dad?" Ferros asked.
Newgate frowned. "That's one of the Celestial Dragons, World Nobles who believe themselves above everyone else."
Jacquotte scoffed. "Those idiots are so arrogant that they wear those ridiculous helmets so they can avoid breathing the same air as the so-called 'lesser people'."
The kids couldn't help but roll their eyes as Roswald spoke of his intentions to connect the island to the World Government by taking the Devil Fruits as a symbolic gesture of said "unity".
"We're not gonna let that pompous oaf take our god's blessings," one of the cooks said.
"Well, we can't stop it from leaving the island...But we can dictate who takes it from the island." Another said.
The first cook nodded. "Then we're both thinking the same thing."
"Heard you were planning to pull a fast one on that asshole noble," Marco said as he and Teach came over. "I think we might be able to help with your plan."
The Devil Fruits of the Five Gods were the Earth-Earth Fruit, the Gust-Gust Fruit, the Flame-Flame Fruit, the Water-Water Fruit, and the Metal-Metal Fruit. The cooks snuck each of the five Devil Fruits to Whitebeard's division commanders.
Jacquotte was also brought along on the plan and used her Alicorn magic to disguise some regular fruits as the Devil Fruits. She frowned as she looked at the Water-Water Fruit in particular. It was true that standing water was the greatest weakness of all Devil Fruit users but technically this brand of water would be considered moving water unless otherwise manipulated.
Marco had taken the Flame-Flame Fruit for safekeeping while the others were secretly handed to the four children of Whitebeard. Lithos was given the Earth-Earth Fruit, Ferros got the Metal-Metal Fruit, Merone got the Water-Water Fruit, and Ariala got the Gust-Gust Fruit.
"Zehahahah!" Teach chuckled with a smirk. "That stuffy noble is gonna be surprised when he realizes the trick we pulled on him."
While Teach had been sorely tempted to take one of the Devil Fruits for himself, he knew deep in his gut that his nephews and nieces were the perfect fit for four of the five fruits. He'd just have to keep waiting until the right one came to him...
Roswald had been posturing for quite a while. He had all but demanded no one eat until he had bitten into the Devil Fruit he chose to take for himself while saving the others to give to his children later.
"Well, here goes nothing...!" Ariala whispered as she and her siblings each bit into their fruit.
"Blech! Mine tastes like gravel!" Lithos gagged.
"UGH! Iron! It's almost like blood!" Ferros wretched.
Ariala didn't comment on the taste of her fruit since it was surprisingly bland. Of course, air doesn't have a flavor.
"Well, that was unpleasant..." Merone sighed, her fruit tasting like dirty water.
However, the Devil Fruits all took effect immediately. Lithos' arms began turning to stone, Ferros felt himself turn to metal, Ariala began turning into pure wind, and Merone began taking on the form of solidified water.
Roswald was stunned, then took a bite of the fruit in front of him, realizing that it and all the others were fake.
"These aren't the Devil Fruits at all! Kill those damned brats!"
His guards raised their spears, but Newgate and Jacquotte bowled them over using their combined Conqueror's Haki.
"The first one who tries harming our children will suffer a slow and painful death." Jacquotte snarled. "Do we make ourselves clear?"
The rest of the Whitebeard Pirates also stepped in, all of them prepared to tear apart Roswald and his men. Jozu covered himself in pure diamonds with his Twinkle-Twinkle Fruit, Marco's arms turned into flaming teal bird wings with the Bird-Bird Fruit: Model Phoenix, and Blamenco pulled out a cannon from a pocket on his stomach using the Pocket-Pocket Fruit.
"Just try it. We're not afraid to kill a Celestial Dragon if we have to." Teach grinned, cracking his knuckles.
In terror, Roswald promptly fled for his ship, his entourage hurrying close behind him.
"We apologize for shouldering this burden on your children." The Chief apologized. " But we knew the moment that odious noble announced his intentions that there was nothing we could do to prevent our treasures from leaving the island. So instead we decided to dictate who they left with."
"We completely understand. After all, we helped out, didn't we?" Marco chuckled.
"What's done is done, and Devil Fruits are meant to be eaten. But it seems my children will need to be kept safe until they are old enough to handle their new powers. And I think I know the best person for the job."
Before leaving, Newgate assured that the island would be under the Whitebeard Pirates' protection from now on, in case the World Government tried to make plans of retaliation at whatever point in time.
The person Newgate believed could help his children was none other than Monkey D. Garp, the Hero of the Marines and another of Roger's old rivals/friends. Needless to say, the old man was stunned when he got the call.
"I wasn't expecting to be babysitting your brats, Newgate."
"They're going to need to be kept from prying eyes until they come of age," Newgate insisted. "And I know you're still training your grandchildren trying to turn them into Marines. A vain attempt, I might add, given their heritage."
Garp rolled his eyes. "Fine. But if they're going to learn how to control Logia types, I'll need to call in a specialist. Someone who's had years to master a Logia Devil Fruit and won't kill a pirate's child on sight. And I know just the man for the job."
"We're gonna miss you, Dad!" Lithos said as the four kids hugged their father.
"Don't forget to write, kids!" Vista smiled, tears in his eyes.
"Keep your chins up, ya brats!" Teach said. "And if you ever change your minds, my offer to join my future crew still stands!"
"I know you all will be amazing." Jacquotte smiled warmly as she hugged her kids as well. "Go out there and follow your dreams, no matter how big and small they might be."
Before they left, Newgate had one last thing to say to his kids...the tale of the legendary One Piece.
"I finally managed to lay eyes on it, but sadly it would not be mine to claim. My longtime friend and rival Gol D. Roger got to it first, giving him the right to declare himself King of the Pirates." Newgate sighed wistfully. "When Roger issued his challenge to the world, I thought it would bring about a new era of freedom. But so few people today even believe the One Piece is real. It saddens me that Roger's efforts to create an Age of Dreams has fallen on deaf ears."
Hearing their father's sorrow, Lithos, Ferros, Merone, and Ariala decided to make a vow. They would find someone worthy of finding the One Piece and help them claim it, to vindicate their father and prove to the world that dreams are worth pursuing.
The Children of Whitebeard were brought to a small island in the East Blue, where they met the one who would be training them; Marine Admiral Aokiji Kuzan. At first, he was rather aloof and distant when training the kids but eventually warmed up to them.
"You need to understand this one important thing; you're not invincible. A Logia type has many advantages, not the least of which is that if you properly focus, normal physical attacks are useless against you. But that does not mean nothing can hurt you. Certain elements can nullify your invulnerability. There's also Haki, which can be used to bypass a Logia's defenses."
Over the next few months, Kuzan taught the kids everything he knew, from shaping their attacks to exploring the different facets their elements provided. Ferros learned he could turn into different metals like gold, mercury, bronze, tungsten, and more while Lithos learned that he could harness all earthen elements like crystals and even magma rock. Merone could make her water soft enough to cushion impacts or sharp enough to act like bullets while Ariala could send out sharpened wind blades and even turn into a razor gale.
"Now there's one more thing you need to know and this is something I can't teach you, it's something that will occur when the time is right," Kuzan explained one day. "You see, Devil Fruits can have an Awakened state. It's generally believed that this doesn't apply to Logia types, but that's because they're so powerful and the Awakening so subtle no one notices. But once it happens, you'll be able to unleash it to its full potential."
He then turned into ice so cold that caused everyone to start shivering.
"This state is like becoming an avatar of an elemental god. Like all Awakenings, it will happen when you reach a state of extreme emotion or get pushed to the brink of death. I first got into this state years ago..." Kuzan sighed. "During Ohara... When I confronted my fellow Admiral Sakazuki Akainu about it, he brushed the incident off, claiming he was only doing what was necessary that day. My anger reached its peak then and I discovered this state. I nearly killed the bastard as a result but stopped myself. There are days when I regret not following through."
"We heard about Ohara from our family," Merone said. "They had often said they would have liked to offer Nico Robin a chance on their crew."
Kuzan smiled. "I'm sure she would have appreciated that but not even I know where she is after I sent her off to escape from the rest of the Marines."
"Well, we're going to find someone who we know will become the next King of the Pirates! Then we'll sail out and find the One Piece!" Ariala beamed. "And maybe we'll meet Robin along the way and have her join our crew!"
Kuzan chuckled. "Well, I look forward to when that day comes then."
This is mostly going to be my own version of Ash & Rubber by mtnetsurfer on AO3. So, yeah, if most of the dialogue looks the same as in that story, there's your reason.
All credit for the original story belongs to mtnetsurfer, just to be extra careful. This is just me following his example and writing style while adding my own bits to make it a little different.
Be sure to support Eichiro Oda, everyone!