When later scholars would look back upon the moment that changed the course of the Galactic Republic forever debate would rage concerning it.
Not the event itself. This was held as solid fact. It was known exactly when it had happened, so that all events in the galaxy would forever be labeled as either BOP or AOP, with the moment, known as The Dawn, being the very instance history split in two.
The players were settled and squared away as well. No one would dare try and claim that the beings that ushered in The Dawn and The Golden Age that followed hadn't been involved. Their names weren't merely etched into stone… no, they had also been gilded with gold so that they stood out in the minds of all. Young children that picked up bits of wood and claimed they were swords or blasters, teens that would work on models of what they hoped their ships would look like, just barely into maturity adults who swore that they would match the heroes of The Golden Age, the established who would hope to merely continue on what they had started, and the elders who looked back on those days and were thankful that they had come. All knew the names.
No, the question concerned the man that inspired it all and how it had come about.
It is known to all that Jacobo D. Mars was the man that had helped usher in The Dawn but questions remained on his origins. Due to the fact that it hadn't been until 50 years after his death, when the autobiography "I Am The Senate! And So Can You!" was discovered, that the galaxy had learned just how big of a role he had played in The Dawn had been, much hadn't been written about where Jacobo had come from. Most had assumed that 'Jacobo D. Mars' wasn't even his real name and many scholars had argued about where he had come from; something that still arises even to the present day. And even with said manuscript the debates raged if it was authentic. Not helping matters was the popular story "The Testimony of Stinky", which many young men and women read due to the erotic nature of the text, which claimed to tell the history of Jacobo from the point of view of the forementioned 'Stinky', a dwarf Wookie and close friend of the man. The fact that there had been no reports of Jacobo knowing any wookie named 'Stinky', or the fact that many claim that Stinky was in fact just a lusty Ewok, has done little from causing this tale from muddying the waters further when it comes to the origins of Jacobo.
Three distinct claims have thus come forth concerning the man.
The first, based on standard accepted knowledge, is that Jacobo D. Mars was a freighter pilot who had learned of the tale, whispered by others who had sought out the great treasure themselves, and had shared it with Hondo Ohnaka. Variations, such as just how much of a connection he had to the Hutts or Corellia or the Witches of Danthomir, of course are well known but they all hold this basic structure.
The second, coming from the Testimony of Stinky, holds that Jacobo was, in fact Bronze D. Roger, nephew of the legendary pirate who had been tasked by his uncle to spread the legend of his treasure to all, so that the life his uncle had led and loved might continue on. The idea that Jacobo also had, as stated by Stinky, a 10 inch penis that could cause all beings to fall in love with him is rejected as it is known that Jacobo's penis was 12 inch penis, which for non-humaniod readers is quite long.
The final theory, which came about thanks to the purported autobiography, holds that Jacobo D. Mars wasn't from our galaxy, or even our universe, and instead he came from another world where the story of the great treasure was, in fact, just that: a story. A lie told purely to save his own skin.
Of course, we all know this to be a lie.
The One Piece is real, after all.
~Many Years Ago, The Dawn~
Hondo looked at the man who had appeared, quite literally, out of thin air.
One minute he and his crew had been having a wonderful time in the dining area of his ship, discussing which pretty bauble from their latest haul should be kept and which should be sold, when the man had suddenly appeared above them, hanging in the air for only a moment before he had dropped down upon the table that he had been eating at, sending everything flying all about.
His men had been ready to kill him right there but Hondo had demanded he merely be brought to his private quarters. After all, it was so rare for a man to simply fall out of the sky! Hondo wanted to know more!
The strange new arrival was a humanoid with short dark blond hair, a neatly trimmed beard that just went around his mouth while keeping his cheeks and neck clean, and gray blue eyes that were partially obscured by the glasses he wore. He wore strange garments: flexible yet also sturdy blue pants, a pair of brown boats, a coat made of some kind of leather than was the color of stained wood, and a red warm garment under that with a hood and the image of a white wheel with a wing upon it. He was a tall one as well, over 6 feet, and built rather solidly.
"You know," Hondo said as he looked at the glass he had poured for the man that he hadn't touched, "I don't trust a man that won't drink with me."
"And unless it is water I'm not having it. I don't like to cloud my mind."
"Ah, I forget that you humans are so easily influenced by alcohol," Hondo said, grabbing the glass and draining it before he walked over to his private wet bar and poured the man a glass of water. The human took it and made a show of draining it just as quick. "Now then… my men found this on you." He took out a piece of parchment. "Your name?"
The man looked at the scrap and shrugged. "Jacobo D. Mars is as good of a name as any."
"Quite, quite," Hondo said, not pushing him on that; after all, half his crew had false names. "Now… you have no idea how you ended up here?"
"Like I said, none at all. One moment I am at home, the next thing I know my chair gives out and I am tumbling and I crash into your table."
"A very… unlikely story."
"And one that must be true because not even an idiot would use that lie."
Hondo considered that for a long moment before he chuckled. "Yes… yes, that is very true. But that also might mean you are a smart man playing up at being dumb. I have done that, from time to time." He poured himself another drink. "You will understand that, for now, I must confine you."
"I literally have no idea where I am so that's actually being rather kind to me," Jacobo said.
Hondo liked this prisoner. If only more of his captives understood how kind he was in his manner of kidnapping and hostage taking.
"It won't be the most comfortable but you will be fed and won't be tortured."
"Again, nicer than I expected." He gave a two finger salute. "You are a good egg, Hondo."
That chuffed Hondo to no end. Honestly, the man might be just charming him to get out of trouble but it was working!
"Of course," he continued on, "there are ways you can earn more privileges. My crew can always use help." And he wasn't lying, either about the need for help or how it could aid Jacabo. Several of Hondo's crew had started out as prisoners who had proven themselves by lending a hand, to the point that they had signed on fully. There was always a massive celebration when one joined up in such a way.
"And now that I have plunged my hands into muddy waters…" Jacobo murmured, Hondo guessing he was quoting something. "Okay but… I'll admit I don't know what I know that can help."
As they talked Hondo found that the newest person aboard his ship had lived a rather sheltered life. He had no idea how a ship worked. He could cook but admitted that the ingredients he knew wouldn't match what Hondo had. He had no engineering skills. He couldn't even guide them because he didn't even know about the galaxy as a whole! He came from "Earth" and the farthest they'd gotten was their moon! And there weren't even any bars on it!
"This is so odd," Hondo stated, believing more and more the man's claim he had ended up there by accident. "While there are plenty of species that like to remain on their little planets and never bother anyone… humans tend to spread about. There is the old saying: The galaxy screams "Humans, no!" and humans answer, "Humans yes!"."
That made Jacobo chuckle. "Sounds similar to another saying I've heard. "Don't you fuck it." "I'm gonna fuck it!" "I said-" "Too late!"."
"Yes, you humans do tend to stick your phalluses in anything and everything. Do not get me wrong, I like to explore, but your kind?" He huffed and shook his head. "But we have gotten off point. There is little you can do for me."
"I can be entertaining," Jacabo stated. "I know stories… and your crew must get bored."
Hondo considered that. "Yes… the holonet never has anything good on… and you might know stories we've never heard."
And in the first moment that would change everything, Jacobo said, "I know of one tale you'd like. It's a favorite of mine. A tale of pirates."
"Pirates?"
"Yes… but not the kind that kill and destroy. No… pirates that are beloved by all. That are pirates because they see the corruption of the universe and say "No." Who fight for the innocent and steal from the greedy and rich."
Hondo leaned forward. "I am… interested. Tell me more."
"it is a romance… but not the kind you are thinking. A Man's Romance. Adventure. Excitement. Daring. It is a story of people the world sought to break, to heap tragedy upon, and who clawed their way out of misery so that while remembered… it never tainted them. Of found family and doing the right thing and being rewarded for it. Where the black flag of a pirate means terror for the governments and the nobles… and hope for the innocent."
Hondo was on the edge of his seat now.
"Our story begins with the death of a pirate… his end supposed to be the swan song of the age of pirates… but instead… was the beginning."
~MANY, MANY, MANY Days Later…~
Jacobo fell silent.
No one in the massive dining area said a word.
Nor did any of the speakers, linked to the other ships that made up Hondo's armada, let so much as a buzz go through.
"The end," Jacobo finally said.
Everyone erupted.
Massive beings who would glare at you if you looked at them wrong… openly wept with smiles upon their lips. Shipmates grabbed their buddies' shoulders and shook them hard, asking if they had just heard that even though that had been listening the entire time. Cheers and calls to buy Jacobo a drink, only to remember he only drank water, filled the air. A group of pirates lifted their cups and toasted the memory of Ace; it didn't matter if he wasn't real… they had loved him and mourned him and they would continue to do so, as if he had been one of their crewmates. People broke into chants of "LUFFY! LUFFY!" and "STRAWHAT! STRAWHAT!" Several of the crew showed off the shirts they had made depicting the Jolly Roger of the Strawhat Pirates and quickly got requests. World Nobles and Blackbeard had their names cursed and spat upon before men and women spoke of Whitebeard's last stand. Several men pulled out instruments and began to play Bink's Brew; they had made Jacobo sing the song multiple times so they could all learn the lyrics.
It took nearly an hour for Hondo to get to Jacobo and lead him to the bar. Everyone wanted to shake his hand and thank him for the story and ask when he would tell it again. Honestly Hondo understood that desire; he wanted to hear about Luffy's adventures from the very beginning, to see if he could spot the clues and hints of what was to come. Jacobo had warned him in private that the man that had written the tale, Odo, "Never forgets" and Hondo saw that.
"I can't believe that's how it ended," Hondo said. "It was… perfect."
"Yeah, it really was," Jacobo said even as the bartender passed over a glass of water flavored with some fruit that Jacobo said tasted like strawberries from his world. "And the crew enjoyed it."
"They LOVED it!" Hondo declared.
But Jacobo turned to him, a frown on his lips. "Then why do you seem so sad, Captain?"
"Ah, it is nothing," Hondo said.
"Come now," Jacobo said, "a true captain is honest with their crew."
Hondo winced at that before nodding. "Yes… yes you are right. I just… I wish my life was like that of Luffy's. The pirate he is… ah, I would love to be like that. The killing and the screams… oh, sometimes that is nice, especially if it is against some fool that shows you disrespect, but it is so tiresome!" He thanked the bartender as he handed over Hondo's favorite drink, taking a sip of it. "I love the freedom I have! I enjoy seeing new places and meeting new people and making friends! I like playful rivalries where after all is done you eat and you drink and you have good cheer. All the bloodletting and violence… it is tiresome. And messy. I hate messy."
Jacobo nodded at that, adjusting his coat. "I understand. And yes… the world of One Piece would be fun to live in. To have the title of 'pirate' mean 'a free man doing what was right' rather than 'someone to fear'."
The two were silent for several long minutes, the crew still excited over the end of the tale.
"Why… can't it be?" Hondo said slowly, finally.
"Hmmm?"
Hondo slowly turned and gestured at his crew. "Look at them… look at how excited they are. Normally we've had four fistfights break out at this point but since you began telling your tale we haven't had a single skirmish. The doctors are saying it's the most relaxed they have been. So… why not spread the word?"
"Tell the story?" Jacobo said. "I mean… I could. But its just a story, Hondo."
"So was the tale of the One Piece… at first." Hondo began to smile, an idea forming in his head. "Gol D. Roger's declaration… it changed history. Motivated many to become pirates. Why can't it here?"
Jacobo considered that. "Make it that it wasn't a mere story… but really happened?"
"On some distant planet. Lost in space. Waiting to be found. The One Piece is real. Roger was real."
Jacobo frowned though. "Yes, but you saw how that also created bad pirates. Blackbeard and Big Mom and-"
"No no no, we ensure THAT doesn't happen!" Hondo declared. He was truly warming up to this scheme, the thoughts bubbling in his head like a glass of Corillian brandy left by a heat duct. "We claim that the One Piece can only be held by one who is a TRUE pirate. Those that seek death and destruction have no hope of finding it. Only a pirate that wishes to fight against the corrupt and the powerful and aid the people can find it and become King of the Pirates."
"That… could work," Jacobo said slowly. "But what happens when no one finds it?"
Hondo waved him off. "Oh, there are so many hidden relics in the galaxy. The Jedi have lost more than they have found. In fact… the One Piece IS a lost Force Relic. Gol D. Roger is a former Jedi turned pirate." Hondo snickered. "Oh… that would drive them mad!"
Jacobo was now warming up to the idea as well. "We tell the story, get others to tell it to. Whisper that its knowledge that shouldn't be spoken of… and that makes people want to talk about it more."
"And suddenly all people can speak of are True Pirates." Hondo's mind filled with visions of him landing on a planet and the people cheering his approach. Women kissing his rings, men crying in thanks, children wanting to be just like him. And he wouldn't be seeking anything from them but food and a good time. Of the bloated Galactic Republic and the Hutts and the like all trembling in fear of him and the True Pirates coming to stop them, to end their ways. Of being free.
Jacobo and Hondo shared a look.
"Everyone!" Jacobo shouted, leaping onto the bar. It took a moment but the crew quieted, interested what their story teller had to say. "I have a few announcements. First… if you will have me… I will join your crew."
He barely got the last word out before the crew roared so loud the ship shook. "JACOBO! JACOBO!" they cheered, banging their glasses on their tables. Plans quickly began to form for the ceremony to induct him in fully.
But they all grew quiet as Jacobo held out his hand.
"Second… I must admit something. And I hope you will not think less of me for it. The story I told of Luffy and the Strawhats… I did not personally create it."
The crew… accepted that easily enough. It was common for people to pass along stories. A bit sad Jacobo hadn't written it but-
"Its real."
All thought stopped.
"Luffy lived," Jacobo declared. "Zoro. Nami. Sanji. Ussop. Chopper. Robin. Franky. Brook. Jinbe-"
Other names were called out. Not just Strawhats but other pirates that had become favorites. Jacobo allowed the men to do so before motioning for silence.
"They all lived. On a far off planet, lost in the depths of space. I learned of the tale from those that whispered it… and hope that one day, men and women who believe in Romance… who believe in the true meaning of Pirate… would find it… and show all to the galaxy."
He paused.
"The treasure of Gol D. Roger… of Monkey D. Luffy… is real. And it is all in One Piece."
Hondo felt his body tremble. Even though he knew it was a lie… he WANTED to believe.
"So… who wants to fucking claim it?"
The roars of the crew echoed long and hard.
But before the crew could get too excited Hondo suddenly stood up, joining Jacobo on the bar. "Yes, yes, we are all excited... but we can't do this!" He allowed that comment to hang in the air, generating just enough mutinous glowers to make things interesting before saying, "We must do this right." He turned to the barkeep. "Bring out some barrels."
It only took seconds for the crew to realize what Hondo was getting at and the excitement grew all the more in the dining area. But where before they had been loud and boisterous now they were quiet, murmuring to themselves even as they smiled and glanced at their friends. They knew what was coming... that it was something special and that it deserved to be treated with respect. Men moved to help the barkeep and soon everyone was out of their seats, bunched up in groups ranging from 2 to 8, a barrel in the middle of each scrum.
"I want to write the most beautiful song in the world!" one pirate suddenly called out.
"I want to find the Tilek Tree and learn how to carve its branches!"
"I want to make me mum proud!"
"i want to make me mum disappointed!" That one earned some laughter but everyone understood how genuine and noble that dream was consider the mum.
"I want to see the Boronig Nebula!"
"I want to discover the truth behind the Lost Fleet!"
Hondo and Jacobo found themselves before a barrel, reserved just for them.
"I... want to tell stories that are remembered for generations." With that Jacobo lifted his left leg and placed it on the barrel.
"I want to make the word 'pirate' something people are proud to be called," Hondo said with the most honesty he'd ever mustered. His own leg went up and the two men, destined to become brothers in all but blood, grinned.
~MC~MC~MC~
Later, Hondo would warn that they must keep the tale silent. Not let anyone else know. Of course he knew the crew would talk; he was counting on their excitement to make their tongues waggle. They would mention the tale, the One Piece, the legends… and set up for part two of the plot.
Over MANY days Jacobo recorded the story again and he and Hondo cut it up and sent it around to different inspiring bards and singers and storytellers. They always included the first few adventures but then would cut and jump around, so that no one got the full story. This allowed those telling the tales to spread more naturally… rather than the whole tale it was heard in pieces, a puzzle that people had to put together. They always left off the ending, to tantalize everyone. And it ended with the same message: The treasure was left in One Piece.
Some would of course add to the story. Insert new tales, new characters. Change who won this fight or have something occur at a different time. Hondo and Jacobo didn't mind as that made it seem more real. Conflicting legends that no one could agree upon. What did matter was people heard the stories… and were inspired. Simple men and women happy to remain home suddenly thirsted for adventure. Crews that had been willing to work for the Hutts or the Pykes declared themselves free. Ships began to sport Jolly Rogers upon their hulls.
Yes, some would use this as an excuse to be villainous. That was the story of life itself. But for every new pirate that sought to rape and pillage twenty more set out to prove themselves a True Pirate… and make the galaxy a bit of a better place. Governments trembled, Dark Lords seethed, and beings of power wondered just what the hell was going on. They tried to stamp it out, to stop it, to crush it in its cradle.
But… just like with Hondo's crew… the more you say "do not speak of this" the more people talk. They would never realize that their actions only helped the legends grow.
The Golden Age of Piracy… had begun.
~MC~MC~MC~
It is shocking to consider just how different the galaxy might have been had Hondo Ohnaka and Jacobo D. Mars not let slip the secret that was One Piece. It is why our calendars are the way they are, listing events as Before One Piece and After One Piece. The rise and fall of Empires can be marked by the news of the One Piece and the Dawn of Piracy. What would the galaxy be like if some of the most famous pirates of the Golden Age never hoisted the Jolly Roger?
Thankfully… we will never know.
-An Excerpt from "Hoist The Colors" by Roronoa Skywalker, Head of History at the Tatooine Institute, 567 AOP