Posting here bc I am tired
Kinda a draft of a first chapter? I’m too tired to fix it up and post properly on ao3, sooo…
Sneak peek if you’re interested?
Pairing Luffy x Law (eventually. completely aroace, if you want kisses or sex, this won’t satisfy you)
Family feels and adventure
Sorry about the mess, cut off for a reason lol
# Prequel; chapter 1 - The treasure of old
The Straw Hat pirates stod stunned and stared at the treasure hidden inside Laughtale - this miracle at the very core of the island - the silence both heavy and fragile in the air.
Despite looking like he was a hair’s breath away from passing out, Usopp was the first to speak;
“Come again?” It came out squeaky and trembling, yet clear.
“_I am the herald of history. That which is called ‘The One’, I was created and placed here for the sole purpose of greeting you all this very day… alas, the Dark One has prevailed, for Poseidon is no more.”_
Usopp fell back on his ass with a squeak as the thin line floating in the air started to write and squirm as the flat, artificial sounding voice once again started to speak. It looked a lot like electricity, yet didn’t behave like any electricity Usopp had ever seen, and yes, that included all the crap with Enel…
Robin frowned before speaking up.
“Poseidon… You are speaking about the mermaid princess, are you not?”
Luffy snapped to attention.
“What about ’hoshi?”
A moment of silence before the voice started up again.
_”Poseidon, the covenant of old, is no more. The breaching of promise will bring total destruction, the likes even the Dark One cannot fathom. This entire planet is doomed.”_
A loud “WHAT?!?” was exclaimed from several people at once.
_”Yet, the hour of despair need not come. For there is still time in which to act.” _ The voice continued. _”For within my light lies the Ultimate Gift, the treasure of time and choice. The singular opportunity to send one person back in time, to correct that which must never happen. I ask you now, son of D, do wish for the power to save the world?”_
“I don’t understand what you are talking about! Tell me what’s wrong with ‘hoshi! Explain so it makes sense!” Luffy was practically shaking with effort to keep his emotions contained.
“Luffy,” Robin stepped forward and put her hand on Luffy’s shoulder, even she seemed slightly shaken by everything that they had learned. “I believe it’s telling us… that Shirahoshi is dead.”
Luffy’s eyes grew wide.
“What?!?” Luffy spun around to face the glowing line floating in the air. “Is that true? What happened to her? Tell me or I’ll kick your ass!”
_”The creature which you call Shirahoshi is no more, she died having never fulfilled her purpose. Her dying without fulfilling the promise has broken the covenant and will rouse the Ancient Ones, whose children you call sea kings, and they will tear this world asunder. And should any life survive the ordeal, once the Ancient Ones are dead, the covenant between water and life will be destroyed and all water will grow stagnant and start to rot. Life will be no more. There will be no stopping it, for the point of no return was the death of Poseidon.”_
“‘Hoshi’s really dead?!?” Luffy shouted. “What happened? Who hurt her?!?”
Jinbei, who looked throughly shellshocked, finally spoke up. “What about fishman island? Did something happen to the people living there?”
_”Apologies, but I can only sense the presence of the ancient weapons, their presence or lack there of. I spent many years sensing the approach of the day Poseidon would be reborn into this world, indeed it came as was fortold, and I felt the moment it once again appeared on this planet in mortal flesh… and I felt it when it was, once again, snuffed out before reaching its full potential.”_
Luffy’s hands curled into fists so hard his knuckles turned white.
“Cut the crap!” Luffy snapped.
Robin shook her head. “It claims to know only that she is dead, Luffy,” her voice trembling slightly. “But not what happened.”
Robin turned her face towards this mysterious ‘One’ creature or entity or whatever it was.
“You said something, about how the world is doomed to die, but that it doesn’t have to end like this?”
_”That is correct. The nature of my powers is such that I can rewind time… I was placed here as a guide and a fail safe should the point of no return come before that fated Day. _
_”However, such power comes with limitations, I can only send one person back in time, and the amount of time can vary greatly, depending on how much power I have at my disposal. _
_“Also, only a small number of people possess the ability to retain their memories in the first place, making the offer moot, as without memories you are unable to change the course of history. _
_”So I ask you, son of D, do you desire the power to save the world?”_
Luffy’s face turned with disgust as he simply said “No.”
Several cries of “Luffy!”, “What?” and “Why?!?” was heard around the room. Nami and Usopp rushed over to Luffy and started to try to shake some sense into their captain.
“Please,” Nami said to the presence with a forced cheer. “Give us a moment before we decide anything ok?” Before turning back to Luffy and hissing “What do you think you’re doing?!? If you say no, everyone dies!”
“I can’t do that Nami! I’m not some hero! Besides, I told you before, I won’t go on a boring adventure!”
Nami gawked at Luffy, stunned beyond words trying to comprehend her captain.
“Luffy…” Usopp said desperately. “Don’t you think it’s kinda important…?”
“But that’s why!” Luffy said in frustration. “It is important! But I can’t lie, or plot, or plan! Let’s say I did go back five years or something, I have to do everything the same way or risk never meeting you guys! You think I remember the exact time of day I left my island? Every little thing that led me to you guys? You think I can meet you guys and pretend you aren’t my nakama? Because in my eyes you are and in your eyes I would just be a stranger! And I can’t do that, I can’t pretend that meeting any of you guys after spending who knows how long apart won’t make me happy! You expect me to not hug you guys and call out your names?”
Nami felt her blood leave her face.
Because what could she say? Luffy was _right_. A Nami unaccustomed to Luffy and his…. _Luffyness_, would never join his crew. Because she’d take one look at a happy rubber man shouting her name and trying to hug her and run for the hills. She’d be so sure he was either a trap sent by Arlong, insane or both. Safe to say she would never open her heart for him, and she doubted that she was the only one.
As if knowing what she was thinking about, Luffy continued; “How can I possibly do this without all of you? But how can I go forward in the world just trying to do the exact same thing I already did once? Knowing that if I miss something I might never be there to kick the butlers ass for hurting Usopp and trying to kill the people dear to him? Might not reach Zoro in time? Might not find my way to the restaurant Sanji was at? Might never meet you, Nami?”
Luffy was clutching at his chest like he was experiencing a heart attack in real time and Nami struggled to blink away the tears forming in her eyes.
“You expect me to meet Vivi or Robin and not cry with joy? Not tell Laboon that Brook is waiting for him? You expect me to see Blackbeard’s face and not kill him? To see Ace -“ Luffy’s voice broke. “I just can’t do it, I can’t do what I must and be what you guys need when you need me if all I can do is trying to be someone I’ve already been.”
Nami took a step back from Luffy. She glanced around at the others in the crew, several of them had tears in their eyes, except Franky who was openly bawling, and she knew that they too knew, a Luffy trying to be someone else (even if that person was himself from another time) would not be able to pull in all the people he had. Would not be able to turn them into a home, a family, a _crew_. A Luffy sent back in time was doomed to fail. She chewed on her bottom lip, a nervous habit she hadn’t done for years as it only happened while she felt under extreme stress and despair.
“Alright,” Nami almost didn’t recognize her own voice. “You can only send one person back, right? So pick me.” She said to the thing.
Several objections were heard but Nami kept going; “I’m the navigator, so it’s kinda my job to make sure we get where we need to go.”
_”…”_ The slight pause was somehow very loud and telling. _”Unfortunately, I can not send you back, only a captain qualifies for the opportunity. The crew cannot enter on his or her behalf.”_
“W-what?” Nami exclaimed in chock. “B-but we just told you Luffy won’t go, and it would be worse if he did!”
_”I cannot do what I cannot do. The rules are clear; regardless of the size of the crew, only the captain can accept the offer. Only a captain with a crew can qualify for the offer.”_
Law, who up until now had been leaning against a wall, next to the door and furthest away from everyone else, spoke up with a raspy voice.
“What, exactly, are the rules limiting the usage of this power?”
_”The rules are clear: A captain capable of reaching this place. With a crew to his or hers name. And though it’s not a requirement for accepting the offer, to be able to retain your memories, a special blood is needed. Or you are just fated to re-live your life exactly the same way as the first time.”_
“I see…” Law spoke slowly. “Then technically I should qualify, no? I’m not part of Straw Hat-ya’s crew. I’m a captain in my own right and…” Laws’ breath caught slightly. “I still have some men to my name.”
The silence was deafening.
_”… I see. But if you are a captain, where is your ship? Where is your crew?”_
“My ship… is at the bottom of the sea.” Law closed his eyes as if admitting out loud that he was nothing but a shameful failure. “And my crew… are recovering elsewhere.”
The silence felt judgmental.
“I don’t exactly expect you to take my word for it -“ Law said as he let go of his damaged arm with a soft hiss of pain and reached into his pocket and pulled out Bepo’s vivre card. “This is my navigators vivre card.”
The small piece of paper looked like it had seen better days, but was not actively shrinking, as it slowly dragged across his palm.
“Is that good enough evidence to prove that I’m a captain with at least one man under my command?” Law asked.
_”… it is. At the very least technically speaking.”_
“Technically is all I’m interested in speaking. I want to know if I can be sent back or not. I have all the requirements, no? I’m a captain, with a crew, and I made it here… the fact that I am here to repay Straw Hat-ya and not on my own ship with my own crew is irrelevant as it wasn’t among the rules you laid down.”
_”Yes… you should be able to accept the offer instead of the son of D…”_ there was clear hesitation in the way it was speaking. _”But be aware that if you don’t possess the right blood, nothing will change.”_
Law stared at it long and hard, which was impressive for it had neither a face nor any eyes to speak of, as if weighing the pros and cons of something of great importance in his mind.
Robin frowned. “Is there any way to check or make sure if someone has it or not?”
_”Negative. The proof is hidden within the blood that carries it, the knowledge passed down through the generations.”_
“B-but then…!” Usopp started saying in a panic before Law stared speaking again, causing him to snap his mouth shut.
“If it makes any difference, my full name is Trafalgar D. Water Law.” Law spoke slowly, but with a type of power that comes with authority. “Does that change anything?”
There was a shift in the room, though no sound had been heard, Law got the impression that the thing had sucked in a breath, as if surprise.
_“… You do indeed possess the power to travel back in time with your memories.”_
Law relaxed slightly in relief that he hadn’t revealed something that private to a room full of people (even if he did sorta trust them) for no reason.
“The D is a marker to distinguish the people who can travel back in time with their memories intact and those who can’t?” Robin asked the One before turning back to Law; “How did you figure it out?”
Law pulled the brim of his hat down so it covered his eyes.
“Just an educated guess.” He muttered. “We all had to state our name to enter, yet despite addressing Straw hat-ya directly, it’s only ever called him ‘son of D’, and the fact that a special bloodline was needed wasn’t brought up until talking about someone else going back in time… almost as thought it already possessed the knowledge that it wasn’t a problem for Straw hat-ya.”
Robin tilted her head slightly as she thought it over. “Indeed, that is a logical conclusion to reach.”
“Wait,” Luffy exclaimed. “You’re a D too?!?”
He bounced up to Law and gave him a big smile. “That’s so cool!” Luffy paused as if he just realized something. “Wait - your name is Water?” Luffy collapsed to the ground in laughter. “That’s so funny! You can’t even swim!”
Law flushed. “I can swim! I’m just physically unable to, it’s _different._”
Luffy sat up as he got his laughter under control.
“Is that so? I never learned how to swim!” Luffy said almost proudly and smiled at Law.
Law rolled his eyes but his ire was already dying in the face of Luffy’s pure and simple joy.
“Straw hat…” Law dropped his -ya, partly because it was something he’d picked up to be a bit of a brat, and partly because he wanted a serious discussion with Luffy (a heart-to-heart, if you will). Luffy snapped to attention, sitting cross legged on the floor, yet an air of seriousness about his. “I do get that as someone only here to repay a debt, I have no right to make demands or ask for favors… but will you allow me to go back in time in your place?”
Luffy laughed like Law had said something funny. “What are you talking about? Of course you can ask for whatever you want! But…” Luffy’s smile dropped. “Are you sure you want to spoil your own adventure?”
Law looked at Luffy for a second.
“Straw hat… I just had to burry more than half my crew.” The silence was suffocating. “I am not like you, I didn’t set out on a quest for fun and adventure, I set out to free myself from a destiny forced upon me by a world hellbent on killing me before I was even conceived. All I ever wanted was the freedom to live my life, and the power to protect those dear to me…” Law’s voice trailed off. “And the only reason I wasn’t left with my home in ruins and every single person I loved dead for the third time in my life was because you saw fit to help me…” Laws voice cracked. “So… Please. Will you grant me the chance to save my crew?”
There were tears in Laws eyes, but he was way too stubborn to let them fall. And although he felt embarrassed, small and damn near naked under Luffy’s silent scrutiny, he refused to look away from Luffy. A silent understanding seemed to shift between them before Luffy gave one of his trademark grins.
“Of course!” Luffy said happily. “If you want it, it’s yours.”
“Luffy!” Nami exclaimed in protest only to bring her hand up to her mouth and blush as everyone in the room turned to look at her. “Sorry, force of habit.”
Luffy started laughing shortly followed by Brook and the random chuckle from some of the other members of the crew. The merriment was short lived as Nami took offense to that and delivered swift justice in the form of a punch to the scull.
Law swallowed the lump in his throat before trying to speak again.
“Thank you, truly,” Law said softly but not quietly. “I won’t do you wrong.”
Luffy who was busy rubbing the bump on his head turned to Law with a big grin; “I know, you never do.”
Law flushed and looked away, but refrained from saying anything in objection to that statement. Instead he took a deep breath and walked up to the line glowing in the air.
“So, how do we do this?”
_”A final thing, a warning, the requirement for a crew wasn’t frivolous. The bonds formed between a captain and his crew as they overcome adversity to reach this place influence the amount of time you can travel back in time.” _
Law looked up sharply. “Then -“
_”However, the bonds existing between your two groups should be enough to send you at a minimum 5 months back in time, which should give you the time you need to prevent the death of the one called Shirahoshi.”_
Laws head swam with strategies and plans to avoid disaster.
“Is there a limit for how far back I might en up?” He asked.
_”Yes, it is impossible for you to travel more than 5 years back in time. Most likely you should end up somewhere between 1 to 3 years ago. Although, as I said, it can be anything between 5 months to 5 years, so be prepared.”_
“And…” Law glanced down at his mostly useless arm. “I won’t be traveling so much through time as it’s my memories that do?”
_”Correct. Time will be wound back. Physical wounds or injuries will be unmade. Any strengths or mastery achieved will be lost until training to reach such heights have occurred again.”_
Law exhaled. “Alright, let’s get this over with, unless there’s something else I need to know before we start?”
It never replied, instead it snaked around Law, both turning into a golden light as they started to fade from sight. In a flash of brilliant gold, everything was gone.
