Chapter Text
CHAPTER 1 - LIGHT AND DARKNESS
Death comes without warning, regardless of how much you wish for otherwise, and within seconds, everything changes.
She remembers the hospital, the constant beeping of the heart monitor as it began slowing down, the cacophony of nurses and doctors rushing to her side and the wailing of the machines as her heart began to give up despite every attempt to bring her back.
However, Death came for her and the feeling of weightlessness filled her being, as all the pain she felt before began to fall away and nothing mattered anymore.
“Call it. Time of death: 11:52 am.”
She left her body behind with little remorse and as she found herself floating amidst the darkness, warmth and peace flowing through her soul.
It comforted her that she would spend eternity in such comfort – no pain and free to be nothing more than another footnote in the vast history of humankind.
The passage of time became meaningless, and she felt herself slowly slipping away into the blissful state of non-existence – Her story was over.
“One path has closed, the story written. Yet that doesn’t have to be the end as there are still pages left for you to fill, should you choose to fill them up.”
She was startled by the sudden appearance of the voice, its soft yet commanding tone jarring against the silence she was accustomed to, and she wondered who was speaking to her like that, considering that she did not believe in deities.
Death has no use for such ruses, leaving her to wonder what the voice’s intentions were.
The darkness slowly began to fade around her, the increasing brightness blinding, and she let out a startled scream as she suddenly felt herself falling from the suspended state into soft sand – the gentle sound of ocean waves making her cautiously open her eyes.
She stared in wonder at the beach that she now sat at, the brightness having dimmed down into a picturesque sunset, the sun rays dancing across the clear water that lapped at her feet.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?”
She flinched when someone sat down beside her, her head turning to take in the boy who stared forlornly at the sun with a small smile that made her question if she had ever met him during her lifetime.
“Who are you…?”
Her voice was slightly raspy, and she was not sure how she sounded before dying, unused to speaking since her time in the darkness.
The boy laughed, his startlingly white hair flopping around him as he was holding his stomach – almost as if she had told the greatest joke of all time and he turned to her with gleaming red eyes.
“You’re funny. You know about me! From reading about my home for so long and longing to escape from the confines of your former life. It seems like you have been drifting in darkness for too long, so let me introduce myself. I am Nika, the Sun God! And I also know ALL about you, Mary-Ann.”
While her eyes roamed over Nika’s appearance, Mary-Ann winced as memories began assaulting her mind, her life flashing before her eyes like a movie.
She was born to loving but overwhelmed parents and when her older brother became sick, she slowly became the glass child – her needs and concerns not as valid as the cancer raging havoc on her brother’s body and easily dismissed by everyone around her for seeking attention.
Years went by and while she never resented her brother, she wished for someone to take her away from her family and found One Piece – the story captivating her, making her wish for the same level of companionship as the Strawhat Pirates.
Following her brother’s death around her 18th birthday, Mary-Ann decided to cut off contact with her family and tried to find a purpose outside of her hometown.
Her life finally seemed to turn for the better when she moved into a big city and got admitted into her dream school but on her way home from the interview a drunk driver struck her and a dozen other people on a mad rampage through a pedestrian area.
While she survived the journey to the hospital and the following surgery, complications afterward caused her to bleed out internally and she died surrounded by medical personnel and her parents were nowhere to be found, choosing to ignore her when she had moved out of spite.
She came back to herself when she felt Nika wipe away the tears that had unknowingly streamed down her face, the touch of his touch hands gentle against her heated skin.
“I do know you. But- How? You’re from a story and couldn’t possibly be real.”
He chuckled lightly, grinning from ear to ear and the sun gleamed behind his frame as he spoke.
“Aren’t all Gods fictional, the belief of something greater than humanity born from one person’s dreams? The human mind can conjure whatever it wants and follows whatever seems to fit into that person’s worldview. The only thing that is not fictional is death, regardless of where you are from. As for me? I am merely trying to find a solution to my problem.”
Mary-Ann looked up from the sand she had been playing with, her mind racing as she tried to make sense of that last sentence.
“Problem? That doesn’t make sense, the story might not have been over when I died but there wasn’t anything wrong.”
Nika had flopped down into the sand, his eyes staring at the moon almost longingly when it had risen after the sun had set during their conversation.
He did not say anything for a while, just basking in the light of the moon and the tranquility of the ocean lapping at their feet.
“The story didn’t exactly pan out how you might remember it. The Strawhats never reached Laugh Tale, the government executed everyone who wasn’t killed after Imu’s attack on them shortly before the end of their journey. The world as we knew it ended that day – the drums never got sounded again. I mourned the lives that were lost and swore to find another way. But watching countless timelines go by without changing the result made me go for the only thing that was left for me to try.”
He turned to look at her with an almost manic gleam shining in his red eyes, the clouds wiggling around him from excitement.
“I brought you here, someone who isn’t native to this plane of existence to act as a fault, as something completely unpredictable in the timeline. Something that shakes the foundations and gives it a chance to change, to prevent senseless destruction and needless suffering by changing the known world into something new.”
Mary-Ann swallowed, the lump in her throat almost making her choke as she thought about the fate of the Strawhats and their world – the end that Nika described seemed almost too unbelievable, but the raw pain that hid in his eyes told her that everything he said was true.
That kind of pain couldn’t be faked; it was one born from experiencing the worst kind of pain one could imagine and still live to tell the tale.
“I’m honored that you think that I could be that fault you described but I am nothing more than a simple human. I am not skilled or knowledgeable, can’t bring anything that would change your world that seems to value strength over kindness.”
He took her hands in his, pulling her up on her feet and leading her towards the water – the moonlight creating sparkles on the ocean’s surface as they came to a stop in the shallow.
“And that’s not something you should be ashamed of. Being human is one of the greatest gifts someone can possess. You will make me proud, I know it. Take to the seas, experience everything my world has to offer and know in your heart that whatever you do, the sea always takes care of those she loves most. Me and my sister will wait for the day the drums will sound throughout the world again.”
A small ball of light was pushed into her hands, its warmth caressing her soul as she looked down upon it and before she could ask Nika what that was or what he meant, he pushed her into the ocean – the warm current taking them both away.
“One drum wasn’t enough, but two might do the trick. Let’s see if they will make it this time.”
The moonlight gathered in one place and a feminine figure rose from the sea, her white hair gleaming amidst the night.
“Let’s hope so, brother. Our story will not die this time; we made sure of it.”
She was back in the gentle caress of darkness, but this time the small ball of light remained with her.
Mary-Ann found herself growing protective as it began to grow by her side, became more animated and seemed to radiate pure happiness as it snuggled up to and teased with pokes and little pushes against her.
But their peace ended abruptly, as the darkness suddenly became oppressive and her little light was ripped away from her.
Feeling the loss, she dove after it - not willing to give it up as she had decided that it was hers and hers alone.
Baltigo, Paradise – Grandline
Monkey D. Dragon was a man with few fears, something he had to achieve as the leader of the biggest revolution since the Void Century but hearing his lover scream as they struggled to bring his child into this world was not something he wanted to repeat – ever.
He didn’t want children when he was younger, his time as a Marine disillusioning him about the way the world treated those who were beneath them and didn’t want any child, least of all his own, to experience the cruelty of their government and the so-called World Nobles.
Then he met the most interesting person at the shadiest bar on Sabaody, their sharp tongue and wit appealing to him as they entered a discussion about the Marines, World Government and the resulting increase in Piracy after Gold Rogers execution four years ago while cheap booze lowered their inhibitions over the course of the evening.
One thing led to another and the next morning he woke up with a killer hangover, a horny bed companion and his dried cum sticking on both their bodies as they entered another round of mind-blowing sex.
At first, he wasn’t worried, as they assured him that they could not get pregnant due to health issues, but he was proven wrong in trusting that statement.
About three months ago he had a furious pirate storming into his once secure headquarters, demanding to see him so they could kill him personally for getting them knocked up by the most-wanted man in the world.
There was a lot of screaming that day from the newer recruits when Haki and Devil Fruit powers were thrown around as they argued and fought it out, until they eventually settled on staying on Baltigo until the child was born.
Now, on a warm summer morning they went into labor – throwing him out of the room when he couldn’t stop pacing due to his restlessness after several hours had passed with no progress.
Dragon feared for the stigma his child would receive if it were ever made public that he was their father and he didn’t wish for them to carry that burden if he could do something about it.
Hours passed and when the sun had reached its zenith, the door was thrown open and his most trusted doctor, Herodonna came up to him with a small bundle that didn’t want to stop crying cradled in her arms.
“Dragon, Sir, you have a healthy son! Apologies but I need to get back in there, to deliver the second child. There seems to be some complications with their devil fruit powers impacting birth and I don’t want to resort to sea stone just yet when we still must deliver the second one that’s still in breach. I will inform you when I have more information.”
He stared in wonder at the small human being in his arms, raven black wisps of hair peeking through the soft swaddle and he snapped his head up to stare at Herodonna slamming the door shut in his face before he could even get a word in.
His son wiggled in his arms as if he wanted to go back into the room as well, all while he was still crying his lungs out.
“You’re screaming at the world already, hmm? Just like me. Monkey D. Luffy, what do you think?”
A little hand found its way out of the swaddle, hitting him softly in the chest and the crying began to calm down into hiccups before falling asleep not soon after.
“Knew you liked it. Let’s wait for your twin somewhere else.”
Knowing he couldn’t do anything while waiting for an update, he went into his office, as he needed to make a call, something that would kill something inside of him but was necessary – the decision made as soon as he had laid eyes on Luffy.
The two transponder snails stirred as he sat down next to their little desk, turning so he could reach the dial on their shells easily and he still remembered the number after years; his father never had changed it for the off chance that he would receive a call from his son like today.
The snails purred for a minute, waiting for their counterparts to pick up and just as he began to think that his father wouldn’t pick up the snail’s face changed – assuming the beard and scar that his father sported and the eyes narrowed slightly when he greeted him.
“Dragon. I thought you were too busy with your revolution for a call to your old man. Have you finally come to your senses or what could you possibly have to say that you would risk calling me while I am stationed in Marineford? I’m sure you know that little tidbit.”
Dragon sighed, looking out his office window observing the white landscape for a moment.
“You’re a grandfather and I need you to take care of them, when I can’t give them the life they deserve.”
There was silence at the other end of the snail, its eyes wide and mouth hanging open and it would be comical if it weren’t for the fact that he was about to give his children away and he needed his father to focus.
“I am WHAT? I mean- how? You swore to me on the day you deserted from your post that you would never bring children into this corrupt world. And now you call me fourteen years later and tell me that you have fathered not one but two children. Are you insane- no that’s not right. Are you pranking me?”
He felt a tension headache building, praying to every god to give him the strength to deal with Monkey D. Garp and his attitude.
“No pranks, just the truth. We both know what would happen if the higher-ups would get the info that I have fathered children – it would be Baterilla all over again. It broke both our souls the first time, let’s not do it again. Meet me in two days’ time on Dawn Island, then we will talk in person. And I don’t care how you get the time off. Make it work, if not for me – do it for them.”
The snail went back to sleep with a small ‘gacha’ when he ended the call abruptly and Luffy still slept soundly, not at all bothered by the loud conversation moments before.
Dragon knew his father would come, as Dawn was still special to both despite their differences and changed beliefs over the years.
He knew that his children would thrive on his home island, the craziness of the Grandline and being associated with the Revolution being far enough away to hopefully lead a normal life despite the D. in their names.
The sun had long set, and the night chill slowly began to set in, but there still hasn’t been any update from Herodonna as he spent time with his son.
Luffy had already shown he had the D. appetite and demolished three bottles of formula before falling back asleep in the makeshift basin that Kuma had brought over from Sorbet Kingdom after he called him for some baby supplies when he couldn’t find the ones he had bought months earlier.
The moon was shining brightly and when midnight approached, he called the buccaneer to come to Baltigo immediately.
He had been surprised to see Dragon as a father but promised to watch over Luffy while he tried to get an update from Herodonna.
Seeing how gentle the man acted around Luffy, wary of their size difference and Devil Fruit Dragon wondered how someone ever thought that he could be the tyrant that the government had branded him as.
Any child that could call him father would be loved dearly and protected from the horrors of this world.
The halls were surprisingly empty, as most members, despite the late hour tended to lounge around if they had no urgent matters to attend to, so it didn’t take Dragon long to reach the infirmary door and with little fanfare, he knocked on the door.
Herodonna opened the door a few moments later, a few bloodstains on her shirt and a tired expression on her face as she let him into the room – sand hanging in her hair and strewn about the room.
“Dragon, Sir, excuse my appearance but we have been able to stabilize the patient, although we needed to do an emergency c-section as we weren’t able to get the baby out of breach position and seawater alone wasn’t enough to weaken the abilities of them. Both are going to be fine, though the baby had some breathing problems, but she eventually began breathing on her own. We will monitor her for a few days, but it seems like it isn’t a major problem for her future. She’s over there right over there next to Crocodile.”
Dragon nodded and looking over Crocodile’s still form he could see the strain they had gone through, bandages covering their abdomen and multiple machines whirred as they monitored their condition.
He knew they wouldn’t agree with his decision but hoped they would come around as neither of them could take care of two children without the Marines taking notice of their activities or the lack thereof.
Turning to the other occupant of the room, he could see another little bundle lying peacefully inside a raised crib, sleeping as the moonlight streamed through the curtains, another machine silently monitoring her breathing.
She was slightly smaller than Luffy and sported the same dark hair as her brother, chest rising with a slight irregularity that made him stroke the soft cheek with a hurting heart.
The Monkey family didn’t have a girl born to them in seven generations and as he watched his daughter sleep, he thought about how his mother and grandmother were probably turning in their graves that they never got to see a little one with their smile run around Dawn Island.
Dragon pondered on a name, not having talked about that beforehand with Crocodile as they both weren’t ready to face the day the baby or now babies were born.
Neither had conventional names nor could they bother to peruse common names in the world and left it up for debate when the time was right.
Kuma had quietly joined him, Luffy safely tucked in his big hands and put him down beside his twin with a small smile looking over them both.
“You know, Dragon. There’s a story my father told me about a long time ago. About the celestial deities of the Sun God Nika and Moon Goddess Selene, two sides of a whole heralding an age where they fight as the Warriors of Liberation against the evil in this world – freeing us all from the generational terror while the Drums of Liberation sound a new age. You may ask why I tell you about this, but with Luffy being born under the midday sun and her being bathed in moonlight it was something that reminded me of these stories.”
Luffy had somehow managed to get out of his swaddle and snuggled close to his sister, looking content with his position and promptly falling back asleep.
Dragon shook his head, looking up to Kuma who regarded his little family with a fond smile on his face.
“Warriors of Liberation, you say? Maybe, maybe not. But I have decided on a name. Luffy, that’s your little sister: Monkey D. Mika. The moon to your sun.”
The next day, Dragon had left Baltigo around midday, heading for the East Blue with Luffy and Mika as soon as Herodonna gave him an earful about being reckless with his children’s future and he left Kuma in charge until he returned.
Crocodile hadn’t awoken yet, their body still weak from the surgery but he knew as soon as he returned without the kids, he would be on the receiving end of their wrath so he instructed Kuma to take them to Ivankov as soon as possible, so he could at least hold up one promise he made months ago.
But that wouldn’t be the end, and he was willing to endure the consequences of his selfishness, for the sake of his children.
The sea was rather docile as they passed through the Grandline and into the Calm Belt, the sea kings only looking onto their ship with mild interest before continuing their journey without attacking.
That was one of the strangest occurrences he had witnessed since he left the East Blue a lifetime ago, but on the Grandline everything was possible.
Foosha village was still the same, even though he hadn’t set foot in it in over twenty years and he relished the simplicity of the Blues as he walked into the graveyard of the village.
The twins were situated with Makino; his sister-in-law had been shocked to see him stroll into her bar and explain the situation to her but understood his reasoning to a degree – didn’t mean she held back on how he was an idiot and that she must have gotten all the intellect of the family before snatching the babies from his grip and ordering him out of her bar.
Coming to a stop in front of the family grave, he put down the wildflowers he had gathered on his way in the vase that was nestled between the stones.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been here. I’m sorry, mother.”
His fingers brushed lightly over the engraved name, chuckling when he stopped at the next one.
“Hello, brother. So, you’re an uncle now. You would have laughed your ass off, all while spoiling them to death by being the cool pirate uncle with these crazy stories that would have blown their minds. I miss you, as does Makino. Poor girl still runs that dingy bar that you loved so much.”
Dragon carefully unfolded the worn paper he fished out of his cloak; his brother’s grin plastered onto the old wanted poster as the background burned.
‘WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE – SEASNAKE WYVERN D. ASTREUS 860.000.000’
“Two years and it’s the first time I’ve been to your grave. I wish you had told me that you were dying. At least Makino deserved your honesty. Mother probably turned in her grave when you joined her.”
Sensing his father’s haki approaching he dusted off his pants, laying a hand on each gravestone before leaving to meet him in Makino’s bar.
The moonlight shone onto the names, almost highlighting them.
‘Monkey D. Ann, born Mary-Ann Kaiser, loving wife of Monkey D. Garp.’