Chapter Text
Wealth, Fame, Power.
Gold Roger, King of the pirates, attained this and everything else this world has to offer.and his dying words drove countless souls to the seas
"You want my treasure? You can have it! I left everything I gathered in one place. Now you just have to find it?"
These words lured men men to the grandline in pursuit of dreams greater than they'd ever dared to imagine! This is the time known as the Great Pirate Era.
And it was then, after yet another attempt at watching One Piece without starting over, that a young man died.
Sinatra D. Martin a professional executioner, a government dog. Every execution was perfect, and every order to carry it out never left unanswered.
But Martin D. was never passionate about his work. He took no pleasure in it. Still, he chose to stand by the life he had committed to. Even so, he couldn't resist the urge the desire to capture the spark of a new generation, the death of the Pirate King. He refused to take that head.
His father had drawn the moment. It looked like the intro to One Piece a scroll, a piece of paper. He had captured it with his own hands. Despite knowing that picture would doom them, he couldn’t help it. He was his father’s son.
He stared at that picture. Despite it being the beginning of their misfortune, it felt as though he had been there present at the drawing of the final supper.
It was a masterpiece. A one-of a kind work. One of the final pieces created by Martin D, from a collection later known as The Artist Execution a series of Martin D.’s last artworks, a body of work that ultimately ended his life.
That single scroll of paper was the beginning of it all but also the inspiration for his five year-old son.
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"Don't you find it dumb that someone trying to become King of the Pirates doesn't have a single navigational skill?"
"Not really..."
"I just drift around... What about you aren't you some famous bounty hunter who sails the seas?"
"I don't have any recollection of ever calling myself a bounty hunter."
"Sigh. I set onto the open sea in search of one man, but than I couldn't get back to my village. By that point I had no other choice but to go after pirate ships to earn a living"
"Oh I see your just lost"
"Hey. Don't put it like that!"
As the small boat rocked beneath them, the two rookie pirates Luffy and Zoro watched in alarm as the hat is sent into the wind from the boat walking from Zoro's outburst wind snatched Luffy's treasured straw hat.
A sudden gust lifted it into the air, spinning it skyward. Both of them lunged to catch it, but the breeze was quicker. The hat, a gift from Shanks, danced just out of reach. Just as it seemed lost to the sky, another hand swift and sure snatched it from the wind’s grasp, saving the treasure before it was sent away with the wind.
Zoro and Luffy turned sharply toward the source of the save, eyes widening.
There, clinging to a floating plank of wood, was a young man soaked to the bone, brown waves of hair plastered to his face, clothes clinging like second skin. He looked like a drowned rat, barely keeping himself above water. But in his raised hand, held high like a trophy, was Luffy's straw hat.
The sunlight glinted off the wet brim as he grinned through labored breaths.
“Got it,” he coughed out, voice hoarse but triumphant.
For a moment, neither Zoro nor Luffy spoke just stared in disbelief.
Then Luffy’s grin broke wide.
“That was awesome!”
Zoro crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow. “Idiot nearly drowned just for a hat.”
The young man floated closer, kicking weakly. “Not just a hat, right? That thing’s important.”
Luffy reached down, taking the hat gently, pressing it to his chest. “Yeah… it is.”
Definitely having a flash back.
Still floating beside the boat, the young man looked up at Luffy and Zoro, breathing hard but smiling.
“Permission to board or do you mind if I come aboard?” he asked, resting an arm across the plank as he tread water. “I’m not the best swimmer… obviously.”
Zoro looked him up and down. “You planning on freeloading, or do you actually have something to offer?”
The young man laughed weakly. “I’m not useless, I promise. I’ve got skills. I just… don’t have a ship. Or food. Or dry clothes.”
Luffy chuckled. “You saved my hat. That’s already something big.”
Zoro groaned. “Don’t tell me we’re picking up another stray just like that.”
Luffy extended a hand. “What’s your name?”
The young man grabbed Luffy’s wrist, and with a grunt and a splash, hauled himself onto the deck.
“Name’s Shinsui, Sinatra D Shinsui” he said, coughing water out of his lungs. “And I swear, you won’t regret this.”
Zoro muttered, “We’ll see.”
Shu collapsed to the deck, dripping wet and smiling up at the sky.
“First time I’ve sailed on my own so my ship capsized” he said with a chuckle.
Shinsui wrung out his shirt as he sat cross legged on the deck, steam rising faintly from his damp clothes under the sun. He glanced between Luffy and Zoro, curiosity in his eyes.
“So… you two pirates?” he asked, tilting his head. “Or just guys who like hats and swords? I'm not a expert on how you east blue people are but ya ain't normal”
Luffy laughed, loud and carefree. “I’m gonna be King of the Pirates!”
He blinked. “Seriously?” obviously what else would he be.
“Seriously,” Luffy nodded, proudly tapping his chest. “I’m heading to the Grand Line to find the One Piece.”
Shu turned to Zoro. “And you? Just along for the ride?”
Zoro leaned back against the mast, arms crossed. “I’m gonna be the world’s greatest swordsman. So yeah, I’m on this ride ‘til the end.”
He gave a low whistle. “Big goals. You guys always this sure of yourselves? So ambitious”
Luffy grinned. “Of course!.”
Shu smiled faintly, looking down at the deck. “Huh. Must be nice, knowing what you want.”
Zoro raised an eyebrow. “You don’t?”
He just shrugged. “Still figuring it out, I guess. Just drifting. Been on my own a while after I ditched my old man came to these calm waters to figure things out.”no he already knew what he wanted
Luffy leaned forward. “Well, now you’ve got a ship. And us.”
He looked up, surprised. “Just like that?”
Luffy nodded. “You saved my hat. That makes you a friend.”
Zoro sighed. “He’s way too trusting. Don’t make me regret letting you on board.”
Shu gave a small laugh. “I’ll try not to.”
And like that Shinsui got a caption someone to follow and a old dream to finally fallow.
After leaving Coby back at the marine base in the middle of the day, they spent a day sailing. Then, they picked up a man overboard.
He had brown hair and gray eyes, which sometimes looked almost white or black, depending on the lighting. His wavy hair was tied in a low ponytail.
He wore a loose, white shirt with a fancy sash around his waist, resembling an old kimono. The pattern was detailed, with pink and red flowers, similar to something Sensei might make Kurina wear an heirloom of high quality, though he didn’t care much for it, just like the sword.
Apparently, he wasn’t from the East Blue; he was from the Grand Line. He had run away and stowed away on a Navy vessel heading to the East Blue. He had been sneaking onto ships, island hopping, until the cruise ship was raided by pirates. With no choice but to hide on a small rowboat, he hadn’t found a populated island. Lacking sailing or navigation skills, he capsized and ended up floating on a piece of wood, managing only to salvage a duffel bag.
At least they had some food from the newcomer, and he had some knowledge of the Red Line. However, he mentioned he couldn’t navigate them there and didn’t have any maps.
At least he was a good swimmer didn't have to worry about anyone jumping overboard.