Chapter Text
This story starts a long time ago, after the death of many, when the world was quieter, in that way the sea is after a huge wave, as if holding it's breath, waiting for the next one. There was no huge difference, the grass was still green, and the sky was still blue. People lived their lives as usual, unaware of what was to come, but the less explored corners of the planet buzzed with excitment and expectation.
During the quiet hours of darkness, where sea met land, whispers between the melody of waves and the rustling of leaves in the breeze could be heard. A child was to come, they were to be protected, but as free as one can dream of being, blessed by ocean and destined to change the world. All while causing great chaos, of course. The baby would be a boy, "Luffy" the Sea proclaimed, and the land echoed. A soul had been chosen for the mission, a bright one at that, it gigled quietly even through the darkest nights, and comforted lost souls. Some time in and the Sea started to change it's mind about giving the kid up, which could be considered fair, it did see what humans were capble of. So, in an atempt to calm the wailing mother, a pact was made. The baby would not enter the world alone, instead, having as company, a being that was about to get kicked out of heaven. Joyboy, they called him, the one who could not rest, deciding instead to bother the Gods, with the only excuse of being bored. Naturally, after being presented the unique chance to get rid of the especially anoying being, it was decided, he would go down again, as he wished, but would be bounded to share the body of a human. At this, the Sea slowly accepted what was to come, and months passed fast.
A few months before the kid was due to arrive, a problem appeared. As much as the sea loved him, it couldn't raise a baby, not on land, at least, thus, a process started. All families were analised, and at last, Monkey D. Garp was chosen, or rather, his son. In a way of a second chance, to help forgive a bit of all the bad he's done in the name of a false justice. It was incredible how much they hid under that claim, under that cape, too scared to face the obvious in front of them, too coward to actually look at what they were doing, fearing hell, but making it of other people lives.
One night the Sea showed itself to them, it wasn't really fond of humans, or talking to them, but decided to do it anyways. They were warned, knew exactaly what was about to happen, and nine months later a life was added to the ever growing count. The child opened two big black eyes, that looked like two jabuticabas, the nurse noted. It was the first Marlene ever seen laugh in those first seconds of life, when you fought fruitlessly against the cruel reality of being alive. He kind of reminded her of the sun, but she couldn't really tell why. He was born healthy, with chubby cheeks and a world to conquer, she left that day feeling oddly light. And that exact day a story begun, one that would be told for years to come, the story of the pirate king.