Not all Treasure is Silver and Gold, Mate!
The sun beat down, a blazing beacon in the clear blue sky. He tilted his head back, letting the warm, brilliant rays wash over him. A gentle sea breeze ruffled his hair, carrying the salty scent of adventure and freedom – a fitting farewell in his final moments.
The heavens were a vibrant, perfect blue, stretching endlessly above. He opened his eyes, watching the seagulls soar and cry on the horizon, their wings flapping in wild, unburdened flight. They were truly free, unlike the man standing here now.
Below him, a sea of faces, a cacophony of whispers and stares. People from every corner of the four seas and the Grand Line were packed into the plaza, drawn by the World Government's grand spectacle. Every single movement he made was scrutinized, eyes wide with fear, curiosity, or anticipation.
The only sound that cut through the tense air was the slow, steady thud of his own footsteps as he walked towards his end. The crowd was too captivated, too silent to utter a sound. He paid them no mind, his focus fixed on the familiar, yet distant, scenery laid out before him. Blast it all, it had been years since he'd last set foot on this island!
This was a fine stage for an execution. A perfect, sunny day.
He was going to die today.
Fear? Ha! He'd never known the meaning of the word when it came to his own life. From the moment he'd first set sail under a pirate flag, he knew death was an old friend he'd meet eventually. A man's dream... it's the most important thing he has! You can't let go of it, not even if it means facing your own demise! But unlike those who fell with regret, he would face death with his head held high, a wide grin plastered across his face! He had achieved his dream, found the greatest treasure... though perhaps fate, or a cursed illness, had just been a bit too quick to catch up. Who knew, eh?
He'd even chosen his own exit – executed right here in his hometown. He always loved being the center of attention, and especially now, with something so Monumental he was about to share with the world!
He'd been ready for this moment for months. No point in turning back now! He'd always lived life without regrets... well, maybe one small one he'd take to the grave. But all in all, it had been a grand, ridiculous, wonderful adventure!
Gol D. Roger. The man who had everything – wealth, fame, and power! The legend now known throughout the world as the King of the Pirates! Here he stood, ready to face the blade. After giving himself up to the Marines, they'd decided this was the perfect place for his final bow.
Loguetown. His birthplace. The very same island where his journey began, now the ironic stage for its end. The nostalgia hit the Pirate King like a tidal wave. He remembered his childhood here, running through these streets! This was the final stop in the East Blue before braving the treacherous Red Line! Ships of all kinds – merchants, travelers, Marines, and pirates – always docked here for supplies. He'd always badgered everyone he could find, begging them to tell him tales of their adventures at sea! That's what had ignited the fire in his belly, the burning desire to become a pirate! The sea... it just screamed freedom! And he was damn glad that before his time was up, he'd managed to seize that freedom with both hands!
Even standing there, bound and awaiting execution, Roger still commanded an aura of respect and, yes, even fear! But for most of the crowd, there was only one thing they truly cared about – where was it?! Where was his legendary treasure?! Others were just morbidly curious to see the most infamous pirate in history get his head lopped off.
Scanning the sea of faces, Roger's eyes twinkled. He spotted a few familiar mugs in the crowd. Some of his crew... here to witness the end. And there... his two young apprentices! Shanks and Buggy! Ah, they'd promised not to cry, hadn't they? Hah! Look at 'em! Tears streaming down their faces like a couple of waterfalls! Bless their hearts!
And scattered amongst the others... a man with dark glasses, grinning a wild grin. A stern face with a sword like a cross hilt. A lone Dragon watching silently from the shadows. A Crocodile watching with unsettling interest. So many faces... the gears of the world were turning, watching this moment!
He stood atop the platform now, the whole of Loguetown spread out below him. His piercing black eyes weren't focused on the ground, but on the endless sky! And finally... the whispers from the crowd began to grow, a buzzing hum that swelled in volume with every passing second.
"Any... any last words?" stammered one of the Marine guards.
Roger turned to him, a wide, toothy grin splitting his face! He held up his bound wrists. "Oi, can you take these off? They're a real bother, y'know!"
"Absolutely not! That's impossible!" the guard snapped, startled.
"Why would I run now?!" Roger scoffed, taking another few steps before settling down in the center of the platform. It was taking entirely too long!
The two guards flanking him raised their spears, ready to strike at any moment. The once-small whispers from the crowd erupted into loud, desperate shouts! The air crackled with tension as thousands of eyes were fixed on the platform. This was it! A historical moment! The death of the Pirate King, right before their eyes! This wasn't something you saw twice in a lifetime!
And then, the screaming reached a fever pitch! One voice, bolder than the rest, cut through the noise!
"Pirate King! Your treasure! Where is it?! You hid it somewhere in the Grand Line, didn't you?! The greatest treasure in the world!"
"Silence, you fool!" a guard bellowed from below.
But the voice didn't stop, growing louder! "One Piece!"
At that single word, the entire plaza tensed! Humans are truly greedy creatures, aren't they? Never satisfied, always chasing something they can barely even imagine! Roger's grin widened. His treasure... it was going to flip this whole damn world upside down!
Laughter erupted from Roger's chest! A deep, rumbling, infectious laugh that echoed across the plaza! That laugh! It was the exact same laugh he'd let out on Laugh Tale! Ah, if only he'd had the time to tell the world about Joy Boy...
"My treasure?" Roger flashed that ear-to-ear, toothy grin again.
"Shut up!" the guard on the platform roared, pushing his spear even closer.
"If you want it... you can have it!" Roger boomed, his voice carrying over the stunned crowd. "Go find it! I left everything I own... in that place!"
That day, Gol D. Roger died! And the crowd, moments before silent with anticipation, suddenly erupted into a wild cheer! Justice had been served! Or had it...?
A random Marine stepped forward onto the platform, chest puffed out. "Behold, my fellow brethren! Justice has prevailed! The reign of terror inflicted upon innocent souls by these vile pirates has been brought to an end! The Marines, resolute in our duty, have stood firm against the chaos that once gripped the seas! It is our unwavering commitment to protect those who have suffered at the hands of these lawless individuals! We, the guardians of righteousness, stand united, unwavering in our pursuit to expand justice!"
As his words echoed, a sense of relief washed over many in the crowd, tinged with gratitude for the Marines' unwavering dedication. But in this vast, ever-shifting world, not everyone saw things the same way. The notion of justice... it's like a prism, refracting into countless colors depending on who's looking, especially those untouched by the dark currents beneath the surface.
Then, a voice cut through the air, sharp and unsettling, like a double-edged blade! It was a rookie, no one important yet... a lanky figure with a terrifyingly wide, twisted grin! His words challenged everything the Marine had just said! This was Donquixote Doflamingo!
"Heh heh heh... listen well, my naive comrades! The puppeteers of this world... those who pull the strings of power... they manipulate the concept of morality! Good and evil? Righteousness and wickedness? They're just illusions, shadows dancing on a stage! The symphony that plays throughout the world is one of ambition, desire, and the chaotic ebb and flow of ever-changing perspectives! Fuffuffuffu!"
Doflamingo's voice dripped with cynicism, a cunning understanding of the world's ugly truths. "Ah, the innocence of youth! Untouched by the harsh realities of war, unaware of the suffocating tranquility of a false peace! Their judgments are clouded, their ideals shaped by a world they haven't even begun to comprehend! It is the true masters of this twisted realm who forge the very definitions of right and wrong, molding the minds of the masses to suit their whims! And in a place like this, where the shadows converge... neutrality reigns supreme, mocking your simple concepts of absolute justice!"
His grin widened, more unsettling than ever. "Justice, you say?! Ha! Indeed, it shall prevail! But not in the way you envision, you fools! It is the victors of this tumultuous battlefield, the ones who claw their way to the top, who shall be hailed as the living embodiment of justice! Their version... their twisted vision... that will be etched into the annals of history, becoming the lens through which the world perceives righteousness! Fuffuffuffu!"
He gestured out at the stunned crowd and the vast sea beyond. "So, my comrades! Open your eyes to the countless shades of gray that permeate this grand narrative! Peer beyond the illusions crafted by those in power, and witness the true clash of ideologies, where pirates and Marines dance an intricate, bloody tango! Embrace the complexity of this tale, where the boundaries between light and darkness blur, and the very essence of justice is put to the ultimate test!"
"Let the words of this rookie," Doflamingo finished with a chilling laugh, "echo in your minds as we sail forth! We are about to unearth the very depths of One Piece's rich tapestry! For in the clash of ideals, the revelation of hidden truths, and the relentless pursuit of dreams... that is where the heart of our grand adventure truly lies!"
And just like that... Gol D. Roger's final words, his infectious laugh, and the unsettling pronouncements from a grinning rookie ignited a fire across the globe. The Golden Age of Pirates... the Great Pirate Era... had officially begun! Get ready, world!