1 Rebirth

Derek Yale was a fairly normal British working class adult. He went to school, got a degree, found a job and started a loving family. Or at least, that was his plan. He had only recently become engaged to the love of his life, Alice. Currently in the middle of browsing for a home, he needed a way to blow off steam. For him, Anime had always been his method of relieving stress. Whether he was a child, teen or adult, it didn't matter, there had always been one show that had stuck with him through thick and thin.

One Piece. It had aired just a few years after his birth, in the Summer of 1997, when he was just a 10 year old boy. He can remember even now, 21 years later, the first time he caught a glimpse of an episode. He can remember shouting along with Luffy as he announced his moves to his foes, though his body was small then.

Things were different now. He was no longer the 4 foot odd child he was back then, now he stood at around 6 foot tall, with his mindset changing along with him. After a few years of watching, things began to change within his mind, brought on by an unavoidable change, puberty. As his mind became more mature, he awoke more and more to the atrocities that the pirates of this world committed. But it was the, that he caught a glimpse of them. The Marines.

They were his beacon of light to combat the pirates evil nature. Garp, Sengoku, Aokiji, Kizaru even Akainu. He respected them more than he did the Straw Hats, they were his reason to continue watching after a while. Of course, he still respected the few kind pirates like Luffy, Shanks and Whitebeard, but they were the minority. As his own sense of morality awoke, he started to connect through it with those that he saw in the things that he watched.

While the house hunting was taking place, Derek and Alice were currently living with Derek's parents, after all, they were only in their 50's at this point. They slept in a room re-purposed specifically for them to live in for a while. However, Derek slept on the floor, as they were waiting in their second mattress to arrive in a few days. Because of this, Derek slept only atop a layer of blankets above the stone cold floor.

He and Alice were talking about their dreams again, how many children they would have, what they're perfect house would look like. After all, they had known each other for a good 8 years by this point. Of course, Alice was the one to fall asleep first, just as she usually did, leaving Derek alone with his thoughts, lying on the floor.

As Alice rolled over, dust was blown from the frame of the bed all over the room, some even blowing towards Derek's face, he swatted the dust away with his hand but some still tickled the edge of his nose, causing him to sneeze. But as he did so, his head jolted forward at unfathomable speed, before slamming back into the cold, hard floor. This sent him straight to sleep of course, but this was a sleep that he couldn't wake up from. Death. Luckily, there was no pain, at least not for himself.

He swiftly 'awoke', leaving him surrounded in complete darkness.

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Derek was confused, he had just been lying in his bedroom with Alice, but now he was here, surrounded by noting but endless darkness. What a weird dream. He even pinched himself to make sure it was a dream, but the result was unexpected. Pain, unexpected pain. This wasn't a dream, it was reality. But where was he, had he been kidnapped? What about Alice?

All of these thoughts were rushing through his head at once, causing Derek to panic. This panic and frantic scrambling would be cut short after a few minutes with the appearance of a ghostly figure, an old man with a pure white robe draped over him.

["Derek, it's very nice to meet you, after all this time."] {???}

["W-who are you?"] {Derek}

["Me, well I'm God of course!"] {God}

["God?"] {Derek}

["Yes! God! I'm afraid that I have some unfortunate news for you Derek."] {God}

["What is it, God?"] {Derek}

Of course, Derek didn't really believe that it was God, after all, he had been an Atheist his entire life. He didn't even believe in the notion of a higher power, he was merely playing along with this Kidnapper's theatrics. After all, he didn't know if anything had happened to Alice.

["I am afraid that you have passed away, Derek..."] {God}

["Passed away...?"] {Derek}

["Yes, you have died. Your body as Derek Yale no longer exists."] {God}

["B-bullshit! If I'm dead, then how am I here now!?"] {Derek}

["I managed to save your soul at the last minute and drag you here."] {God}

["No way..."] {Derek}

["I am afraid so, Derek. Your life has come to an end."] {God}

["But- but how? I was just sleeping in my room just a while ago!?"] {Derek}

["Yes, yes you were. But again I am afraid that was the problem. The dust blown from the bed caused you to sneeze violently and bang your head off of the floor, causing internal bleeding. It is true, Derek Yale is no longer alive."] {God}

["Then... If what you say is true... what about Alice, what about my parents!?"] {Derek}

["Both your parents and Alice are completely fine physically. It's the mental part that I am worried about. Dealing with your death would be no easy feat at all. They will likely grieve for years."] {God}

Hearing this, Derek couldn't help but well up. The tears spilled from his eyes as he covered his face with his hands. For a while, the only sound echoing out was the quiet sobbing of a recently dead man.

God couldn't help but look at the poor man and sigh. His sigh went unheard by Derek, but he continued to speak with a weird expression on his face.

["Listen, Derek. I understand how much pain you are in... I have gone through things like this myself. But I couldn't just let your soul be sent to the afterlife. You are too special for that."] {God}

Hearing the 'God' speak again, Derek looked up at him once more, still slightly sobbing.

["*sniffle* Special?"] {Derek}

["Yes, special! I haven't seen a soul as pure and righteous as yours in a while! Your sense of justice likely would have branded you a saint back in times long past."] {God}

["And...?"] {Derek}

["And that's why I am going to give you another chance! Another life! Whatever you want to call it!"] {God}

Derek's ears perked up at this statement.

["Another life? Can I see Alice again?"] {Derek}

["I am afraid not, you have already died in that world, so going back to it is completely infeasible, you will be killed instantly if you do so. Instead, I am offering a chance to go to any world that you like. Any at all."] {God}

["Any at all...*sniffle*? So... do you know what-what One Piece is?"] {Derek}

["One Piece, why of course I do! I know everything that has ever happened and ever will happen, I am God after all. Is that where you want to go? I can make it happen if that is your wish?"] {God}

["Yes... Yes, please. Please send me there."] {Derek}

["If that is your desire, then it shall be done. But, I can't only do that, you need something to help you out after all. How about this, I will give you the ability to view your status. You strength progression will be based around this, rather than the strength of those in that world already. That is all I can give you though, I am afraid that you will have to work the rest out yourself."] {God}

["No... It's enough... Thank you."] {Derek}

["No problem at all, it was a treat to meet you. Now then, lets have you on your way shall we."] {God}

At this, God lifted up his arms and began to chant. A mystical power flowed from his palms, gradually covering the entire area. As Derek's vision turned white, he thought of Alice. He knew that he would likely never see her again, that this was his last goodbye. He would have to get over her eventually, but he hoped that he would never forget their life together.

As the light covered Derek's body, thoughts of his old life, completely disappeared.