The Secret

"I can't tell you what One Piece is," Chronos said. "That's something you have to find out for yourself."

"Why not?" Luffy asked. "Don't you trust me?"

"It's not that," Chronos said. "It's just that One Piece is more than a treasure. It's a secret that the World Government doesn't want anyone to know. It's related to the true history of the world, the one that they erased 800 years ago."

"The true history?" Luffy asked. "You mean the blank history?"

"Yes, the blank history," Chronos said. "The period of 100 years that is missing from the world's records. The time when the ancient kingdom ruled over the world, and fought against the 20 kings who formed the World Government. The time when the ancient weapons were created, and the poneglyphs were carved. The time when the will of D was born."

"The will of D?" Luffy asked. "What's that?"

"It's a mysterious power that runs in the blood of certain people, like you and Roger," Chronos said. "It's a power that can change the world, and challenge the gods."

"The gods? You mean the Celestial Dragons?" Luffy asked.

"Yes, the Celestial Dragons," Chronos said. "The descendants of the 20 kings who claim to be the rulers of the world. The ones who live in Mariejois, the holy land, and enslave anyone who opposes them. The ones who fear the will of D, and try to eliminate anyone who carries it."

"Like my father?" Luffy asked.

"Your father?" Chronos asked.

"Yeah, Monkey D. Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army," Luffy said.

Chronos was surprised and impressed. He did not expect Luffy to know about his father or his role in the world.

"You know about your father?" Chronos asked.

"Yeah, I met him once, in Loguetown," Luffy said. "He saved me from Smoker, just like you did."

Chronos realized that he had changed history by saving Luffy instead of Dragon. He wondered if that would have any consequences in the future.

"He saved you?" Chronos asked.

"Yeah, he did," Luffy said. "He also told me that he was proud of me, and that he would see me again someday."

Chronos felt a pang of envy and admiration for Luffy. He wished he could have a father like Dragon, who cared for him and supported him.

"What about you?" Luffy asked. "Do you have a father?"

Chronos hesitated. He did not want to talk about his past or his family.

"I don't know," Chronos said.

"You don't know?" Luffy asked.

"No, I don't," Chronos said. "I don't remember anything about my life before I came to this world."

"You came to this world?" Luffy asked.

"Yes, I did," Chronos said.

"From where?" Luffy asked.

"From another world," Chronos said.

"Another world? How?" Luffy asked.

Chronos decided to tell Luffy a part of his story, hoping that he would understand him better.

"I came from a world called Earth," Chronos said. "It's a different world from this one, with different people and cultures and technologies."

"Technologies? What are those?" Luffy asked.

"They are devices or machines that can do amazing things, like flying or communicating or computing," Chronos said.

"Flying? Communicating? Computing? What do those words mean?" Luffy asked.

Chronos realized that Luffy had no idea what he was talking about. He decided to simplify his explanation.

"They are things that can make your life easier or more fun," Chronos said.

"Like devil fruits?" Luffy asked.

"Kind of, but not exactly," Chronos said. "Devil fruits are natural phenomena that give you powers, but technologies are artificial creations that give you functions."

"Functions? Like what?" Luffy asked.

"Like... like this," Chronos said. He took out a small device from his pocket and showed it to Luffy. It was a smartphone, one of the most common technologies on Earth.

"What's that?" Luffy asked.

"It's a smartphone," Chronos said. "It's a device that can do many things, like calling or texting or browsing or playing."

"Calling? Texting? Browsing? Playing? What are those things?" Luffy asked.

Chronos sighed. He realized that it was useless to explain everything to Luffy, who had no concept of technology or modernity.

"They are things that you can do with this device," Chronos said. "But you don't need to know them right now."

"Why not?" Luffy asked.

"Because they are not important for your goal," Chronos said.

"My goal?" Luffy asked.

"Yes, your goal," Chronos said. "To become the Pirate King and find One Piece."

"Oh, right," Luffy said. "That's my goal."

Chronos smiled. He liked Luffy's simplicity and determination. He decided to give him some advice, as a friend and a fan.

"Luffy, listen to me," Chronos said. "If you want to become the Pirate King and find One Piece, you have to be ready for anything. You have to face many dangers and enemies, and overcome many obstacles and challenges. You have to travel to many places and meet many people, and learn many things and secrets. You have to follow your dreams and your instincts, and never give up or lose hope. You have to be brave and strong, and loyal and honest. You have to be yourself, and no one else."

"I know that," Luffy said. "That's what I always do."

"I know you do," Chronos said. "But you also have to be careful. There are some things that you don't know yet, some things that could change everything. Some things that could make you happy or sad, or angry or scared. Some things that could make you laugh or cry, or love or hate. Some things that could make you live or die."

"Like what?" Luffy asked.

"Like the truth," Chronos said.

"The truth?" Luffy asked.

"Yes, the truth," Chronos said. "The truth about One Piece, the truth about the world, the truth about yourself."

"What do you mean?" Luffy asked.

Chronos looked into Luffy's eyes and saw his curiosity and innocence. He wondered if he should tell him more, or keep it a secret.

He decided to tell him a hint, a clue that would help him in his quest.

"Luffy, do you know what your name means?" Chronos asked.

"My name?" Luffy asked.

"Yes, your name," Chronos said. "Monkey D. Luffy."

"It's just my name," Luffy said.

"No, it's not just your name," Chronos said. "It's a name that carries a lot of meaning and weight. It's a name that connects you to many people and events. It's a name that has a destiny and a fate."

"What are you talking about?" Luffy asked.

Chronos leaned closer to Luffy and whispered in his ear.

"Luffy, do you know what the D in your name stands for?" Chronos asked.

Luffy shook his head.

"No, I don't," Luffy said.

Chronos smiled and whispered the answer.

"It stands for danger."

Chronos then pulled back and winked at Luffy.

"That's all I can tell you for now," Chronos said. "The rest is up to you to find out."

Luffy was stunned and confused by Chronos' words. He did not understand what he meant by danger, or how it related to his name or his goal.

"Wait, what do you mean by danger?" Luffy asked.

Chronos did not answer. He heard some noises coming from the other end of the alley. He saw some marines and agents of the World Government approaching them. They had found them.

"Looks like we have company," Chronos said.

"Who are they?" Luffy asked.

"They are our enemies," Chronos said. "They want to capture us and kill us."

"Why?" Luffy asked.

"Because we are dangerous," Chronos said.

Chronos stood up and faced their pursuers. He took out his smartphone and pressed a button on it. He activated a function that he had programmed on it: a self-destruct mechanism.

He threw his smartphone at the enemies and shouted at Luffy.

"Luffy, run!" Chronos said.

Luffy did not hesitate. He got up and ran away from the alley, following Chronos' instructions.

He did not look back or ask questions. He trusted Chronos as his savior and his friend.

He did not see the explosion that followed behind him, or the fire that engulfed the alley.

He did not hear the screams of pain and death that filled the air, or the silence that followed after them.

He did not know that Chronos had sacrificed himself to save him, or that he had left behind a secret that would change his life forever.