Emilio Madero

Let's go back to 25 years ago, a year before the start of the Great Pirate Era. There was a kingdom known as the Harha Kingdom located in the South Blue. The country was in the middle of a civil war that had been going on for nearly half a year. The country had lost its former beauty and was now covered with soot. Walking through this desert of ashes was a young man dressed in a black hooded cloak. This young man wore a grin on his face as the sound of fighting reached his ears. He ran towards the source and found two armies clashing. One wore the insignia of the kingdom, and the other wore shabby clothing and carried beaten-up weapons. 

"Alright!" 

The young man shouted and clenched his fists. He ran up to the nearest soldier and punched him in the face. The soldier's body flew and crashed into his allies. This drew attention to the young man. 

"It's a blood bath!" 

He shouted with a haughty laugh. 

"It's Emilio the Berserker!" 

The soldiers started to despair while their opponents cheered. 

"Alright, you son of a bitches!" 

Emilio grabbed the nearest soldier by the collar. 

"Let's party!" 

He slammed the soldier into the earth with a laugh. He then turned his attention to rest. They instinctively stepped back when they met his gaze. A couple hours later, the rebels let out deafening cheers at Emilio, who was sitting on a hill of soldiers' bodies. 

"Hahaha! That wasn't too bad!" 

He wiped the hair from out of his eyes with a beastly grin. 

"I hope the next batch is stronger though." 

Later that night, Emilio returned to the rebel base. Upon returning he was showered in praise by those there. 

"Emilio." 

A rugged middle-aged man approached him soon after arriving. 

"Rebel Leader, what's up? Do you finally agree with my idea to attack the castle and destroy the royal family?" 

Emilio spoke with eagerness. The rebel leader timidly stepped back. 

"N-No. Actually, I want to introduce you to someone." 

"Introduce?" 

Emilio looked and a man emerged from the shadows of the dimly lit room. It was man dressed in a green cloak. 

"Hello, Emilio the Berserker. My name is-" 

The man's words were cut off as he lifted his arm to block a punch from Emilio. 

"You, you're pretty strong." 

Emilio showed a savage grin while the man remained silent. 

"Before we talk, let's communicate with our fists." 

"....Why?" 

"Why? Because a man only shows his true nature in the heat of battle!" 

"....Very well." 

Around 15 minutes later, Emilio found himself looking up at the starry night. His body ached and he was gasping for air. The man stood over him. 

"So, what have you learned?" 

Emilio grinned again. 

"That you're a beast wearing human skin!" 

"Then, your theory of learning one's true nature through combat is false." 

The man stretched his hand out to him. 

"Is that so?" 

Emilio laughed and took his hand. He got off the ground and stood up. 

"My name is Dragon." 

"Is that a codename or..." 

"I'll leave that up to your imagination." 

Dragon showed him a slight smile. 

"Oh, so you came to fight with the rebels too?" 

The two returned to the base and were talking in private. 

"That's right. Rumors of the cruelty of the royals of this country reached my ears sometime back. When I heard the people started a rebellion, I decided I must help them. When I arrived here, I learned about the Berserker who popped up out of nowhere and started helping the rebels." 

Dragon pointed at Emilio. 

"Why did you help the rebels? You aren't from here, right? Do you perhaps have family here?" 

"Nah, nothing like that. I was on an island nearby and heard about the war, so I just joined in." 

"Why?" 

Emilio looked at Dragon with a beastly gaze. 

"Because it sounded fun." 

"Ah, I see. You joined the rebels because they were the weaker side." 

"That's right." 

Dragon became quiet for a bit before speaking again. 

"Emilio, what is freedom for you?" 

"As long as I'm free to fight strong guys and have fun, I'm free." 

Emilio answered without hesitation. 

"Why do you love to fight?" 

"I don't know. I just do." 

"Is that why you don't kill your opponents? I heard you haven't killed anyone since you entered this war. Did you spare them so they can come fight you again?" 

"Huh? What kind of maniac do you take me for?" 

Emilio looked at Dragon with a confused look. 

"I don't kill them because there's no reason to. I just want to have a good time beating people up and getting beat up. I don't slaughter people for no reason." 

Dragon's eyes widened a bit. 

"Then you really view fighting as a fun game?" 

"Yup. I love to fight because nothing beats the feeling of taking down a strong opponent and growing stronger from it. The stronger I get, the happier I feel." 

"Interesting." 

Dragon placed his hand on his chin. 

"Then, why aren't you a pirate? If you become one you can fight strong pirates and marines without care." 

"Because pirates are scum. They cause people endless suffering for their greed. I go to places already in shambles to fight, I don't plunge places into hell myself. It's just my actions often lead to some people being saved." 

"And how do you feel when you unintentionally save people?" 

Emilio paused for a bit to think before answering. 

"To be honest, it kinda feels good. Especially when kids thank you." 

"I see." 

Dragon nodded with a smile. 

"I think I know what kind of person you are, Emilio." 

Dragon stretched his hand out to Emilio. 

"Emilio, join the Freedom Fighters." 

"What the hell is that?" 

"A small military group who wants to free countries from tyrannical reign. I am a captain of this organization." 

"Why would I join your group? I'm a free spirit." 

"Because you can fight even more than you are now. Not only that, you'll receive more thanks from the children you saved." 

Dragon smiled. 

"Besides, I may be a Captain now but I intend to use this group to take on the biggest group of oppressors in this world." 

"You don't mean...." 

Dragon nodded. 

"How about it, Emilio the Berserker? Do you want to take on the world with me as the ultimate underdogs? You won't be a pirate or a marine. You'll be a man who just loves to fight, who happens to save children along the way." 

Emilio looked at Dragon's hand for a bit before taking it. 

"Well, I don't mind doing it for a bit until I get bored." 

Makari Islands, West Blue. There was a revolution where the corrupt Supreme Leader and his family were in the process of being overthrown by the people. In the middle of this was a battle to take the shores. The Supreme Leader wanted the shores so his foreign allies could land, the rebels wanted to stop this. The shores were covered in smoke as battles took place all over. 

"Make way! Make way!" 

A loud voice drowned out the fighting. The voice was followed by explosions erupting across the shore. Men from the army were sent flying by the dozen, most didn't even know what hit them. Emilio stopped in the middle of the beach with a huge grin on his face. He started attacking enemy soldiers while shouting. 

"Liberty! Freedom! Prosperity!" 

He chanted with a laugh as bodies rained down on the shores. 

"Wow~! What a boorish man~!" 

A man wearing heavy makeup with an oversized head stood beside Dragon. 

"Why did you recruit such a wild man, Dragon?" 

Ivankov asked as Emilio wreaked havoc in the background. 

"It's true he's a bit eccentric, but he's as pure as they come." 

"Pure?" 

Ivankov watched as Emilio piled up some soldiers before leaping off a coconut tree and landing on them. 

"You call that "Pure"?" 

"....He's someone who's true to himself and his desires. In a world filled with two-faced people, he's quite refreshing to be around." 

"I don't get it, but you are our Captain so Kuma and I will follow you. Right, Kuma?" 

Ivankov talked to Kuma who was standing on Dragon's left. Kuma silently nodded. 

The following year, Emilio travelled the seas with the Freedom Fighters going from country to country. They didn't only fight wars but observed the citizens living under cruel conditions. 

"I don't get it. Why don't these people rebel like the others." 

Tomoo Kingdom, Grandline. Emilio and Dragon were inside the carriage looking out at the scrawny citizens in the streets. 

"It's not that simple, Emilio. Not everyone has the strength or bravery to stand up to those in power. The common person mostly thinks about surviving to see the next day, not overthrowing their oppressors." 

"That's what I don't get. They would rather suffer in silence than fight. Do they fear death that much? They're pretty much zombies already." 

"It's human instinct to fear death. They've done nothing wrong. It's their oppressors who should get the blame." 

"I know that but..." 

Emilio looked out the window and saw a group of children huddled up in a dark corner. They were practically skin and bones. 

"How about we go and punch that bastard king in the face?" 

"We can't. Our mission is to observe the people and see if there's any possibility of a rebellion. If so, we will aid them." 

"And if not, we let them suffer? Ha! Our leaders are cowards!" 

"I want to free these people as much as you but-" 

"But, what?! If you want to help them then we should!" 

Emilio got closer to Dragon, who simply pushed him to sit back down. 

"We don't have the resources to start a rebellion. Also, we need the people on our side, otherwise, it will be useless. We will save them from their oppressors, but they will still be trapped in their toxic mentality of not fighting for what's right. We will only destabilize the country, there will be no one to take the reins." 

"Tsk! Then what good are the Freedom Fighters if we can't save starving children?!" 

Emilio kicked open the door of the coach and jumped out. The horses stopped and Dragon stuck his head out. There he saw Emilio approach the children while digging into his cloak. He took out a loaf of bread and handed it over. The children's faces lit up. He broke the bread and split it up between them. 

"See, Ivankov?" 

He looked at the smile on Emilio's face as he talked with the children. 

"Pure." 

Emilio came back shortly after. He opened his mouth, but Dragon lifted his hand to stop him. 

"I know. How about tonight? It's a new moon." 

Emilio's face brightened up and he hugged Dragon. 

"This why I love you, man! You get me!" 

He burst out laughing as they rode in the coach. That night, the castle was robbed of most of its treasure. Rumours say the thieves entered the King's Chambers and beat him black and blue before making him swear to treat his people better. To prove a point, the thieves broke the arms and legs of all the King's trusted knights and advisors. The next day, there was a festival where the knights fed the people of the kingdom until they were full. 

"Happy?" 

Dragon asked Emilio, who was playing horse with a group of kids, who were enjoying the festival. 

"Very!" 

Emilio laughed and slowly stood up. He placed his hand on Dragon's shoulders. 

"I think I actually enjoy this more than fighting. Thanks for recruiting me, Dragon. I want to keep helping people like this." 

He poked Dragon's chest. 

"And I want to follow you while doing it." 

"You already are." 

Emilio shook his head. 

"I don't want you to be a Captain for the Freedom Fighters, I want you to lead the charge against the World Government." 

Dragon's eyes widened as a smile crept on Emilio's face. 

"I want you to become the Vanguard of Liberty, the one to lead me into a new world." 

Dragon looked at Emilio for a bit before smiling. 

"I'll keep that in mind. 

A year later, Louge Town, East Blue. It was the day the man hailed as the Pirate King, Gol D Roger was to be executed. The day the Great Pirate Era began.