First Step

It took me almost two years to realize that I was in the world of "One Piece". Learning the language took less than a year, mostly because it was pretty similar to Edo-era Japanese. And as a true sword nerd, learning Japanese had always been a hobby of mine.

At first, I wasn't too concerned with figuring out where I was. But when I saw a Marine captain punch a hole through a giant boulder, I realized this wasn't your typical medieval fantasy world. One night before bed, I asked my mom, Raani, to tell me a story about the world we lived in. She told me about the Grand Line, the Marines, the World Nobles, and the pirates. Turns out, we lived on Minion Island in the North Blue.

Minion Island didn't ring any bells at first. I couldn't remember every tiny detail from the anime, but I did know about North Blue—that's where Trafalgar D. Water Law started his journey.

As for the timeline? Honestly, I didn't care much. My only goal was to master the sword, so it didn't really matter whether I'd sail with the Straw Hats or not.

Then, by accident, I found out that I was born on the same day as Portgas D. Ace—January 1st. Maybe it was just a coincidence, or maybe it was all part of a plan by whoever sent me here. Not that it mattered. I had something else on my mind at that time—my father was finally going to teach me the basics of sword fighting.

My father, Rowan, was one of the strongest people on our island. He used to be a Marine captain before meeting my mom and deciding to settle down. He was still crazy strong, though, and One Piece physiology was broken as hell. I was only two, but I looked like a five-year-old kid from Earth.

In our backyard, my father held up a simple sword and showed it to me.

"Listen carefully, Zephyr. There are thousands of sword styles in this world. I'm not a master swordsman, but I can at least teach you the basics. First, though, you have to prove yourself worthy of wielding a sword. I know you're passionate, but is your body ready for it?"

"No," I answered honestly.

"Good. Knowing your limitation is a must for a fighter. Now I'm going to train your body so that it can be strong enough to swing a sword. It'll take time, and it'll be painful, but if you persevere then you will take one step forward towards your ambition."

I hung on to every word my father said. I was just a sword nerd with no real training, so any advice from someone skilled was like treasure to me.

The training regimen he gave me was similar to what athletes used back on Earth. I started with basic cardio—running and swimming. After a 15-minute break, I moved on to upper body workouts like push-ups and pull-ups. Since my father had a full-time job, he could only personally train me on weekends. The rest of the time, I trained on my own.

Month by month, my regimen became stricter. I could feel myself getting stronger. It was exhilarating, exciting—even painful workouts felt rewarding when they brought me closer to my dream.

Three years passed in a flash. I had become much stronger than before, almost as strong as an average adult back on Earth. My body was still growing, so I couldn't get much stronger yet, but I was ready to take the next step.

Then came the day I'd been waiting for—the day I would hold a real sword. I barely slept that night from sheer excitement.

In the morning, my father handed me a short sword. It was a bit worn out, but that didn't matter. First, I had to learn how to walk before I could run.

"Zephyr, you know the stories about the Grand Line, right?" my father asked.

"Yes, father."

"I can see it in your eyes—you want to explore the world someday. Your fate and ambition will guide you to the Grand Line. It's a place where your common sense won't apply. You'll see birds that can eat tigers, giants as tall as ships, and people who can summon tsunamis. It's dangerous, but it's also a treasure trove for explorers and pirates alike.

"There are all kinds of pirates. Some are scum who loot, kill, and destroy. But others are just in love with the sea. Many times, a pirate has even saved a Marine—Red-Haired Shanks himself saved my platoon once. What I'm trying to say is this: No matter what you do, live by your own principles and try to be the best version of yourself. But if I ever hear that your sword has cut through an innocent person, I will hunt you down myself, even if it means chasing you around the world."

"I'll never become like that, Father. I promise. No matter how strong I become, I'll always stay true to your teachings."

Hearing the conviction in my voice and the fire in my eyes, my father grinned. I was finally ready to wield a sword. It had taken me 23 years across two lifetimes, but I was ready.