Here I am back with another drabble series when my final year project deadline looms 2 weeks away! (is hopeless)

While this is sort of a spin-off of my "Always"/"Living in Memory" verse, which revolves around the headcanon that Brook's DF allows him to see spirits, it is perfectly able to stand alone. What it shares is the idea that the lost loved ones of our favorite characters are following them around, like guardian angels of sorts. This drabble series will follow the Straw Hats' adventures from the perspectives of their unseen ghostly crewmembers, while also bringing together characters which would otherwise have never had the chance to meet and exploring some of their relationships as well.

As usual, I do hope you like it!

Chapter 1 – Romance Dawn

It was a great day to set sail.

Roger grinned as he watched the boy take out the Lord of the Coast with a well-aimed rubbery right hook.

Fate was a funny thing, he'd realised over the years he'd spent observing the world as a spectator. When he had made the decision to entrust his unborn child to Garp's care, he'd never imagined that Ace would grow to develop such a strong bond with Garp's young grandson, much less that said grandson would end up being a pirate with aspirations towards Roger's own legacy.

Roger remembered with clarity the day that Garp had appeared at the bandit's hideout with his small grandson in tow. That in itself wasn't too notable, though Roger had noted the boy's fast friendship with Shanks during some of his short visits down to Windmill Village. No, it was the straw hat that the boy clutched protectively to his head, one that was unmistakably his, that immediately caught his attention. Roger had straight burst out laughing on the spot, and his laughter was only egged on by Luffy's loud proclamation that he was going to become the Pirate King, because wasn't that a delightful piece of irony?

Finding out later that Shanks had lost an arm was a bit of a shock, but it soon became clear that the boy was no less lively for it. His former apprentice had found good crewmates as well, who would loyally guard his back with their lives, and Roger knew that he could leave Shanks in their hands.

In more recent years Ace had found a place to belong as well, with Newgate of all people. Roger had been amused and Rouge concerned when Ace first started challenging his old rival, but Roger had been quick to reassure her that Newgate was showing all the signs of having taken a liking to Ace and no deliberate harm would befall their boy aboard the Whitebeards' ship. His words rang true when several months later, Ace officially took on Whitebeard's mark. This brought a bittersweet pang to their hearts, grateful to the Whitebeards for giving their son a family, regretful that they hadn't been able to give it to him themselves.

Normally Roger would have been right by Rouge's side in watching over their son on the decks of the Moby Dick, but today was special. Roger had wanted to be here to witness as the boy who had inherited his straw hat finally set sail.

And so far, the boy wasn't disappointing him one bit.

As he swayed on top of the barrel that Luffy was currently hiding in, the two of them bobbing away without any clear direction across the ocean after escaping from a giant whirlpool with what could only be described as pure blind luck, Roger laughed heartily.

This boy would make a fine Pirate King indeed.

Please review! And stay tuned for more! (Chapter 2 - Promise of a Swordsman)