A/N: So, this is for Aoihand's Great Multiverse Challenge x) I just happened to come across it and I couldn't help but type the first ideas that came up immediately. I have some more now, so I think I'll be posting more in the near future, look forward to it, if you like these x)

So here is an AU…

1)… In which he never died.

He observed from his seat on the ledge of the Crow's Nest. It was the safest place for now, but considering the situation, maybe not for too long.

"What's your aim, kid?" His father had the widest grin on his face and he noticed he hadn't seen him so excited about anything since they left the Grand Line for a short trip back to his home town. Which afterwards led to taking a long voyage in order to show his mother the Four Blues.

But this little stop in a small East Blue island seemed to prove more entertaining than anything before.

"To become the Pirate King!" The grin planted over that rubbery face rivaled that of his father even, and that was a feat by itself! Besides, he could recognize that strawhat anywhere. This was the new age Shanks had been talking about the last time they met, a good five years ago.

So this was the boy who caught his interest? He could clearly see how.

"Then fight me, and take that title if you can, Monkey D. Luffy!" His father's voice roared over the sea as the boy stretched and threw the first punch.

A short while later, his mother called out to him and he averted his eyes from the fight to witness her standing there with hands on her hips and a look of disapproval on her beautiful features.

"Ace, darling, stop your father before he kills the poor boy."

The words pulled a laugh out of him, but he still jumped down from his comfortable position and moved through the crew that had gathered to watch. Maybe it wasn't that bad of an idea. Truth be told, Roger never knew when to stop.

And by the looks of things, neither did the boy. Luffy, he reminded himself. It wouldn't hurt to remember that name. He had the feeling he'd be hearing a lot of it in the future.

2) … In which he never joined.

The glare was clearly fixated on him as he drew the third katana. He rarely did that, he had to hand it to the guy. But maybe a bounty of 77, 000, 000 spoke for itself. The damn blond pirate surely had to have some skills to acquire it.

"For the last time, Marimo," he couldn't help but growl at the nickname. Annoying bastard. "Get out of my way. I have a meal to cook and the shitty Captain will drive my sweet Nami-san crazy if I don't hurry back to the ship."

The asshole thought he was kidding? Too bad. He was dead serious.

"Too bad for the girl, then. Cause you're not going back."

They crashed. And again. And again. Yet the damn shithead still had some fight in him. He blocked. And dodged. And stood his ground.

And, damn it, but he hadn't gotten so excited in a fight for a long time!

But in the end, he won. Of course, he did. He always did. He was going to be the world's best, after all. This guy just seemed to cross his path when he needed the money. Too bad for him.

He felt a bit of annoyance at himself for regretting it, after he dropped him off at the Marine base.

He kinda liked the guy's spirit. Who knows, maybe if they had met under different circumstances in a different world they might have been friends.

3)… In which there was a King.

"There used to be a great King, they say. He was so powerful that the entire world was bent to his will. He would bring the strongest to their knees. He would travel around this world that belonged to him and never take anything from it he didn't deem completely necessary.

"Yet there were those who hated him, they say. People who followed around and tried to take his life, his title and his world, to call it their own. People who envied him and lusted over his control.

"But none of them were strong enough to kill him, they say. He would stand in front of entire armies and fight with all he had, with only a handful of followers behind his back. And he would win any battle, because even the Gods favored him.

"But one day, they say, he saw his end in the face of a deadly disease. No cure could save him, no doctor could prolong his life. So he stood there, at the highest point of the world and screamed to everyone who would listen to find his hidden treasure and become the next King.

"Or, so they say…" A small smile was planted over Shank's features as he watched the snow fall outside of the window, a mug of strong liquor in his hand.

"What is this nonsense you're spilling?" Newgate eyed him critically from his seat next to him. "All I asked was what demon took that left arm of yours."

"What they say is true, though," the red haired man turned towards his companion. "I was there and I saw it all. Every single step that King made until his last day, twenty two years ago! And ten years ago," he released the mug to grasp tightly at the fabric that should have covered his other arm. "I saw that King once again."

He was rewarded with a curious look and grinned widely.

"I made a bet on the new King! That boy will definitely find his treasure!"

4)… In which there are two.

Luffy smiled widely as he watched the two of them fight. It was always fun and it kept him entertained for a long while, which couldn't be said about many other things.

There was just something in the fast swings, in the immediate reactions, in the play of life and death where no one was really in danger because the other knew what he was doing. But there was also something in their spirit that had him interested all the time. There was just something in the way they never gave up.

The four katanas crashed and then the two of them jumped back. ltiverse

And just like every time, she took the initiative. A quick dash, a swing, and Zoro's swords flew out of his grasp and chattered on the deck.

"That's another win for me," she smiled as she shielded the white katana and turned towards him. "Weak as always, Zoro?"

"Shut up!" He snapped and sat cross legged on the ground, catching his breath.

Turning around she chuckled a bit and brushing some sweat from her brow entered the galley.

"Oh, Kuina-chwaan!" the voice of their cook flowed out of the open door. "You're always so beautiful after defeating the meathead!"

Meat? Oh, that's right! He was hungry!

With his mind set, Luffy jumped off his spot and sped towards the kitchen.

-
5)… In which he isn't who he claims to be.

Ace looked at the boy, forever carving in his memory the wide grin, the sparkling eyes and the very light that seemed to radiate from him. To think that the world would see in him the child of a demon was unforgivable.

It was that night that he made his decision when his little 'brother' cuddled into him, because 'The other bed was cold!'.

That was the last night he was Monkey D. Garp's grandson.

That was the night he became the son of the devil.

He remembered once, thinking how great this boy's mother must have been, to keep him in her womb for five years – a feat, considered unimaginable for most, accomplished through willpower and devotion that reached levels unknown for this world.

But as he grew closer to that boy, he found the very thing that had driven her to do it. The life that sparked in those eyes every time they turned his way should never be wasted.

He thought only of that as he set sail. He thought only of that as he claimed that name as his own. He thought only of that when he faced the Marines. He thought only of that as he kneeled on the execution platform.

And even as the blades cut through him, he found himself content. Because if the death of a fake was all it took to protect that smile, he'd take the bastard's name in the grave a million times!

On that day, Garp witnessed his grandson dying on the platform and swore to himself to finish what he had started and protect Roger's only child.

And so, before the entire world, Gol D. Ace died. And before only a few knowledgeable enough, Monkey D. Luffy was born.

A/N: Let me summarize the AUs in case somebody missed something:

Roger never died, and so neither did Rouge. Ace was raised by his mother and later joined Roger's crew. Shanks left the crew to start his own and met Luffy.

Zoro didn't join the Strawhats and ventured into the Grand Line to chase Mihawk, winning his money through bounty hunting.

Completely AU, a medieval world without a king and with an interesting story.

Kuina never died and somehow both she and Zoro ended up with the Strawhats.

Luffy is Roger's real son and Ace is Dragon's. Somehow, they end up meeting anyway.

Look forward to the next 5 drabbles in a while x)