One Piece: Scientist Simulator

"You're... someone I've seen before!"

Little Luffy squinted at the man sitting at the bar. His face felt oddly familiar.

Suddenly, a lightbulb went off in his head. He smacked his fist into his palm. "Ah! I remember now! You're... Edd? No, wait... Edie! Or was it... Eddie?"

Edie chuckled softly, amused by the boy's innocent confusion. "The name's Edie. I'm a scientist."

"That's it!" Luffy exclaimed, proudly pointing a finger at him. He walked closer, looking up with wide, curious eyes. "After your last live broadcast, everyone in the village started talking about you. They all say you're a great man. Are you really that amazing?"

Edie gave a faint smile, tilting his head. "What do you think?"

Luffy grinned as he wiped his nose with the back of his hand. "Shanks said he's gotta become a Pirate Emperor just to take his daughter back from you! Does that make you the Pirate King?"

In his childlike logic, someone who could outmatch the Pirate Emperors must surely be the Pirate King.

Edie raised an eyebrow but replied smoothly, "I'd rather call myself the King of Scientists."

Luffy tilted his head, puzzled. "But why did you take Shanks' daughter? Are you a bad guy?"

Edie shrugged nonchalantly. "I felt like it. Besides, it's good motivation for him to aim higher. Don't you think?"

"Oh, I get it now!" Luffy said, nodding sagely, as if it all made perfect sense.

Behind the bar, Makino stifled a laugh.

Edie leaned forward slightly, his tone light but thoughtful. "Humans are complicated creatures, kid. Labeling someone 'good' or 'bad' is a habit you should avoid. The Navy does it all the time, and look where that's gotten them. Here, have some juice."

He slid a glass of juice across the bar to Luffy.

Without hesitation, Luffy grabbed it and downed it in one gulp. "Thanks! You're definitely a good guy, Edie!"

He then peered curiously at the notebook in Edie's hands. "What's that? A treasure map?"

"No," Edie said, holding it just out of Luffy's reach. "It's science. Something you wouldn't understand."

"Science?" Luffy tilted his head. "Is that like... treasure for boring people?"

Edie blinked, caught off guard by the odd description. "What? No! It's the pursuit of knowledge—figuring out how the world works. It's the opposite of boring."

"Eh," Luffy said, stretching his arms dramatically behind his head. "Doesn't sound as fun as being a pirate. Pirates don't need to know science!"

Edie's eyebrow twitched. "Oh really? And how do you think you're going to navigate the seas? Or fix your ship? Or not blow yourself up when you come across something dangerous?"

"I'll figure it out!" Luffy declared confidently, puffing his chest. "That's what pirates do!"

"More like that's how pirates end up shipwrecked," Edie muttered under his breath, though he couldn't help but smile at Luffy's boundless enthusiasm.

Luffy's eyes suddenly lit up as he spotted Edie's pen. "Whoa! Is that one of those fancy pens that never runs out of ink?"

Edie raised the pen, inspecting it. "It's just a pen."

"Can I try it?!" Luffy asked, bouncing excitedly.

"No," Edie said, pulling it back. "You'll just draw something stupid."

"No, I won't!" Luffy insisted, grabbing for it. "I'll draw something awesome!"

Edie sighed, handing it over reluctantly. "Fine. But if you draw on my notes—"

Before he could finish, Luffy was already scribbling on a blank corner of Edie's notebook. A few seconds later, he turned it around proudly. "Look! It's a pirate flag!"

Edie stared at the messy drawing—a stick figure with a wobbly smile wearing what looked like a lopsided hat. "That's… atrocious."

"It's amazing!" Luffy beamed. "This'll be my flag when I have my own crew!"

Edie pinched the bridge of his nose. "You'll scare off other pirates… but not in the way you think."

Luffy ignored him, holding up the notebook like it was a masterpiece. "One day, everyone will know this flag!"

Edie rolled his eyes but couldn't help the faint smile tugging at his lips. "Well, if you're going to dream, I suppose there's no harm in dreaming big."

"Exactly!" Luffy said, grinning ear to ear. "You're starting to get it, Edie!"

Edie shook his head, snatching his notebook back. "Don't get used to it, kid. Even if you become the King of Pirates, You will still have to sponsor my institute when you set sail in the future."

Edie chuckled, his eyes narrowing slightly. "By the way, do you know the true name of the Devil Fruit you ate?"

Luffy pulled at his cheek, stretching it like rubber. "Rubber Fruit, right?"

Edie's smirk deepened. "Not quite. Its real name is the Zoan: Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Model: Nika."

Before Luffy could process this revelation, Edie casually pulled out a syringe. The sharp glint of the needle made Luffy freeze.

"W-What are you doing with that?!" Luffy stammered, his legs trembling.

Edie's playful grin turned almost villainous. "You drank my juice, didn't you? Now, it's only fair you return something to me... like your blood!"

The sinister tone and exaggerated smile sent shivers down Luffy's spine. "No! I hate needles! You're a liar and a devil, Edie!"

Luffy spun on his heels and bolted for the door, only to smack headfirst into a tree outside.

Rubbing his head, Luffy sat on the ground, confused. "Wait... it doesn't hurt?" He quickly remembered that his rubber body absorbed most impacts.

Looking up, he saw a towering figure standing over him.

"...Gramps?"

Luffy's jaw dropped, but as he stared longer, doubt crept in. "Wait... Gramps How did you get so young all of a sudden?!"

Chou, clearly unimpressed, sighed. "What do you think?"

Luffy's face lit up with panic. "You're not my grandpa!" He paused, then pointed accusingly. "You must be my dad!"

The resemblance was uncanny—at least, to Luffy's simplistic logic.

Edie stepped out of the tavern, shaking his head. "Alright just hold him still."

"Alright." Then, with a quick motion, Chou grabbed Luffy by the chest and lifted him off the ground.

"Put me down, you fake grandpa!" Luffy yelled, flailing his arms.

Chou smacked Luffy on the head with a comically exaggerated "Fist of Love," leaving a noticeable bump.

"Ouch!" Luffy cried. "Why does it hurt?! I'm rubber!"

Makino rushed out nervously. "Please, let him go! He's just a kid!"

Ignoring her plea, Chou stretched Luffy's arm experimentally, marveling at its elasticity.

Luffy froze when he spotted Edie approaching with the syringe again.

"Wait, wait! I'm sorry! Don't poke me! AHHH!"

A loud scream echoed as Edie drew a small vial of blood.

"There. Was that so bad?" Edie teased, capping the vial.

Chou, the tall figure who had grabbed Luffy, gently placed him down.

Luffy scrambled away, tears streaming as he clutched his head. "You're both devils! I'll remember this, Edie! And you, fake grandpa!"

Edie smirked, tucking the syringe away. "See you around, kid. When you set sail, make sure to visit Beehive Island."

Luffy stuck out his tongue defiantly before darting off.

"Where's Zishu?" Edie inquired of Chou.

"Heavenly Father, he went to the mountains," Chou responded with his usual stoic tone.

In the Forested Mountains of Goa Kingdom

Ace and Sabo, both nine years old, had just managed to defeat a fully-grown bear. Exhausted but exhilarated, they collapsed onto the forest floor, gasping for breath.

"Sabo, we've gotten a little stronger again!" Ace grinned through his exhaustion.

"Yeah, just a bit more, Ace! If we keep at it, we'll have enough 'pirate deposits' to leave this country one day!" Sabo replied, eyes alight with dreams of freedom.

Their laughter faded as a deep, guttural roar echoed through the forest. Both froze, their smiles vanishing.

Turning around, they saw a towering bear, far larger than the one they had just fought, charging straight for them.

"Crap, it's the mother from before!" Ace shouted, panic setting in.

"Run!" Sabo yelled, but both were too exhausted to evade the bear's massive form. Its claws swiped down, poised to strike—

Blood sprayed like a crimson fountain, and the bear's body split in two, crashing heavily to the ground. Ace and Sabo stared in stunned silence.

Behind the corpse stood a boy who appeared to be in his teens. His white hair glinted in the sunlight, his dark skin contrasted sharply against his jet-black wings, and a playful grin stretched across his face.

"Hey, kids, when you meet your savior, shouldn't you be bowing in gratitude?" Zishu smirked, resting a blood-stained samurai sword on his shoulder. The flames on the blade dissipated as he began cooking the bear's corpse with ease.

"You're… just a kid yourself," Sabo muttered in disbelief, his gratitude momentarily overshadowed by confusion.

"Bear meat?" Zishu asked nonchalantly, sitting down and tearing into the roasted flesh.

The scent of roasted bear meat wafted through the air as the flames crackled, casting warm light over the trio.

Zishu tore a chunk of meat with his teeth, chewing casually. "You know, kids, for tiny East Blue brats, you've got guts. Taking on a bear like that is impressive… for your age."

Ace, chewing furiously, glared at Zishu. "We don't need your approval! We were doing fine until you showed up!"

"Yeah, totally fine," Zishu said, grinning. "Which is why you were about to be bear chow? Admit it, I saved your bacon."

Sabo chuckled. "He's got a point, Ace. That bear was huge. Besides, we've never had roasted bear before. It's not bad, right?"

Ace muttered something under his breath, stuffing his mouth with meat instead of arguing.

Zishu raised an eyebrow, his sharp wings shifting slightly as he leaned back against a tree. "You've got a real attitude, don't you? What's the matter? Mad that I'm better-looking and stronger?"

Ace almost choked on his food. "Better-looking?! In your dreams! You look like a weird bird-human hybrid!"

"Bird-human?!" Zishu laughed, clearly not offended. "I prefer the term 'angelic.' But hey, call me what you want. At least I'm the one who doesn't look like he just rolled in dirt."

"Hey! We were training!" Ace shot back, pointing an accusatory finger.

Sabo snorted. "Ace, he's kind of right. You do look like you wrestled the bear before killing it."

Ace's face turned red, and he threw a bone at Sabo. "Shut up!"

Zishu laughed again, clearly enjoying himself. "You two are hilarious. But seriously, what's with this 'pirate deposits' thing you mentioned earlier? Saving up to buy a ship or something?"

Sabo nodded, his expression turning serious. "Yeah, we're going to be pirates one day. We'll leave this country and explore the world, free as the wind."

"Hmm, ambitious," Zishu said, taking another bite of meat. "And what about you, Ace? Same dream?"

Ace hesitated, then shrugged. "I don't know. I just want to get strong enough to make a name for myself… something bigger than just being—" He stopped himself abruptly, biting his lip.

"Being what?" Zishu asked, a glint of curiosity in his eyes.

"Nothing," Ace muttered, looking away.

Sabo quickly changed the subject. "So, Zishu, what's with those wings of yours? Are they, like, real? Or are they part of some weird costume?"

Zishu smirked, stretching his wings out dramatically. "Real as it gets. Pretty impressive, huh? They're handy for scaring off big bears, too."

"They're freaky," Ace muttered, though his eyes betrayed a hint of fascination.

Zishu laughed. "Freaky or not, they're why you're alive right now, so maybe show a little gratitude, huh?"

Ace huffed but didn't argue further, focusing on his food and trying to ignore how Zishu reminded him of his father.

Sabo smiled at the lighthearted banter. "You're a weird guy, Zishu, but thanks for saving us. Even if Ace is too stubborn to say it."

The three sat silently for a few minutes, the tranquility of the forest broken only by the sound of crackling flames and chewing.

But Ace wasn't eating. He couldn't take his eyes off Zishu.

"No… Impossible!" Ace's voice trembled, his gaze locked on Zishu's face.

"What's impossible?" Zishu's grin widened mischievously. "Ace, is that how you greet your older brother?"

"Brother?!" Sabo's jaw dropped. "Ace, is he really—?"

Ace's mind raced. This kid's face—his features were uncannily similar to someone Ace despised. Gol D. Roger. The Pirate King whose legacy had plagued Ace his entire life.

"You… you look just like him!" Ace shouted, fists clenched. "Roger is dead! Who the hell are you?!"

Zishu's smirk didn't falter. "Relax, kid. I'm not Roger. But we're family. You can call me Big Bro Zishu."

The words hit Ace like a punch to the gut. "Family…?"

He gritted his teeth, the memories of his mother's sacrifice and the stigma of his bloodline surging to the forefront. "What do you want from me?!"

"Relax. I just came to check on you. You're Roger's legacy, after all," Zishu replied, unbothered. "But more importantly, I'm curious about how much potential lies dormant within you."

Ace's instincts screamed at him to run, but his legs wouldn't move. Before he could act, a wave of invisible pressure crushed the air around them.

Sabo collapsed instantly, unconscious.

"What… what did you do to him?!" Ace shouted in fear.

"That's Conqueror's Haki," Zishu said casually. "It's a power you'll inherit too—once you awaken it."

Ace's heart pounded in his chest as Zishu withdrew a syringe.

"Stay away!" Ace growled, mustering his strength to grab Sabo and flee. But his path was blocked by two more figures.

One was a clone of Garp—Ace recognized him instantly. The other was a man Ace had only seen in newspapers. Dr. Edie.

"Afraid of needles? Kids these days," Edie said with a teasing smile, stepping forward as arcs of red lightning danced around his fingertips.

The electricity wrapped around Ace, paralyzing him entirely.

"What… is this?!" Ace gasped, unable to move a muscle.

"Just an application of Haki," Edie replied calmly. "Don't struggle, kid. This won't hurt—much."

Zishu approached, stabbing the syringe into Ace's arm. The blood was drawn quickly, and the paralysis faded. Ace collapsed, bewildered and furious.

"Why are you doing this?!" he shouted.

Edie shrugged. "Just a little research. Nothing malicious. Consider it a check-up."

Zishu moved toward Sabo's unconscious body, syringe in hand.

"No!" Ace yelled, stepping in front of his friend. "Leave him alone!"

Zishu flicked Ace away with ease, sending him crashing into a tree. Dazed and defeated, Ace could only watch as Sabo's blood was taken.

"Angry?" Edie asked, his tone calm. "True anger comes from deep within—the kind that awakens Conqueror's Haki."

Ace glared at them, tears of frustration in his eyes. He was powerless.

Zishu grinned, tossing Ace another piece of meat. "Cheer up, kid. With that temper of yours, you're bound to make a name for yourself someday."

Edie floated into the air, Zishu and Chou flanking him like dark angels.

"Remember this moment, Ace. One day, it might shape your destiny," Edie said, his voice fading as the trio ascended. "Goodbye, little Ace. I look forward to seeing you again."

Ace could only watch, his fists trembling as the mysterious figures disappeared into the horizon.