Chapter Twenty-Five: Epilogue

LuffyGirl here.

Here is the final chapter which is really just an epilogue. It's very important though as it sets up some things for the future. It might not be addressed outright but it's fun to be in the dark about certain things along with the characters themselves isn't it?

Do I really need to italicize this to indicate a flashback? Yes.

Also, I started these one-shots exactly four years ago today and they're finally finished today hence why I decided to put the epilogue up today. Ah, who am I kidding, most of the chapters were put up strategically. (Except for when I go on hiatus. Those are not planned at all)

With that being said…

Enjoy :)

Summary: Oo~h, boy. That is all. (Seriously, I can't put much for some summaries without spoiling the one-shots)

Disclaimer: One Piece belongs to Eiichiro Oda :)

Marco jumped when he heard a knock on the door. "Come in."

"You almost ready?" Thatch asked and then spotted a paper in Marco's hands. "What's that?"

"Remember that list of 'beaches our family is banned from' I made? Well, I found it." Marco held it up for Thatch to see.

"Whoa. That's a lot of beaches. Is that still relevant?"

Marco shrugged. "Guess we'll find out when we get there."

"Maybe they won't remember us. We are grown now after all."

"Yeah, but you're forgetting that it was actually Oyaji who got us banned from six…" Marco looked at the list. "…teen beaches."

"Sixteen beaches?! Wha-?!"

"Drinks were expensive."

"Of course."

"Also, if you could NOT fill up everyone's cooler with crabs this time that would be great."

Thatch looked at the non-existent watch on his wrist. "Well, look at the time! See ya downstairs!" He scurried away.

"Thatch-!" Marco just sighed and shook his head with a small smile. Some things will just never change, huh?

…

Marco put his list in the bag (just in case) and then looked at the closet.

… …

Marco stared at the closet intently before he drifted off to sleep.

Hours later, Marco woke up with a gasp as if he couldn't breathe and looked around panicking.

Once he realized where he was, he calmed down.

"These damn fucking nightmares." He said to himself as he then got up from the bed and went over to the closet. He opened it very slowly and quietly as he didn't want to be heard. After a few minutes of digging through the closet, Marco found what he was looking for.

A small safe.

He put in the code and opened it and inside were a bunch of papers.

More specifically, drawings.

Drawings Marco did years ago when he was a child, some when he was a teen and young adult and some of them were even recent. And every single one of them had a date and most of them were different interpretations of the same thing.

The nightmares.

Marco then grabbed a blank sheet of paper, some colored pencils and began drawing vigorously of what his dream was. Once he was finished, he looked it over and then dated it. He put it with the pile of drawings and then grabbed a certain one he drew years ago.

If Marco remembered hard enough, it should be the first drawing (well if you can call it that, it's not exactly an excellent drawing) he did when he first had the nightmares shortly after Oyaji adopted him.

It was a drawing of a burning house and two people. Above them written in messy hand-writing were the words 'mommy and daddy'.

Marco became teary eyed but forced himself not to cry. He's done enough of that. He put the drawing to the side and looked over a few others and then came to the thing he wanted to see.

A somewhat detailed writing of what his dreams were about. He read through all of them which gave him chills the whole time. Marco then sighed as he leaned against the wall.

'Why doesn't Oyaji just tell me already…'

Marco's old family home burning was the earliest memory he could remember and never forget know matter how hard he tried. But just in case he ever did, he drew them and wrote about them.

Marco was glad he did and was very glad he decided to write the dates on them.

He looked at the papers again and felt a little sad. He felt lied to. He knew Oyaji knew exactly what he was talking about but Oyaji chose not to say anything. Marco felt hurt by him and Thatch and grew annoyed.

"But I wouldn't expect for you to understand since you never grew up with your real parents."

Marco now felt a little angry.

Worst of all, he felt…

Betrayed.

Marco grabbed a folder that was in the pile but then hesitated on opening it. Did he… really want to continue this?

…

It's not like any of them know.

Marco stared at the folder.

… …

And they won't as long as you're careful.

… … …

Take advantage of them thinking you can't and won't do wrong.

… … … …

Marco opened the folder but hesitated once more.

… … … … …

Marco didn't want to do this but…

"… If he doesn't want to tell me then I'll figure it out myself."

Marco looked over a paper that had 'SL' written on top and then circled a few spots on the drawing. He wrote a 'C' in each one and then drew a 'X's in certain spots.

"There are just some things you can't look up on a computer."

Written next to 'SL' was 'SD: 6,102,316'

Whatever Marco was planning was definitely left better unsaid and unseen.

*Looks at all the notes and stuff I've had since forever ago* Hm… I think it's time for some of these ideas to see the light.

Welp… What do you think is going to happen?

If anyone can figure out what all that means I will be highly impressed. At first I had everything obvious but then I was like 'Nah, Marco is smarter than that' so I changed it.

And if you're wondering where Marco found that beach list, it was also in the safe. But last time he wrote on the list, there were fifteen beaches so the number went up one, lol.

Thank You guys for reading these one-shots and-

Haruta: "Hold on, it took you four years to finally finish these one-shots and you're not even gonna give it a proper send off?"

Me: "I did in the last chapter."

Ace: "Not really. I'll go get the sparklers!"

Haruta: "Yeah!" *Joins Ace*

Marco: "I thought those sparklers were long gone?!"

Thatch: "So, Veve… What, uh… exactly happened between me and Marco in these one-shots?"

Me: "Read between the lines."

Izo: "What does it matter, you'll always be family."

Thatch: "I still want to know."

Me: "We all want to know things. Now if you'll excuse me I have sparklers to set off."

Marco: "Seriously, I thought those were long gone."

*Ace sets off all the sparklers at once and they go everywhere*

Marco: "Shit! Ace, what the hell?!"

*Meanwhile Thatch is laughing until one of them zooms past his hair* "Hey, watch the pomp!"

*Izo shakes his head but then one almost hits him* "Shit! WATCH IT, GUYS!"

Me: "O.k, you guys got a somewhat proper send off. Happy?"

*Haruta and Ace are covered in dust from the fireworks* "Swell!"

Alright, so as I was saying, Thank You guys for reading/favoring/following/stalking these one-shots and stay safe out there ^-^/~