Title: Too Early

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or Harry Potter

Everything was pitch black. There was nothing around him except darkness, even the surface he was lying on was black. He tried to gather strength to stand up not a single muscle twitched. 'That's right...I died,' Ace thought and realized. He started to remember clearly his escape and the blow he took for Luffy, his dear little brother. 'Is this hell?' Ace thought as he looked around him once more.

As he looked around he saw that there was something or someone that was there that wasn't a minuet ago. Sitting at a circular wooden table was what looked to be a man sipping tea and reading a newspaper. Leaning the table was a wooden cane and a coat hanging on the back of the man's chair. The man was average height with short wild black hair, pale skin, a white collered shirt, black waistcoat, black slacks, leather shoes and a ring on his right hand. As Ace continued to stare the man finally noticing Ace's presence looked at the pirate.

"Now who are you?" The man asked as he got up and walked over to Ace. The man stood right in front of Ace and crouched down to eye level. It was then that Ace could clearly see the man's face. Vibrant green eyes that would but emeralds to shame, fair skin, red lips and a scar shaped like a lightening bolt on his forehead. Ace did not answer and the man also did not seem to care either since he simply took a old pocket watch from his breast pocket and raised a brow.

"You're early," the man simply said.

"What?" Ace said and blinked, not quite comprehending what the man said.

"You are early," the man repeated much slower this time, "You are not supposed to be here yet...it's actually rare that one is early, everyone is usually late." The man stood up and put his pocket watch back into the pocket.

"Portagus D. Ace, why are you here?" the man asked.

"Wait? How do you know my name?" Ace asked.

"I know everyone and no one but I know you because you are here right now and because I need to know so that's how I know," simply replied the man, "now why are you here? how did you die?"

"I saved my brother," Ace said. The man stared at Ace for a while until finally replying.

"I see and that is where the problem is...Your brother, Luffy without your interference would have lived. Actually there are several scenarios that could have happened and all resulting in your brothers being saved. Your death was not necessary and that is why you are early," The man explained.

"How do you know my brother?" Ace asked not even touching on the subject that he died needlessly.

"Like I said, I know everyone and no one, but enough of that. I don't like when people are early, I don't mind them if their late or even on time but never early," the man said, "now you have two choices; one I can send ya off or two you can live."

"I can live?" Ace asked in disbelief.

"Well yes, early guests are rare, very rare and in fact I don't like it so the solution is to send you back or send ya off. So which will it be Portagus D. Ace or should I say Gol D. Ace?" The man asked.

"Don't you dare call me by that name!" Ace exclaimed.

"Geez, don't need to yell," the man said covering his ears, "Anyway, so what will it be?"

"I want to live"

"Good answer," and the man melted back into the darkness.

As Ace died and Luffy's scream resonated through the battlefield the Admiral Akainu's fist's turned to Luffy but before the blow could hit there was a loud cracking sound and a man was right in front of Akainu holding his magma fist. Everyone stared in shock to at the man with a single hand stopping Akainu and wondering who this man was.

"Well, well magma, hmm, now I see why the boy died but let's get to business shall we," the man said.

"Out of my way!" Admiral Akainu yelled and launched a punch with his other fist but before his could land the man simply flicked his wrists and sent the Admiral flying. "My, how annoying...better put a shield up," and then a bright blue dome had covered the man, Luffy and Ace inside. The man before going to Ace stood in front of Luffy and crouched down.

"You poor thing, all battered up. You reached your limit long ago but still kept on going to save your brother and now into shock to protect your body and mind from becoming even more damaged," the man said reaching out and cupping Luffy's cheek. "It'll be okay so you just rest," and the man's hand glowed and that glow encompassed Luffy's whole body for a second then the man withdrew his hand and headed toward Ace's body. Kneeling next to Ace's body the man examined the damage.

"Burned from the inside I see, well tricky work but should be no problem," The man rested his hands on Ace's wound and ignored the pirates and marines who were trying to get through the shield. Once again the man's hand glowed for while and all of Ace's wounds were starting to re knit and heal. Once all the wounds were healed the man created a fist with his hand gather energy into it and slammed it once into Ace. A second later Ace's eyes flew opened.

"How are you feeling?" The man asked standing up.

"I'm alive," Ace stated and slowly stood up.

"Of course you are! My work is perfect...well most of the time," the man said.

Everyone looked at Ace and the man in shock and disbelief. Ace had risen from the dead and the mysterious man who came out of nowhere made it happen.

"Well my work is done," the man snapped his fingers and a cane appeared in his hand and a cloak on his shoulder. "I'll be on my way now."

"Don't be early again Portagus D. Ace, I don't want to see you in a long while and you," all the sudden the man turned to Edward Newgate, Whitebeard and pointed, "I don't want to see you early either."

"Live to the fullest Ace, I'll be waiting for the time we meet again," the man said and starting with his feet his body began to disappear.

"Wait! What's your name?" Ace asked wanting to know his savior's name, the one who game him this second chance.

"Potter J. Harry; Master of Death," and the man's body disappeared leaving a wide grinning mouth and even that disappeared soon after.

Author's Note: Alice in wonderland theme in both the first and second one if you squint.