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Hello! Thank you for stopping by to read this. I felt that I needed to add some information that’s important to this AU.
Historical AU
This story is based on the One Piece TV specials called the Boss Luffy Historical Specials. This is why I’m calling this a “Historical AU”. It’s not historical in the sense that it takes place in the past in our world. The Historical Specials are the One Piece episodes SP4, 291-292, 303, and 406-407. I have only watched the numbered episodes because I cannot find SP4 online. I read the summary of the episode on the OP Wiki page.
Witch!Reader
This alternate reality of One Piece is left a little vague, so that gives me plenty of room to fill in the blanks. I'm going to try and keep the historical feeling, but adding magic/witches/spirits/etc. to this world. I want to have magic be there and be a known thing (kind of like Kiki’s Delivery Service).
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Because this is an AU, I thought I should give some backstory to the One Piece characters that follows what the OP specials gave the characters. The only one that has a sorta set backstory is Brook. I thought about it, and decided to try and fill in some blanks that explain why characters are where they are (while drawing a little bit from canon.) You don't have to read all of this, but it might help fill in what the character's occupation/role is. Please enjoy!
I’ll start with Brook since his backstory is the most fleshed out in the specials.
Brook: His backstory is kind of brought forth in the OP episodes 406-407. Brook had lost his memories but then remembers who he is: a former member of the Thriller Company who was attacked by his team and abandoned in the river when he didn’t agree with their methods of winning the portable shrines during the Mikoshi race.
My interpretation of his past before that is this—Brook was part of a group of traveling musicians long ago. Once, him and his band members befriended a baby whale (Laboon) while they were on a ship headed to Grand Jipangu. They promised to play more melodies to the whale in the future after they were done being in Grand Jipangu. Unfortunately they became violently sick and pass away. Brook promised to meet Laboon again since he’d come back because of his fruit.
Unfortunately he was a skeleton by then, so it was difficult getting the funds to go back to the sea. He met the Thriller Company who took him in (easy to travel with them since zombies/ghosts/etc was the norm with them) Eventually, he became sick of their methods of making money, and so he was attacked during the Mikoshi race episode. After that (Thriller Company defeated/Pinwheel Eatery wins/Brook comically loses memories again), Brook is working up the funds to go out to the sea again, and he hopes to see the (now adult) whale Laboon.
Zoro: The green haired swordsman is a Hakaisou (Buddhist monk who broke the rule of being one). His story is very similar to his canon one. In my story, I’m drawing from his story that he was raised in a dojo. I’m going to have it be changed to a Buddhist monastery that raised him, and then he befriended the daughter of the headmaster. He learned his swordsmanship from there. When he was officially made a monk, he didn’t exactly keep the practices since he was prone to taking people down with his swords.
Nami: our favorite navigator is called Onami in the historical episodes. For her story, I imagine that her adoptive mother had a store. Arlong the loan shark took over the area, which unfortunately lead to Bellemere’s death from stress/overworked. Once while the shogun traveled, he happened to have Luffy come along as a bodyguard. Luffy took down Arlong, which freed that area of Arlong’s rule. Onami was able to get her mother’s shop back, and she left it in her sister’s hands. Onami moved to open her own business which is a restaurant in Alablue. This is the reason she’s so lenient with Luffy’s growing tab at the restaurant.
Usopp: his story is that he wants to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a brave police officer that helps people. A straightforward backstory. He befriended Luffy in training and they’re been close friends since.
Sanji: the chef’s story is similar to the canon one. He ran away when he was young from his family because of the abuse. He ended up in a shipwreck with Zeff where they survived together. After being saved, they went on to be chefs at the restaurant that Zeff opened. He met Luffy who was a bodyguard for the shogun along with Usopp. Sanji was recruited by Luffy because he wanted to eat Sanji’s cooking. Sanji wanted to learn new recipes from The Grand Jipangu. He meet Onami when Luffy picked a fight with loan shark Arlong. He was hired as a chef by Onami when she moved to Alablue and he has stayed since.
Chopper: The reindeer doctor moved to Grand Jipangu recently. He left his home to expend his medical knowledge/practices, and ended up staying/living in the town where Luffy and Usopp are officers.
Robin: a mysterious woman with a mysterious past. She worked with Crocodile at one point as a hired assassin. Crocodile tried to take down shogun Cobra while he was away from the castle, but Luffy was there to stop him. Luffy showed mercy to Robin, and she didn’t know what to do then. Luffy suggested the shogun should hire her. Because of Luffy, Robin now works for the royal family. She shows favoritism to Luffy for having gotten her that second chance, and she helps from the shadows for cases.
Franky: the shipwright builds Mikoshi (portable shrines) in the specials. He’s a skilled craftsman, who works with Mozu and Kiwi. He’s a traveling merchant whose specialty are his inventions. He’s found a comfortable home in Grand Jipangu, so he’s staying a while before he considers traveling again.
Luffy: He was inspired by Red Haired Shanks to become an officer. Luffy has the skills and strength to move up in ranks to work in the government (which is what his grandfather wants him to do) but Luffy wants to stay in his position because he’s close to the citizens and wants to protect them as he has (much to the dismay of his grandfather)
These are my explanations as to everybody’s positions in the historical AU episodes. I hope this helps with any confusion, but I do admit that I mostly wanted explanations because I was confused as to why everybody is where they are, lol.