Jackson Swan had never questioned his life. At first, everything felt so simple, so natural. He was a boy from Shimotsuki Village, a small, peaceful settlement on the East Blue. Life with his parents, Aiko and Isaiah, was filled with warmth. His mother, Aiko, with her gentle smile and skilled hands, would spend her days kneading dough in their bakery, filling the air with the delicious scent of freshly baked bread. His father, Isaiah, always humming a cheerful tune, would tend to the ovens and deliver the bread to the village. It was a life of comfort and simplicity, and Jackson felt no need to look beyond it.
But as Jackson grew older, something changed. By the time he was seven, memories that had been buried deep inside him began to resurface. At first, they came in strange dreams—visions of things he couldn't quite understand. There were images of towering structures, strange machines, and technology that seemed impossible in this world. Faces of people who seemed familiar, yet far removed from his current life. Jackson would wake up with a sense of confusion, his mind reeling with questions about the life he had once lived.
It wasn't until one quiet morning, as he sat at the village dock watching the ships sail across the horizon, that the truth came crashing down on him. His mind flooded with memories of a different world—a world that, until then, had seemed like nothing more than a distant fantasy. It all came together so suddenly. The world of pirates, marines, and adventure. The stories the villagers told, the ones that had always felt so unreal, suddenly became clear.
This world, the world of Shimotsuki Village, was not the world he had come from. Jackson realized with startling clarity that he was living in the world of One Piece, a place of endless oceans, powerful pirates, and grand adventures.
The realization was overwhelming. Jackson sat frozen for a long time, staring at the sea, unable to fully process it. How was it possible? How could he be here, in a world he had only read about in stories? The life he had known, the life he had been living since he was born, had always felt real, but now it seemed so much more complex. The stories he had heard of pirates, of great treasure, of dangerous seas—they were all true. He was in a world he had only imagined.
But Jackson knew there was no way he could share this truth with anyone. How could he explain to his parents, to his friends, that he wasn't supposed to be here? That his life, his memories, came from a time and place far beyond this world? The questions and confusion were his alone to carry.
He kept these thoughts to himself, burying them deep inside. No one in Shimotsuki Village could ever understand. Instead, Jackson continued to live his life as he always had, helping his parents in the bakery, running around the village with the other children, and listening to the fishermen's stories of pirates and the sea. He didn't want to disrupt the life he had with his family, a life filled with love and security. But deep down, he knew that his existence was different, marked by a secret only he carried.
The world around him was both familiar and foreign, and Jackson Swan had come to realize that he was no ordinary boy. He was living in a place of legend, but for now, he would stay silent, unsure of what the future held or how his journey would unfold in this strange new world.
Jackson spent the next few days in a haze, consumed by a single question: When was I? The realization that he was living in the world of One Piece had shaken him to his core, but there was one crucial detail he hadn't yet uncovered. He needed to know when he was born, when his life in this world began. The timeline of this world was crucial. It could change everything about how he approached the future.
He had to be sure. After all, if he had been born in the era of pirates and world-changing events, it could dictate everything—from the friends he would make to the enemies he might face. Knowing when he was born would shape the decisions he made moving forward. The world was one of constant change, where power was everything, and Jackson needed to understand where he stood in that grand scheme.
So, he started his search. Jackson asked the villagers, in passing, about the year, but their answers were vague. He overheard talk of major events—the rise of the Yonko, the marines' movements—but nothing concrete. It was maddening. He couldn't afford to make decisions based on guesses. He needed hard facts.
Finally, after several frustrating days, Jackson went to his mother. He found her in the bakery, her hands covered in flour as she shaped the dough. The scent of fresh bread filled the air, but it did little to calm his racing thoughts.
"Mom," Jackson began, trying to sound casual, "do you know what year I was born?"
Aiko paused, glancing at her son with a smile. "You were born in the year 1484, Jackson. Why do you ask?"
The words hit him like a freight train. 1484—it had only been seven years since then, which meant Jackson was born 38 years before the current timeline of One Piece. That would place his birth around the same time as the God Valley Incident, one of the most legendary and mysterious events in the world's history. The timing was too significant to ignore.
A mix of excitement and anxiety surged within him. He was born in an era when the world was beginning to change, just before the rise of the greatest pirates to ever sail the seas. And the more he thought about it, the more he realized that this also meant something else—he was close in age to Shanks. The pirate who would eventually become one of the Four Emperors, someone whose influence would shape the course of the world.
Jackson didn't waste another second. He thanked his mother with a quick hug, muttering something about wanting to take a nap, before rushing off to his room, his mind racing.
The realization about the year sent his thoughts spinning in every direction. He had been born into an era teeming with legends—an era that was still in its early stages. He was only a child, but in a world like this, age and time were mere concepts. Strength was what mattered. He couldn't afford to be weak in a world ruled by powerful individuals. The thought of pirates, marines, and world-altering figures made his stomach tighten with a mixture of fear and determination. If he was going to survive, and if he wanted to have any chance of affecting the course of events, he needed to get stronger.
More than ever, Jackson realized that in this world, strength wasn't just an asset; it was a necessity. Power defined everything—who would rise, who would fall, who would live, and who would die.
Jackson had no idea how or when, but one thing was certain: He would need to grow stronger, faster, and smarter. The life he had once known had no place here. This world was far more dangerous, more unpredictable. And the longer he stayed unprepared, the closer he would come to danger.
As Jackson sat on the edge of his bed, staring out the window, a new sense of purpose washed over him. The future was uncertain, but he could still shape it. And for that, strength was the key. He had a lot of planning to do.
As Jackson sat in his room, staring out at the peaceful horizon of Shimotsuki Village, he began to evaluate his situation more carefully. The weight of the world seemed heavy, but there were a few things working in his favor—things that gave him a leg up over others and could help him carve out a future in this dangerous world.
The first was the simple fact that he was living in the East Blue, the safest of the four seas. While the world of One Piece was teeming with pirates, marine threats, and dangerous islands, the East Blue was known for its relative calm. There were still pirates, of course, but they were far less of a threat compared to the other seas. Jackson realized that, as far as growing up went, he was in a unique position. He wouldn't face the same constant dangers that others would in the Grand Line or the other Blues. He could grow stronger, without immediate threat of a Yonko's fleet or the World Government breathing down his neck. At least for now, Shimotsuki Village was a safe haven.
The second factor was the village itself. Shimotsuki wasn't just any ordinary village—it was a village with deep roots to Wano Country. The village was home to many descendants of the samurai from that isolated land, and that meant something crucial to Jackson. Wano's warriors were known for their swordsmanship, their skill with blades that could rival any in the world. In fact, many of the villagers here could use a sword, and for Jackson, this was a massive boon. If he could find someone willing to teach him the way of the sword, he could gain access to a skill set that could change everything. In a world where pirates wielded swords as their primary weapon, learning this art could be the key to survival. Even the prospect of becoming a swordsman would open up doors for him—if he could convince the right people to train him. But that would take time, patience, and subtlety. He couldn't just walk up to someone and ask. He needed to prove his worth, show his dedication.
The third, and most important advantage, was his own knowledge—his otherworldly knowledge. The world he had come from, filled with technology, scientific advances, and information, gave him an edge that no one in this world had. While many people were limited to the knowledge of their time, Jackson knew of inventions, strategies, and historical events that would take decades, if not centuries, to appear here. He had insights into future events—both the triumphs and the disasters—that would change the course of this world. However, he couldn't afford to share this knowledge. It was far too dangerous. Even if he wanted to change the course of history, doing so would draw unwanted attention. He had already seen what kind of power existed in this world, and the last thing he needed was to be seen as a threat because of his knowledge. The risk of revealing what he knew was too great. For now, keeping that part of himself hidden was the safest choice.
These three things—living in the East Blue, being surrounded by descendants of Wano swordsmen, and his own knowledge of a future yet to come—gave Jackson a significant advantage. But he also knew that advantages meant little if he couldn't capitalize on them.
He had to get stronger, yes, but he also had to be careful. Every move he made needed to be deliberate, calculated. He couldn't afford to be reckless. His otherworldly knowledge was a treasure, but it was also a curse. People in this world would never understand the things he knew, and there were those who would stop at nothing to control such knowledge. Jackson would have to live cautiously, hiding his true potential until the right time.
For now, though, he had time. The East Blue was safe, and he had the opportunity to grow. The people here weren't like the pirates of the Grand Line—they were regular folk, humble and kind. He could train in peace, hone his skills, and learn the ways of the sword. Eventually, when he was strong enough, when he understood more about the world around him, he would start to make moves. But it would have to be a gradual thing. He had all the time in the world, after all. At least, that's what he told himself.
With a plan starting to form in his mind, Jackson stood from his bed and walked toward the door. He had a life to live, and in this world, strength mattered more than anything. He couldn't waste time.
But for now, he needed to focus on training—and that meant finding the right teacher. It was time to learn the ways of the sword.