(A/N Hello everyone! This is a little idea that popped into my head around three in the morning, a short first chapter but I hope you enjoy it!)
"My name is Bella Lee and I'm gonna become the Queen of the pirates!"
"Dummy, it's Monkey D. Luffy and I'm gonna become the King of the pirates! There's no such thing as a queen of the pirates!" Luffy huffed as he climbed onto a stool in the Party's Bar and pumped a fist in the air at his claim. Beneath him Bella's eyes began to water and he recognized the familiar tremble of her lip before she began to bawl. He slowly climbed off of the chair and cautiously approached the girl, knowing that when she started to cry it'd be bad. Makino always hit him for making her cry. "I'm sorry Bella but it's true. I'm gonna become-"
"Idiot!" His rubber neck stretched down barely touching the floor as a fist connected with his head.
Luffy pursed his lips and turned to find Shanks, the pirate was scowling at him as he took another sip of his sake. "Shanks!" He whined holding the smoking bump where he'd been hit. "That hurt!"
Shanks grinned, "Good! You don't make a girl cry! And what I heard from Makino you've been doing a lot of that lately."
'Well-"
"That's right!" Bella cut him off, twisting a piece of her pale blonde hair, "Luffy's a meanie!"
"Why you…!" He growled raising a hand threateningly.
But he only made things worse for Bella squealed and hid behind Shanks' leg, "See Shanks?!"
"Leave her alone 'meanie," Shanks teased.
He watched as Bella stuck out her tongue and pulled down the skin under her eye with a mocking smile. In return he lifted up his nose and scrunched up his face, trying to make the ugliest face possible. Seeing him do this Bella folded her arms and grinned, nodding once in a silent complement to his expression.
"You two are like siblings!" Makino exclaimed from over the counter as she polished a glass. Luffy glanced over his shoulder and asked,
"When did you get here Makino?"
The woman gave him a warm smile, "Just now,"
"We're nothing alike! Luffy is disgusting!" Bella cried out, still stuck on Makino's comment.
He grinned and said, "Oh yeah? Then who's idea was it to make mud pies and eat them?"
Bella's face grew a light pink and she dove forward aiming for his throat. His eyes widened and he leaned back, as he did he lost his balance and fell on his back. Luffy looked at the girl in confusement as he heard her laughing,
"Idiot!" He blinked a few times before he joined her laughing until they cried.
Shanks gazed down at the two children. They were very similar like Makino said, both had the same ambitions. "So when are you leaving?" Makino asked in a soft voice. His eyes flickered up to the the woman who had slowed in her cleaning of the glass.
He thought for a moment, "In a month or so, I'm afraid we won't be coming back this time."
"Is that so? Luffy will be sad," Makino said as she observed the children chasing each other around the almost empty bar.
"As will Bella," He added on as he propped his head up with his arm. Bella was the daughter of a late crewmate of his, his dying wish had been to watch over the girl. And since there was no other known family they'd decided to make Bella part of the crew. Shanks had considered leaving Bella here in Foosha Village, and even discussed it with her, even though the girl was only seven she was more mature than he'd expected. Bella had declined the offer saying that the Red Hair pirates were her nakama and she'd like stay with the crew.
Shanks smiled thinking, I wonder what kind of people Luffy and Bella will grow up to be.
One Month Later…
"Bye Luffy! See ya Makino! Bye Mr. Mayor!" Bella shouted as she leaned out over the railing of Red Hair pirates ship, waving wildly. Luffy stood on the shore, his face hidden by the hat Shanks had just given to him. Tears streamed down his face as his friends sailed away. Makino kneeled down next to him and whispered,
"If you want to say goodbye I think you best do it now, I don't think they'll be able to hear you soon." His trembling hands stopped and he slowly removed the hat from his head and held it in front of him.
"Shanks! I'll take good care of your hat! Bye everyone!" He shouted at the top of his lungs. And sure enough, the crew heard the boy's farewell and called out their own. Bella leaned on the railing watching as the fish swam by below.
"He didn't say 'Bye Bella'...that idiot."
"Are you going to miss him?" The familiar voice of the captain asked from behind her. Shanks leaned against one of the masts a curious look on his face.
Bella flipped around a smile forming on her face, "That idiot!? Nah, knowing him if I stayed there it'd just be more trouble for me!"
"Hm, I see. Well then it's good you came with us." Shanks said before turning and heading onto the main deck. Once again alone Bella faced the ocean and bit her cheeks, her blue eyes determined as they stared into the water below. Luffy, I'll find you in the future and when we meet I'll be strong. Strong enough to fight you, and whoever wins will have the right to claim the title as the Queen-or in your case King-of the Pirates!