Five year old Monkey D Luffy blinks towards the sea, in the distance he could make out a marine ship; his face was free from emotion as he watched it getting closer and closer, being carried by the strong eastern winds.
"Grandpa..." Luffy mumbles, knowing who was returning.
For the past two years Luffy had training from his grandfather, anything from hunting to swimming to fighting. Of course living wild was the only thing the child knew, his speech was limited even with his young age.
Luffy turns towards the lights of the village, then glanced towards the already dark forest.
Luffy lived in a small hut on top of a cliff, it was just on the edge of the forest but also overlooked by sea and farmlands of the village. It was only at night could he see how far the village itself was, since the small lighthouse was off the coastline.
Standing he makes a run towards the village, hoping to get there before night fully yet in.
Luffy ran and ran without breaking a sweat, nor did his breathing become laboured.
If there was one thing Luffy hated more than anything in this world, it was being alone. Something that always happened.
Monkey D Garp had banned him from living with others, claiming it would made him stronger being alone. So whenever the old man came the child used that to be with others.
It was a small taste of happiness, something to be longed for.
Luffy reached the village, his body only slightly aching and his breathing only slightly panting.
The small child wondered through the empty street, with the dark silent houses.
The front doors of every house had an candle lit lamp which was left burning until morning, a old tradition of the island.
Even Luffy copied the older folks and had candles set outside his hut.
Luffy stood at the docks, watching the sailors and marine soldiers busy in their work in securing the ship. There was the wooden dock, a large man marched out of the gloom and headed towards the village. It was wearing normal clothes, with a brown cap which hid his black hairs, but the grey that was growing around his hairline was clear.
"Grandpa!" Luffy calls lightly waving his arms over his head, trying to gain the older man's attention. The man stops walking to stare at the child.
"Luffy?" Garp breathe out softy almost surprised at him being there, which was something he always did. A slow smile graced the man's lips and then he glances around quickly, seeing if anyone was about.
Then he begins to move again, then Garp came until the lights of the village, Luffy notices that his grandfather was holding something with both arms folding. Sensing an odd feeling from his grandfather, Luffy ducks low and following the creeping marine hero.
"I can't stay long Luffy," Garp said in a hush tone, he leads the child into an ally, "Take this and keep it safe for me. It's name is Ace. I'll be back in a couple of months and deal with it then."
Garp carefully places the bundle into Luffy small arms and takes off an large heavy backpack from his shoulders and drops it by the child's feet.
Luffy blinks.
Before he could ask anything his grandfather was sneaking back to the ship.
Luffy blinks again. Then lowers his dark eyes, to see a tiny face staring at him silently.
"Ace?" Luffy mumbles, not sure what this thing was.