Chasing dreams: Chapter 1

Summary: During the encounter with Admiral Aokiji, he leaves Luffy with a parting gift that shocks the Monkey greatly. "No matter what you do in the future, Straw Hat Luffy, take care of her and give her the one thing I could never give her…happiness…" The cards of destiny are changing. But to what extent?

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He had the straw hat trapped from his waist down. "Monkey D Luffy. Listen to what I have to say." The lanky, dark skinned Admiral Aokiji spoke with the utmost seriousness and a hint of sadness that made the half frozen Luffy stop squirming and slowly let his gaze lock with the older man. Seeing Aokiji's eyes filled with determination but were being battled with sympathy. "Monkey D Luffy I owe your Grandfather many things but I will spare you for what you have done in Alabaster and taken down Crocodile. Tell me. Are you happy being a pirate?"

Without hesitation, Luffy shouted back his reply. "Of course I am. I get to meet new friends all the time and have adventures to remember."

Aokiji sighed and moved into the forest. "Oh my. I hope this is the right decision." He voiced and went behind a large tree. Bending down to pick something up and moved back over to Luffy. Luffy's eyes widening as Aokiji was bringing over an unconscious young girl and froze at the familiar black pixie hair, tanned skin and soft features. Biting back his tears as Aokiji placed the young girl before his frozen feet and stood back. "I assume you already know who this is." Aokiji asked with Luffy nodding as the older man cancelled out his ice around them except what kept Luffy still. "You may be a pirate that causes havoc all over the Grand Line…but…" Luffy seeing that Aokiji was having a hard time finding his words and gave all his attention to the marine. "No matter what you do in the future, Straw Hat Luffy, take care of her and give her the one thing I could never give her…happiness…" Aokiji looking up from the sleeping young girl up to Luffy. "Can you do this, Straw Hat Luffy?"

"Hai." Luffy muttered with Aokiji unfreezing his legs. Luffy collapsing to the ground next to the figure and delicately cradled her like glass as if she were to disappear at any moment. "How…? I was told she was…d-de…she was gone." Luffy questioned quietly as silent tears rolled down his face and splashed onto the face below him. Not seeing Aokiji's look of sympathy.

"Oh my. For that, I have no answer. But when she wakes, she'll be disorientated and confused…I assume that she will only remember your face…"

Luffy's head snapped up to the older man. "What do you mean?"

"'This will be the last time I see you. Thank you for everything.' Those were her last words to me before she fell unconscious in my arms. Though the last words she muttered were your name and here you are. Oh my I believe that she wanted to be with you." Aokiji watching as Luffy picked her up and moved over to the teenaged Capitan. Thankful that Luffy didn't retreat and lightly caresses the girl's cheek. "Forgive me, Victoria." And disappeared before Luffy's eyes.

"Victoria? Who's Victoria?" Luffy muttered in confusion and looked to the teen in his arms with a large grin as tears still fell from his eyes. "Stupid Ice-man. Her name is…" Luffy hearing Zoro and Sanji calling for him and started following the voices till he came upon the two. "Let's go." Luffy ordered and ignored his two subordinates about Aokiji's whereabouts and the female in his arms. Boarding the ship and ignored the rest of his crew as he headed straight for Chopper and asked. "Can you check her over please, Chopper?"

Chopper understood the seriousness in his Capitan's voice and led Luffy and the stranger into the kitchen area where Robin was resting after being defrosted. Laying the young girl on the spare futon for Chopper to check over and sat quietly next to her side as Nami and Usopp tried to question him without success.

"Luffy…" Chopper voiced, gaining the Rubberman's attention. "Everything's fine. Just exhaustion and stress on her brain."

Luffy sighed in relief and held the teenage girl's hand in his two. Tossing a large grin at Chopper. "Thank God. I was worried there. When will she wake up?"

"In a two or three days. Same with Robin." Chopper answered and was startled along with the rest of the crew, minus Robin since she was unconscious, as Luffy had streams pouring down his cheeks and nose. Luffy starting to cry heavily and thankfully as he began wiping his eyes with one hand as the other still held tightly onto the patient's hand.

"Thank God." Luffy cried. "I-I'm so h-happy…" His crew smiling fondly at their Capitan's antics. "Y-you're alive…I-I'm happy…so, s-so happy…"

Nami placed a hand on Luffy shoulder to comfort him and asked gently. "Who is she Luffy? She seems very important to you."

Luffy nodded heavily and voiced through his sobs. "I though s-she died…10 years ago…" calming his breathing to tell his tale. "She went m-missing one day…and everyone s-said she died…gone forever." His crew looking to the face of the young teen with Chopper and Nami gasping in surprise.

"N-no way…" Chopper muttered with Nami wondering if her eyes were deceiving her.

"What? What is it?" Zoro asked as he peered to the face of the girl and couldn't see anything along with Sanji…though he did have hearts in his eyes and was clutching his heart as if he were pierced with an arrow. Usopp finally clicking and fell to the floor in shock.

Luffy brought her hand to his cheek and rested his head in the palm of her hand. Feeling the nostalgic warmth and grinned. "Everyone. Meet my younger twin sister…Monkey D Luka."