Indeed, at the top of the mountain, lived the Furious 5 and their master; all of whom were well known and respected by the villager.
Currently, the master was playing music beneath a tree on his flute. He was an old man with white hair, a short beard, a scar on his right eye, and wore glasses, a t-shirt, shorts, sandals, and a silver cloak with the hood down. He was known as Silvers Rayleigh, the master of the Furious Five.
As he continued playing, two figures were hiding from his view, ready to attack. One of them silently took two swords out, while the other crossed their arms. Just as the figures charged at him, he opened his eyes. The two were soon joined by three more figures as Rayleigh began his counter-attack.
He gracefully dodged the strong blast of wind, hands coming out the ground and the flaming kick. His arms then turned black as he blocked the sword strikes and punches.
The six soon stopped their battle, while all of them were still standing. Rayleigh smiled at the 5 figures… who turned out to be the Furious 5. This was actually just a practice battle for them.
The first one, who had just shrunk down from his larger form, was a small reindeer who stood on two legs, had light brown fur, and wore a blue cap with a pink center and a white "X", a yellow and white vertical striped tank top, and orange shorts. His name was Tony Tony Chopper, a reindeer doctor who ate the Human-Human Fruit, and the smallest of the group.
Next to him was a young woman who had long orange hair, and wore a green and white bikini top, tight jeans, high-heeled sandals, pearl-like earring, and a belt, which held the parts of her weapon. Her name was Nami, a thief, and navigator.
Across from them was a young man with short blond hair brushed over the right side of his face and thus covering his right eye. He also had a curled eyebrow, a small goatee, and stubble on his upper lip. He wore a 3 piece black suit and shoes. His name was Sanji, a cook with a mean kick.
Next to him was an older looking woman with long black hair, and wore a v neck lined purple vest that was partially zipped, a long pink skirt, and pink high heel. Her name was Nico Robin, an archaeologist who ate the Flower-Flower Fruit.
And finally was a young man around the same age as Sanji, who had short green hair and two noticeable scars; one on his chest, and one on his left eye, which remained closed. He wore an opened dark-green coat that closed at his waist, exposing his chest, a red sash that held three sheaths for his swords, a green haramaki, a black bandana tied around his left forearm, black boots, and 3 gold earring on his left ear. His name was Roronoa Zoro, a master of the Three Sword Style, and was thought by the others to be Rayleigh's favorite.
"Well done everyone!" Rayleigh praised, as the five bowed before him. His smile then turned to a frown. "If you were trying to disappoint me!" He pointed out the flaws as he pointed to each of them with his flute. "Zoro you need more ferocity; Robin, greater speed! Sanji, height! Nami, subtlety. Chopper…"
"Master Rayleigh!" a voice called.
"What?!" Rayleigh snapped and ended up pointing the flute at two young men, making one of them yelp.
The one who called him was a teenager with short, shaggy pink hair, wearing a patterned bandana, dark blue glasses that were pushed up, a white jacket with a blue stripe, a blue neckerchief, navy blue pants, and black shoes. His name was Coby.
The one who was startled was a young man with blonde hair going down to his shoulders and tied in a ponytail, and wore a white shirt with a pale green vest over it, purple pants, a black pair of gloves, and a black visor over his eyes. His name was Helmeppo.
"It's Gol D. Roger, he wants to see you." Coby explained. This made Rayleigh worried. He knew his friend wouldn't summon him directly unless something important has happened.
A few moments later, the master made his way through the dojo doors before stopping and taking a deep breath. "Roger, you called for me? Is something wrong?"
He was talking to a figure who was sitting in front of a pool and meditating. He was a tall man with thick black hair and a curved mustache and wearing a long red captain's coat. Underneath the coat, he was wearing a blue shirt, and a green sash around his waist. He also wore a white cravat around his neck, dark blue pants, and black boots. His name was Gol D. Roger, Rayleigh's close friend, and the original master of kung-fu in the Grand Line.
Upon hearing Rayleigh, he smiled and turned around to face him. "Now Rayleigh, is it wrong for me to want to see my old friend?"
"So, nothing's wrong?" Rayleigh asked, puzzled. Was this is why Roger sent for him? Just to see an old friend?
"I never said that." Roger replied. He began to blow out the candles around the room one by one as Rayleigh watched patiently. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but he just blew out another candle.
Getting rather impatient, Rayleigh turned his hand black and shot it out, which produced a wind force that blew out all the candles at once. "You were saying?" he asked.
Roger's face turned serious. "I had a vision; Rob Lucci will return."
Rayleigh gasped as his mind gave way to memories; horrible memories about a shadowy figure destroying anything that got in his way, a beast without any remorse.
"That is impossible! He's in prison!" he exclaimed in shock.
"Nothing is impossible." Roger replied, his voice implying he was dead serious about what was said to happen. His visions had never been wrong before and Rayleigh knew it. If there was a chance that Lucci could escape...
Rayleigh's eyes widened before he turned to Coby & Helmeppo, who had just entered. "Coby! Helmeppo! Get to Imperial Down and them to double the guards, double the weapons, double everything! Lucci does not leave that prison!"
"At once Master Rayleigh!" Coby saluted before he and Helmeppo ran off towards Imperial Down; though Helmeppo accidently slammed into a pillar on his way out.
"One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it." Roger mutters, more to himself than anyone.
"Roger, you remember what happened last time! We can't just let him march on the valley and take his revenge! He'll, he'll…"
Despite the situation, Roger can't help but give a small chuckle. "Your mind's like this water, Rayleigh. When agitated, it becomes difficult to see, but allow it to settle, and the answer becomes clear."
He used his sword sheath to touch the surface of the rippling pond, dispersing the ripples and revealing the reflection of a golden Chinese dragon, holding a scroll in its mouth. The two looked up at the statue hanging from the ceiling. Their attention was held by the scroll in its mouth.
"The Dragon Scroll..." Rayleigh whispered in awe. It is said that the only person who can read the scroll and obtain the power to beat evil was the Dragon Warrior. Once he/she appears, they should be able to do the task of stopping Blackbeard once and for all.
"It is time." Roger said.
"But who? Who is worthy to be trusted with the secret with limitless power? To become the Dragon Warrior?" Rayleigh asked.
"I don't know." Roger replied with a casual shrug, causing Rayleigh to stare at his friend in disbelief.
Meanwhile, back at the noodle shop, Luffy was taking more order, while Usopp had retreated to the back to help Merry and Kaya make some more dishes. As he tried to squeeze through the small gaps while balancing six bowls at once, he bumps into Woop Slap's table.
"Watch it you brat!" the old man snapped, before trying to resume his meal.
"Sorry!" Luffy apologized, hastily backing up. This results in his rear, ending up near the table of Aunt and her kids. Aunt covered her baby's eyes while the children started screaming.
Luffy yelped, "Oops, sorry! A thousand pardons…" as he continued to weave his way around the tables. Just then he spotted a poster being put up nearby. Upon taking a closer look and reading it, he gasped happily. "Woah! Gol D, Roger's choosing the Dragon Warrior. Today!"
He grins and turns to the customers. "Everyone! Go, go, get to the palace!" Merry, Usopp and Kaya turned from the counter to see the customers leaving excitedly to the palace.
"I bet one of the Five is gonna' get the Dragon Scroll! We've been waiting for thousand of years for this! Just take the bowl!" He said the last part to a customer who hadn't finish eating his noodles yet. "Shishishi! Greatest day in Kung Fu History, here I come!" But just as he moved to join the crowd and see the event for himself…
"Luffy! Where are you going?"
Luffy winced and fought hard to hide his dismay as he turned to answer the question Merry had asked. "To the...palace?"
"But you're forgetting the noodle cart," Merry said, as he pushed a heavy looking cart towards Luffy. "The whole valley will be there and you'll sell noodles to all of them!"
"Selling noodles?" Luffy asked, to which Merry responded with a happy nod. "But Merry, I was kinda thinking maybe..."
"Yes?" Merry asked, nodding curiously.
"Well, I was thinking maybe I…"
"Come on Luffy!" Usopp said, trying to tell his friend to hurry up and say what he needs to say.
"...could also sell the bean buns?" Luffy finished, deciding not to tell his guardian right now. "They're, uh, about to go bad."
"Another bullet dodged." Kaya said as she and Usopp sighed in relief.
"That's my boy!" Merry smiled as he gave the bean buns to Luffy. "I told you that dream was a sign."
"Yeah, heh heh" Luffy laughed sheepishly before sighing. "Glad I had it." He wished he could just tell his guardian the truth for once.
At the palace, the celebrations have already started. Everyone was laughing and talking as they made their way into the arena, eager to see which of the Furious Five will become the Dragon Warrior.
Meanwhile, WAY down in the village, Luffy's jaws dropped at the sheer amounts of steps he and his friends would have to travel up in order to reach the place; with the noodle cart to boot.
"Do we really have to bring this stuff with us all the way up there?" Usopp complained, carry most of the food items, some of which were quite heavy.
"Well, he did say he wanted us to sell noodles at the palace." Kaya said, more focused on balancing the bowls she had.
Luffy gulped before he started dragging the cart behind him, following his friends up the stairs. Or at least, he tried to; the cart wheels almost immediately got stuck on the steps. He grunted as he struggled to get the cart up the steps. Some time later, the rubber boy pants hard as he decides to stop for a breather. "Almost there." he mutters. When he looked down, however, much to his dismay, he was only a few feet away from the ground. "Oh, no!" he groans. To make matters worse, Usopp and Kaya were gone, probably at the palace already, waiting for him.
"Sorry, Luffy." the shorter of the Risky Brother said, patting the boy's shoulder.
"We'll bring you back a souvenir." the other one said before the two headed up the stairs.
Luffy looked upset for a moment before he smirks. "No, I'll bring me back a souvenir!" He abandoned the cart and raced up the steps, determined to see who will become the Dragon Warrior. Little did he know that everything was about to change...
A.N: In case you're wondering, I used the post-time skip design for the Furious Five and the pre-time skip design for Luffy and Usopp in order to emphasize the skill and age difference between them. I also used both ways Armament Haki was shown in the anime. Aunt is an anime-only character in a filler episode of the Post-Enies Lobby Arc.