Chapter 3: Departures

Today was the day that Luffy and Marx were worried about. The whole town was watching. Luffy and Marx at the front. Ace was getting everything on a small boat ready to sail.

A fourteen-year-old Luffy stood slightly in front of Marx, wearing a simple red vest, with yellow buttons closing it. He had blue jean shorts on, sandals, and his signature straw hat on his head. Luffy, has grown up quite a bit, and as he's watches Ace push off, he doesn't cry.

Marx grew slightly taller than Luffy over the years. He's wearing a baggy jacket, with the left arm being short sleeved showing his arm. He war black gloves, black pants that cut off half way down the shin. Marx wore wooden sandals. On his back laid his axe, now in the form of a battle-axe on his back. Finally a bright pink eye patch covered his eye, the only color on him.

Marx like Luffy wasn't crying, he showed no emotions as he waved off Ace. The town followed suit.

Marx, Luffy and Ace closed their eyes.

'Sabo I'm/he's finally free.'

It would only be two years before both Luffy and Marx set off on their journey. The two began to train less and, prepare more for their departure.


Marx walked up to Luffy in Makino's bar. "Hey, we're going to be setting off in week."

Luffy wore his wide grin as he nodded, "Then I'll be getting a crew to sail down the grand line."

Marx sat down. He asked Makino for a glass of water, she smiled and nodded. "I was thinking, we can help each other."

Luffy brought his feet up into criss cross applesauce, and started to spin around in the stool. "Huh, what do ya mean?"

"Neither of us want to be under someone. But that doesn't mean we can't help each other. To sail the seas… to the grand line. We could form an alliance. Our crews being two parts of a whole, reinforce each other, sail together for most of the journey, be friends, and fight together. We'd be able to fund each other when needed."

Luffy nodded and palmed a fist, "A mystery team."

Marx didn't even blink. "We would be able to travel together, and we both get to be captains of our own ships."

Luffy put a finger into his nose, "I get it."

Marx rose an eyebrow, "Let's be friends on the sea."

Luffy eyes widened, "Why didn't you just say soooo! Let's do it!"

Luffy smile grew a little wider as he ate some meat. If Sabo was here, he might have punched Luffy, but… those days were gone. Now, it's time to get ready, to prepare for the journey of a lifetime. Marx walked out of the bar leaving an excited Luffy.


It was time. Luffy looked at the crowd of people. He took his first step onto the boat. It was small, but after he gathered more crewmembers he would get a bigger ship. Luffy looked over to his right. He saw Marx take his first step as well.

Both Marx and Luffy pushed off at the same moment. They looked back at the town and waved goodbye. Marx looked at Makino, and yelled, "Thank you for everything!"

Luffy yelled to the town, "BYE! I'LL COME BACK TO VISIT SOME TIME."

SPLASH

Marx and Luffy turned to the noise. The town gasped as they watched the monster that swam around the island. Luffy shouted, "Sorry, but I've gotten much stronger. You aren't going to stop me." Luffy brought back his arm and punched the monster in the head, killing it.

Marx went and grabbed the huge beast, and cut of portions of meat, taking what Luffy's and his boat could carry. Leaving the rest for the fishes. Marx looked over at Luffy, "Hey, you know what this means right?"

"What?" Luffy's head tilted.

"We did it, we're pirates now…"

Both Luffy and Marx looked back at the Island.

'Sabo we're free.'