Last time on The X-Pirates, Luffy, Tarble, and Coby have finally made it to the Marine Base that was keeping Pirate Hunter, Roronoa Zoro. Soon, they found out that Zoro was there because of an agreement from Helmeppo to be tied up for a whole month, an agreement Helmeppo didn't intend to keep at all since he decided to execute Zoro earlier than expected. Outraged, Luffy and Tarble raced back to save Zoro and defeat Helmeppo and his Father, Captain Ax-Hand Morgan. Later, Zoro joined Luffy's pirate crew to achieve his dream of being the world's greatest swordsman, and after leaving Coby behind so he can become a marine soldier, Luffy, Tarble, and Zoro sail off to fulfill their dreams.

A Promise Between Friends

As Luffy, Tarble, and Zoro kept sailing, Zoro kept his eyes on Luffy as if trying to figure him out.

"You know, you seem more than a little obsessed about becoming King of the Pirates. Is there any kind of story behind it or any kind of reason at all?" Zoro asked as Luffy and Tarble turned to him.

"No reason, it's just..." Luffy started.

"It's just what Luffy?" Tarble asked in confusion.

"I promised someone... a while back." Luffy confessed with a hand on his hat and Tarble thought he saw Luffy's eyes becoming a little glassy for a moment as Luffy continued with, "I swore that I would gather a crew, find the world's greatest treasure, and become King of the Pirates..." then Luffy thought back to the friend he promised.

Luffy's flashback:

Luffy was just a kid as he sat down in a bar with a pirate crew, the captain of the crew had three scars across his left eye, red hair, and he was also wearing the same straw hat Luffy wore as the captain was sitting next to Luffy with other members of the crew sitting in different tables, looking like they had a party.

"I'm telling ya, the best thing about being a pirate is that you can do whatever you want, whenever you want." the red haired pirate told Luffy who's eyes lit up with excitement.

"Take me with you on your next adventure Shanks! I want to be a pirate too!" Luffy said with excitement.

The pirate now known as Shanks just laughed out loud, "How can a boy like you become a pirate?"

"Why not?" Luffy demanded.

"Luffy." both Luffy and Shanks turned to the voice, it turned out to be a man leaning back in his chair with his feet on the table. The man had sandy blond hair that fell over his face, skin that was tan and sea worn, and he was also wearing a blue bandana on his forehead with the word 'Yasopp' written on it as the man probably known as Yasopp continued with, "Listen, it's not about how well you can or can't swim. A pirate is a lot more than that."

"But I can fight! My punches are as strong as pistols!" Luffy said while punching the air in front of him.

"A pistol? Wow... really?" Shanks asked before he went back to the food he was currently eating while the other pirates started to laugh.

"STOP LAUGHING AT ME!" Luffy shouted angrily.

"You're still just a kid." another pirate said.

"You're about the same age as my kid." Yasopp added.

"I'm not a kid, I'm a grown up!" Luffy yelled as he gritted his teeth together.

"Really? Cause you look like a kid to me." another pirate smirked, this one had smooth short black hair, black eyes, an 'x' shaped scar on his left cheek, he was dressed in some black and green armor with green shoulder straps, black pants, red bands on his wrists and ankles, and he also had a tail waving behind him slowly. (A/N: Ta-Da! This is the Saiyan I made in Xenoverse, his name will be revealed soon.)

"I am not a kid!" Luffy yelled angrily.

"Relax, it's nothing to be mad about. Here, have some juice." Shanks said placing a glass of juice in front of Luffy who's anger went away in an instant.

"Oh, thanks!" Luffy said as he began to drink the juice, but the resulted in Shanks and his crew laughing at him again.

"See? You are a kid! What kind of pirate likes juice?" Shanks laughed.

"That was a dirty trick! Stop laughing at me!" Luffy yelled angrily.

"Sorry, that's just how Captain Shanks is sometimes!" the tailed pirate laughed.

"Luffy, how about you calm down and eat?" Luffy turned to the barkeeper, who was a young woman with dark green hair that fell to her shoulders tucked underneath a bandana who placed a bottle in front of Shanks before she looked at Luffy kindly and asked, "How about it?"

"Sure thing Makino! Just put it on my treasure tab." Luffy said.

"What treasure? You shouldn't lie you know." Shanks told Luffy.

"I am not!" Luffy yelled in determination, then he turned to Makino and said, "I'm definitely gonna be a pirate one day! And when I come across a lot of treasure, I'll come back and pay you with that!"

Makino smiled and laughed, "I'll look forward to it."

The tailed pirate chuckled a little as he saw Luffy eat up before he said to himself, "The kid's set on becoming a pirate, I can tell."

"Hey Shanks." Luffy said with his mouth full as Shanks turned to him before Luffy asked him, "How long are you gonna stay this time?"

"Well..." Shanks thought about it for a bit, then he said, "It's been real nice here, but we decided that we'll probably set sail a couple more times, then we'll leave this town for good and head back north."

"Only a few more times." Luffy said softly as Makino gave the boy a sad smile before she sighed, then Luffy looked at Shanks and said, "I'll be a great swimmer by then!"

Shanks laughed again, "Sure... we'll see about that."

The tailed pirate's face suddenly turned serious as he turned to the door, Yasopp saw this and asked, "What is it Ryoma?"

"I believe we've got company." the tailed pirate, now known as Ryoma, said before the door was kicked open revealing a bunch of men dressed alike with smug smiles on their faces.

"Sorry for the interruption." the man in front said as Luffy turned to them in confusion while Makino tensed up for some reason as the man came inside, looked at all the pirates, and continued with, "So these are the pirates I've heard so much about. They all look like idiots to me."

"Welcome, what can I do for you?" Makino asked the man politely.

"We're bandits. We're not here to destroy your bar, we just need about ten barrels of sake." the head bandit smirked at her.

"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid we're all out of sake at the moment." Makino answered politely.

The head bandit raised an eyebrow as he looked around before he said, "Strange, these pirates seem to be enjoying themselves. What are they even drinking, water?"

"It's sake, but it's also the last of our stock." Makino answered.

"Oh sorry, looks like we drank the place dry. But if you want, there's still a bottle left that's unopened. If you want it, it's all yours." Shanks said while holding the bottle up to the bandit who's eyes suddenly darkened before he shattered the bottle, splashing the drink all over Shanks and the bar as Makino and Luffy gasped but the bandits just laughed while the pirates turned to Shanks who's eyes were covered by his hat.

"Do you even know who you're talking to? I'm a bandit, a wanted man who's worth eight million berries. One bottle won't be nearly enough, don't take me lightly." the bandit said coldly as Shanks just looked up.

"Now the floor's all wet, sorry about that Makino." Shanks apologized before he knelt down and started to pick up shards of glass from off the floor as he asked, "Do you have a mop?"

"O-Oh no, it's fine captain, I can manage it." Makino said before she left to find a mop to clean up the mess.

But as soon as she left, the bandit drew his sword and then he slashed it along the bar, cutting it up and sending pretty much everything crashing to the floor making an even bigger mess before he sneered, "Well, if you enjoy cleaning, now there's more to clean." then he put his sword away before he said, "No point wasting our time here while there's no sake. Let's go men!" the bandits began to exit the bar, but the head bandit turned back and said, "Later cowards!" and the bandits left while laughing.

Makino came back and kneeled down next to Shanks and began to ask him, "Are you all right? Are you hurt anywhere?"

I'm fine, it's no problem." Shanks reassured her, then he and his crew broke down into more laughter.

"They really got you! That's funny!" Yasopp laughed.

You look pretty dumb on the floor, Captain!" another pirate laughed as Ryoma walked over to stand next to Shanks.

"Just another fine for you, isn't it Captain Shanks?" Ryoma chuckled as he slapped Shanks on the back as the pirates kept laughing, but Luffy watched before he jumped up on his seat, looking really angry with his fists shaking.

"WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING!?" Luffy shouted as the pirates turned to him as he continued with, "THAT WASN'T COOL! WHY DIDN'T YOU FIGHT BACK!? NO MATTER HOW MANY THERE ARE OR HOW STRONG THEY LOOK, IF YOU DON'T FIGHT BACK THEN YOU'RE NOT A MAN! NOW I SEE THAT I WAS WRONG ABOUT YOU GUYS!"

"I know how you feel Luffy, but all he did was spill some sake on me." Shanks calmly said.

"Yeah, that's all that happened, it's not worth getting upset over." Ryoma calmly added.

"Whatever." Luffy huffed, sitting back down, then he saw a chest next to him, inside he saw that it was some unusual purple fruit, so he grabbed it and took a big bite out of it.

Shanks was wiping off his hat as he and Ryoma saw Luffy eating the fruit he grabbed as Shanks said, "You shouldn't eat out of frustration you know."

"Shut up." Luffy said with his mouthful as Ryoma looked carefully at the chest and then at the fruit in Luffy's hands, then his eyes went wide a little.

"Uh, Captain, you don't think that fruit Luffy's eating could be...?" Ryoma didn't finish as his and Shanks' eyes widened each with a panicked look on their faces as Ryoma asked Luffy, "Hey, what are you eating!?" making Luffy turn to them as he swallowed what was already in his mouth.

"Luffy, don't tell me you just ate the fruit that was inside the chest!?" Shanks yelled as Luffy just looked confused, but then Shanks grabbed him and held him by his ankles, shaking him as he yelled, "Spit it out! Spit out every piece right now!"

"What are you doing!?" Luffy cried as Shanks kept shaking him.

"Captain, I think it's too late for that now." Ryoma said, but then Luffy's legs suddenly stretched out as he landed on his face, he was like that for a few seconds before he sprang back up as Ryoma sweated a little as he said, "I was right, it's too late to spit it out now."

"Does that mean...?" one pirate gasped.

"He couldn't have...?" Yasopp gasped.

"I'm afraid he did Yasopp." Ryoma answered as Luffy looked ahead with his face red from when he hit the floor.

"What just happened?" Luffy asked with his eyes wide in shock.

Shanks pulled Luffy up so their eyes met as he yelled, "Luffy, that was a Devil Fruit! The Devil Fruits are the treasures of the sea! If you eat it, you'll lose the ability to swim for the rest of your life, but the one you ate also turns your body into rubber!"

"WHAAAAAAT!? NO WAY!" Luffy shouted in shock.

"YOU DUMBASS!" Shanks and Ryoma shouted at the same time.

Later, Luffy ran into the same bandits again and demanded that they apologize for what the leader said about Shanks and his crew, but they just took him away and started to beat him up, even with Makino and the Mayor begging them to stop, but just as the bandits were about to deliver the final blow...

"I was wondering why the bar was empty on such a fine day." everyone turned to see Shanks and his crew standing behind Makino and the Mayor.

"So this is why." Ryoma finished for Shanks.

"Captain Shanks!" Makino called in relief.

Shanks grinned, "If it isn't the bandits from the other day. What's the matter Luffy? I thought you said you have a punch like a pistol."

"Shut up!" Luffy snarled from under the bandit leader's boot.

"Pirate, why are you still here? I suggest you leave and continue cleaning if you don't wanna get hurt." the bandit leader said smugly, but Shanks just slowly walked towards them as the leader pointed his sword at him and said, "I don't know why you're here, but leave before we kill you." but Shanks just kept walking until another bandit came next to him and aimed a pistol at him.

"Don't move another step, or I'll blow your brains out." the bandit said still holding the pistol up to Shanks.

"Since you drew your pistol, I assume you're willing to use it?" Shanks asked casually catching the bandit off guard, but Shanks continued with, "Are you willing to risk your life? These aren't toys to scare people with you know." as soon as Shanks said that, the bandit suddenly grunted and fell down, dropping his pistol as the others saw that Ryoma appeared behind the bandit and knocked him out with a chop to the back of the neck.

"You killed him!" another bandit yelled at Ryoma.

Ryoma just gave off a grin, "Not really, I just knocked him out, he'll be like that for a while. You have no idea who you're dealing with, we never claim ourselves as saints."

"We're pirates." Shanks said proudly.

"Shut up, this is none of your business!" the bandit leader yelled as Shanks face went from casual to angry.

"Listen up bandits, you can spill food on me, you can pour drinks on me, hell, you can even spit at me, I'll just laugh it off..." Shanks began, then his face grew furious as he yelled, "But... good reason or not... I WON'T FORGIVE THOSE WHO HURT MY FRIENDS! Now, for the last time, let Luffy go!"

"Shanks." Luffy whispered softly.

The bandit leader just laughed, "Won't forgive you say? You bunch of pirates who float around on the sea want to challenge the bandits!? What a joke, kill them all!" that's when the bandits charged towards the pirates.

Shanks just grinned as he turned to Ryoma and asked casually, "Care to do the honors Ryoma?"

"With pleasure." Ryoma smirked as he cracked his knuckles, then he disappeared from plain sight, taking the bandits, Makino, the Mayor, and Luffy by surprise.

"Hey, where did he go!?" one bandit asked while looking around, but as soon as he asked that, he was suddenly knocked out and all of the other bandits soon followed after him as Ryoma suddenly reappeared next to Shanks.

"Wow." Luffy whispered in awe.

"What the... How did you do that? Who the hell are you!?" the bandit leader yelled in shock.

"Me? I'm just a Saiyan." Ryoma answered while glaring at the bandit leader.

"Wait, hold on, the kid's the one who started it!" the bandit leader yelled while pointing at Luffy.

"Aren't you a wanted man?" Shanks taunted with a smirk, but then the bandit threw something to the ground and smoke began to cover the area as Shanks coughed, "A smoke bomb!" then a member of his crew just slashed the air with his sword and cleared out the smoke, but they saw that the bandit leader was gone, not only that, but so was Luffy as Shanks yelled, "Luffy!?"

Ryoma looked out to the sea before he said, "Captain, I've picked up their location, come on!" then he and Shanks ran on ahead.

The bandit leader was holding Luffy by his shirt in a boat in the water as he laughed darkly, "We got away." then he turned to Luffy and said, "They'll never think to look for a bandit at sea. I only brought you as a hostage, but now I don't need you anymore. I've always killed those who made me angry... you'll be the 57th."

"Not if you die first!" Luffy yelled, but the bandit just chuckled and threw Luffy into the sea as he tried to stay up on the surface, since he ate a Devil Fruit as the bandit laughed, that is until something big hovered over the boat as the bandit turned around and panicked when he saw something that looked like a giant brown eel with glowing red eyes and blue fins.

"WHAT!? WHAT IS THIS MONSTER!?" the bandit yelled in fear before the eel opened its big mouth and ate the bandit along with the boat in one bite as it swallowed the bandit whole, then the eel turned its attention to Luffy who was struggling to stay afloat before it charged towards Luffy who let out a scream of fear.

But Luffy was saved from the eel who looked like it took a bite out of something else, it turned out that Luffy was saved by Shanks who held the kid close to him as the eel turned around as Shanks looked at the eel with a cold glare.

"Get lost." Shanks said with his voice as cold as ice as the eel looked Shanks in the eyes, but then it got scared and swam away as fast as it can.

"S-Shanks." Luffy said while looking up at Shanks with tears in his eyes.

"Thanks Luffy, Makino told us what happened. Thanks for sticking up for us." Shanks said with a grin, but then Luffy started to cry before Shanks said, "Come on, there's no need to cry, you're a man now."

"B-But... Shanks... your arm! YOUR ARM!" Luffy cried with his tears flowing out now as Shanks' left arm was completely gone, leaving behind a bloody stump that was just passed the elbow as blood dripped in the water next to them.

"Luffy... it's just an arm, I've got another one. I'm just glad that you're okay." Shanks reassured, but Luffy just kept crying on Shanks' shirt, then Ryoma floated down next to Shanks and Luffy and placed Shanks' hat back on his head.

"Come on, let's get you both out of the water." Ryoma said gently before he picked up Shanks and Luffy and flew back to the town.

Later Shanks and his crew were at the docks ready to leave as Luffy came to see them off as Shanks had a black cloth where his left arm used to be.

"So you're leaving for good this time?" Luffy asked as Makino, the Mayor, and the other villagers came to see them off as well.

"Yep, it's been a nice extended vacation, but we've stayed long enough. It's about time that we move on." Shanks answered, then he turned to Luffy and asked, "Sad to see us go?"

"Yeah, but I've made up my mind. I'm not gonna ask you to take me with you, I've decided that I'm gonna be a pirate all on my own." Luffy answered.

Shanks then stuck his tongue out and teased, "I wouldn't take you even if you begged me! You don't have what it takes to be a pirate!"

Luffy blinked before he got angry and yelled, "YES I DO!" Shanks' crew turned to Luffy who continued with, "One day I'll have a crew that's stronger than yours, then I'll find the world's greatest treasure, you hear me!? Someday, I'm gonna be KING OF THE PIRATES!"

Shanks listened carefully as he smiled at Luffy, "Oh? So you're gonna gather up a crew that'll be stronger than mine?" he teased, then he took his hat off for some reason, "In that case..." then he placed it on Luffy's head as he said, "I'll leave this hat to you. This hat is more important to me than any other treasure in the world, so promise me that you'll return it in good condition, and only after you've become a great pirate. That'll be our promise Luffy." that was enough to bring tears to Luffy's eyes as they flowed down his cheeks.

"Raise anchor and set the sail!" Shanks yelled to his crew who let out a group, "Aye!"

Soon Shanks and his crew were sailing off as Luffy looked on with the straw hat in his hands while Makino was behind him with her hands on his shoulders.

Luffy's flashback end:

Luffy turned to Zoro and Tarble, pointed at his hat and said, "And this straw hat knows the whole story."

Zoro smirked as he looked up at the sky and said, "I see."

"Man, kinda reminds of someone I met on Planet Vegeta before I was sent away." Tarble thought as he looked up and took a trip down memory lane.

Tarble's flashback:

Tarble was getting beaten up by Big Brother.

"This is pathetic, you can't even stand up against your own brother?" Big Brother said as Tarble struggled to stand up due to the injuries to his body.

"Just you wait... the shoe will be on the other foot soon enough... just watch!" Tarble grunted.

"I'll believe it when I see it, now let's go!" Big Brother yelled before he and Tarble charged towards each other.

Later, Tarble was sitting on a bench with his head resting on his hands and his elbows resting on his legs, he got beaten up even more by Big Brother, and now he was beginning to doubt his ability to fight.

"I don't understand, I'm trying my best to be stronger, but why can't I beat my Big Brother in a little spar? Ooh, Father will be so disappointed in me... well even more than he already is... if that's even possible." Tarble said sadly as some other Saiyans came passing by.

"Hey look, that's the waste in Saiyan blood." one Saiyan whispered while looking at Tarble.

"I don't know why the king would keep him around." another Saiyan whispered while looking away from Tarble who now had tears in his eyes.

"He doesn't even have the same idea as us, he's just gonna get himself killed." a third Saiyan whispered before the three of them walked away, leaving Tarble to cry by himself.

"They're right, why do I even bother trying? I'll just be nothing more... than a Saiyan reject. *Sniff* I'm just a disgrace." Tarble said as he kept crying silently to himself, he didn't even notice that another Saiyan kid was walking over to him, the kid was wearing the same blue jumpsuit Tarble was wearing, white and yellow armor, white gloves, white boots, he also had a green Scouter on his left eye, black hair that was short spiky and a little bit around his head, black eyes, and he also had his tail waving slowly behind him. (A/N: This is a Saiyan OC created by MkSilverCenturion, so he gets the credit for bringing him to life, thanks again MkSilverCenturion if you're reading this.)

"Hey, you okay?" the Saiyan kid asked as Tarble turned to him and wiped away his tears.

"Leave me alone, I don't want to hear anyone else telling me I'm a disgrace." Tarble said sadly.

"I can't just leave you here alone, you look like you could use someone to talk to." the Saiyan kid said with a smile as he took a seat next to Tarble who was a bit surprised at how nice the kid was.

"You really want to stay and talk to me?" Tarble asked.

"Yeah, you seem like a nice guy. By the way, my name's Kukin." Kukin said as he extended his hand out to Tarble.

"Tarble." Tarble replied as he and Kukin shook hands.

"So tell me Tarble, what's got you so down?" Kukin asked scooting a little closer to Tarble.

Tarble sighed sadly, "I guess I'll just be nothing more than a waste of Saiyan blood, I've heard it from some other Saiyans. My Big Brother does try to toughen me up, same with my Father and a couple of his followers, but, even though they won't say it to my face, I can tell that I'm just wasting their time."

"Father and followers?" Kukin asked in confusion, then his eyes went wide in realization as he said, "Hold on, Tarble, is your Dad King Vegeta, the King of all Saiyans?"

Tarble nodded, "That's him, that makes me the Prince of all Saiyans and second heir to the throne, but I really don't think my Father or my Brother seem to care that much since I can't fight as good as them."

"Come on, don't let that get you down, even someone from another planet can take down an elite warrior if he or she tries hard enough." Kukin assured while patting Tarble on the back.

"You really think so?" Tarble asked sounding a bit surprised.

"I know so. I believe you have what it takes to be a strong Saiyan." Kukin said with a silly grin on his face.

"Thanks, but I doubt that I can go that far." Tarble said still feeling a little down as Kukin tried to think of something else, then he got an idea.

"Don't worry Tarble, I'll help you out." Kukin offered, taking Tarble by surprise.

"You'd really do that?" Tarble asked.

Kukin nodded, "Sure, of course. Come on, we'll show them that we can both get stronger together." then Kukin grabbed Tarble's hand and dragged him over to a different location.

Soon, Kukin dragged Tarble to an open area for a nice little spar.

"Uh, I don't know about this Kukin." Tarble said sounding a bit unsure as he and Kukin faced each other.

"Just try to concentrate on your first step to being a strong Saiyan. Now, come at me with everything you've got." Kukin said getting into a fighting position as did Tarble after he nodded.

"Okay, here goes nothing." Tarble thought as he charged towards Kukin and tried to punch him, but Kukin dodged the attack and went for a kick that Tarble quickly dodged.

Soon the two of them were pounding each other in a dust cloud as the sound of them punching, kicking, and grunting could be heard.

After a good few hours of battling, Tarble and Kukin were panting loudly with dirt and bruises all over their armor and bodies.

"See? I knew you had it in you, I'm pretty strong, not as much as someone from the royal family, but still." Kukin panted.

"Looks like I just needed the right partner is all." Tarble panted before they looked at each other and then they shared a friendly laugh.

After getting cleaned up, Tarble and Kukin were sitting on the bench they sat on earlier while looking up at the sky.

"You know, I had a lot of fun sparring with you, it was the first time I could actually smile." Tarble told Kukin.

"I had fun too, those other kids were being nothing but a bunch of bullies." Kukin said.

Tarble turned to Kukin and asked, "Hey Kukin, how come you were so nice to me? You must have heard what some of the other Saiyans were saying about me."

"You seem like a good guy, when I kept hearing about you, I just felt like I had to meet you and see for myself. Something I should do for a friend." Kukin answered confusing.

"You really consider me a friend?" Tarble asked.

"Sure, what else would I consider you? Besides a Saiyan Prince." Kukin said, laughing a little.

"You know, no one has ever been as nice to me as you have, and you didn't even have to be." Tarble mentioned.

"It's just something I felt like I should do, maybe it's destiny that brought us together like this." Kukin pointed out.

"Yeah, I think you're right." Tarble agreed.

Kukin then thought of something, turned to Tarble and said, "Hey Tarble."

"Yes?" Tarble asked while turning to Kukin.

"Let's both try our best to become strong Saiyans, even if we go our separate ways, we'll keep up our training. And then, one day, we both battle each other again to see the results of our training." Kukin told Tarble.

"No problem, I'll train even harder than ever, so you'd better train hard yourself, that way it'll be a challenge when we do fight each other again." Tarble said with a friendly smile.

"Sure thing." Kukin said as he held out his knuckle to Tarble.

"It's a promise." Tarble and Kukin said together as they bumped knuckles, making a promise to each other.

The next day, at the Castle, King Vegeta suddenly called Tarble looking troubled for some reason.

"You wanted to see me Father?" Tarble asked as the King nodded his head.

"Tarble, you have been known for your low power level and your lack of Saiyan instinct." King Vegeta started.

"But I've been trying really hard to become stronger Father." Tarble said, but he shrank from the glare King Vegeta was giving him.

"I can tell, but I'm afraid you'll only be wasting everyone's time. Tarble, you can't stay here on Planet Vegeta." King Vegeta said as Tarble's eyes widened in realization.

"You're sending me away, aren't you?" Tarble asked sounding hurt.

"It may be harsh, but I can't run my kingdom with weaklings like you running around." King Vegeta said sternly, making Tarble angry.

"I'm not a weakling, I've been training hard! How could you say that to your Son!?" Tarble yelled angrily as King Vegeta stood from his throne.

"You'd be wise to watch your tone around me!" King Vegeta yelled.

"No, I'm not gonna put up with this anymore! I'll train hard on my own, even if I have to go through you to do it myself! I will be a true Saiyan, not only that, but I'll be stronger than you one day!" Tarble yelled, but he got punched in the gut by King Vegeta, knocking him out instantly as King Vegeta caught Tarble before he could hit the floor.

"Well, we'll just see about that." King Vegeta smirked as he walked away with his unconscious Son in his arm.

Later, one Saiyan was putting Tarble in a Space Pod with some new armor and a blue Scouter, along with some other stuff he might need while Tarble was still unconscious.

"Prince Tarble is safely in his Pod, ready to leave Planet Vegeta, Your Majesty." the Saiyan saluted.

"Good. I don't really care where he goes, as long as it's away from here." King Vegeta said before he ordered another Saiyan, "Soldier, get the Pod out of this planet!"

"Yes sir!" the Saiyan saluted as he set the coordinates on Tarble's Pod before it closed and blasted away from Planet Vegeta as King Vegeta watched it leave with his youngest Son.

"Tarble, I know I was hard on you, but this is for your own good. I had to get you away from this planet, so that you won't end up like your Brother. I believe you can become a true Saiyan Prince one day, Tarble. In fact, you may even become the legendary warrior... a Super Saiyan. Good luck, my Son." King Vegeta thought while still looking at the spot where he last saw Tarble's Pod take off, letting a single tear escape from his eye.

Tarble's flashback end:

Tarble was dragged out of his thoughts when he heard his stomach growl as he placed a hand on it and said, "Getting pretty hungry."

"So am I, I'm starving!" Luffy complained.

"It's funny that neither one of you have any navigational skills." Zoro told Tarble and Luffy.

"Why? drifting has worked pretty well for me so far." Luffy said.

"It worked well for me too. What about you Zoro? Aren't you supposed to be the terror of the sea?" Tarble asked.

"I don't recall ever calling myself that. I followed a pirate ship that I was after out to sea, but I couldn't find my way back home. So I made the best of things and went after the pirates that were in the area. I had to get some money somehow." Zoro explained.

"So you got lost?" Luffy asked in confusion.

"Shut up, you didn't have to say it like that!" Zoro snapped.

"Uh guys, I don't mean to interrupt, but we've gotta find a navigator as soon as possible." Tarble pointed out.

"You're right, we also need a cook, a musician..." Luffy started.

"THOSE CAN WAIT!" Zoro shouted before they heard something in the sky as they looked up to see a pink bird flying in the sky above them as Zoro said, "Look, a bird."

"Looks pretty big." Tarble said.

"Let's eat it!" Luffy said causing Tarble and Zoro to turn to him.

"How?" Zoro asked.

"I'll catch it." Luffy asked as he grabbed the sides of the boat and walked back.

"Uh, Luffy, I don't think you should..." Tarble said while grabbing Luffy from behind, but Luffy wasn't even listening.

"Gum-Gum ROCKET!" Luffy launched himself and Tarble up to the pink bird, but they didn't come down as the bird had Luffy's head in its beak while Tarble was holding on to its leg.

"I tried to warn you." Tarble said as the bird flew away from the boat and Zoro with Luffy and Tarble.

"HEY, GET US DOWN FROM HERE!" Luffy yelled as he tried to get his head out of the beak.

"Hang on Luffy, I'll get you out!" Tarble said flying next to the bird as he tried to free Luffy, but he couldn't do much anymore as Luffy suddenly grabbed his tail, weakening Tarble to the point that he could only dangle as the bird flew away.

"YOU IDIOTS, WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING!?" Zoro shouted as he rowed the boat after the bird.

Still feeling weak from Luffy grabbing his tail, Tarble looked down to see the bird was flying over a quiet town, in fact it looked deserted.

"Put us down you stupid bird!" Luffy yelled still trying to break free.

"Can you please let go of my tail Luffy? I'm feeling a little dizzy." Tarble said weakly, but then he heard the sound of a cannon going off as he asked, "What was that?"

Then suddenly something hit the bird, creating an explosion and causing the bird to drop Luffy and Tarble as the two of them fell down to the town below them since Luffy was still holding Tarble's tail, Tarble couldn't fly them away, so the crashed into the ground.

Luffy finally let go of Tarble's tail as he stood up and dusted himself off as he said, "Finally, we're both safe now, and what just happened to us was awesome."

"I beg to differ." Tarble said as he got up and cracked his neck a little, then he looked around and asked, "Now where are we?"

Looks like Luffy and Tarble are in a bit of a pickle now. Can they find out where they are? And what was it that shot them right out of the sky? Find out as the adventure continues next time on The X-Pirates!