"Luffy and His Riddle"
(c) Mei Evelyn
A One Piece Fanfiction
One Piece (c) Eiichiro Oda
Ch. 7: Crocus
Today is a relatively good day in Twin Capes. No pirate ship has slipped down the Reverse Mountain as of yet, and there isn't any visitor as well. To enjoy the nice weather, I decided to chill back inside Laboon. It's been a while since this behemoth of a whale went berserk, I just hope this fine day won't be another one.
However, it doesn't even go past afternoon when the whale begins to wail loudly. In the island inside Laboon's stomach, the sound isn't as loud as in the outside, but still his voice vibrates vigorously through his whole body. After a while, a pirate ship sails down his throat into the sea of acid that has taken down so many victims before. They don't seem to be the dangerous type of a pirate crew, so I don't pay much attention to them. Laboon once again ducks into the sea, starting his bad habit of destroying the red rock as much as he destroys himself.
Things go by in a flash. I have Laboon calm down, the pirate guys help me out in knocking down the two pricks, there also goes the story of Laboon, and soon after we all set out of the whale into the daylight.
Somewhere between my recount, a certain someone catches my attention. Throughout the story of Laboon and that particular pirate crew from fifty years ago, a skinny boy in red vest has gone completely quiet. He's a weird guy, that much I can know from the first sight, but I don't expect him to actually listen to a whale's experience, moreover the same whale that has just swallowed their ship upon the first minute of arrival into Grand Line. Certainly not a pretty welcoming, and I didn't even have the intention to tell them about Laboon in the beginning. But the ship and the entire crew aboard have the 'good guys' vibes with them, and when I say so, trust me that I know. Sailing in the same ship as the last Pirate King and meeting countless amount of pirate crews since I was first stationed at Twin Capes until now, I can make a complete long list entitled "Types of People on Grand Line". And it's also been a while for me to share Laboon's little story to anyone.
However, something beyond my expectation happens soon after I finish Laboon's story. The guy in red vest is brave enough—or stupid enough—to pick a fight with the huge whale by thrusting his own ship's mast into Laboon's bleeding gash. Clashes between the two misfits take place, and the sea waves sway my little island and their small caravel. After a full minute of what seems like a childish fight to me, the small guy decides that it ends as a draw. His next sentences must catch Laboon off guard, due to the depth of a promise means to the whale. He's been stubbornly keeping the words from fifty years before, I can imagine how the guy's firm declaration of rivalry strikes Laboon as a huge relief.
Later on, I find myself perch on a rock while Luffy, the name that no doubt will forever remain in my head, is standing tall and proud with his result of painting on Laboon's full-of-scars head. I cannot say I appreciate the art, it's awful truthfully. But the length of his action proves how far he means his promise, and it kind of moves me. He's an odd ball, and he cares too much for a whimpy whale, but overall he's a good guy.
"That's it! The token of the promise between the two of us. Don't you dare hurting your head again until I come back here to finish our fight, you hear! If you do that, you'll ruin the mark. Shishi," he said loudly for Laboon to hear, getting a roar of understanding in return. I can't help but smile at them.
Luffy is standing silently, still admiring his messy work. But it doesn't stay long, before he speaks up to call me.
"Hana no ossan*," he calls me by a nickname that he has comfortably settled for me.
I grunt in response, "What is it?"
"What do you say about the depth of a promise between two men?" he says.
I am momentarily taken aback by his unexpected question. What do I say about the depth of a promise between two men? Well, I can say that it shows a strong bond between the two souls, whether it's out of rivalry or friendly matter. They say that true men never back down from a promise, no matter what obstacles that may try to overthrow them. I witnessed a promise long ago, not exactly between two men but between one crew and one child soul rests within the form of a whale, and even with odds not in the favor of one party to fulfill the said promise, the other one is still holding close quite stubbornly to the long lost possibility. I'm the only one who have spent my long years with Laboon, the one to watch over him and to accompany him, and most importantly to keep my own promise as well. Before the Rumbar Crew sailed away from the Twin Capes, the Captain himself had personally entrusted Laboon into my care during their following adventure. Ever since, I had only departed from Twin Capes once to sail with Roger, and even after that, I found myself back to the starting point of the sea, to my first home, back to Laboon. So, What do you say about the depth of a promise between two men? the oddball asks.
"Hmm, that's interesting question coming from you, boy. To me, a promise means everything to both party. It also proves the bond they share together to the point that they can trust each other in keeping the words prevail no matter what they must go through. I have witnessed so many promises spoken in my life, and in some cases it's what keeping them together in the face of hardships. It's simply majestic when promises come true. They are words that run deep within their veins, a reminder on every breath, a constant nagging feeling on each fiber every time danger approaches. To me, a promise is as deep as the ocean. Why asking, boy?" I tell him my answer.
Luffy stares at me with wide unreadable eyes. In a split second of silence I feel a thud of familiarity in there.
He casually says, "I see. I don't understand your complicated words though, but I kind of get it."
I shake my head slightly. Honestly, I should see that coming.
He speaks again, "Na, ossan. I also have a promise some time back then, you know. It was ten years ago at my village, when I met and befriended with a pirate crew." He stops for a while to reach for his hat before continuing, "This hat was the witness of it. It belonged to Shanks before, he gave me this hat before he left the village for good."
'Shanks? Isn't that the red-haired boy on Roger's ship? One of the current Yonko?' I'm silently wondering.
"I promise him to gather my own crew and collect One Piece and surpass him someday. It's truly precious to me, my treasure, this hat," he says, resting the straw hat back to his head. He grins cheekily, and I let out a genuine smile.
I briefly think to myself, 'This kid has a long way to go, but I can see strong will and faith in him already. Kinda remind me of you, right Roger?'
*Hana no ossan: Flower-head Uncle (Luffy's given nickname to Crocus in anime/canon)
Next chapter: Vivi
Unimportant side question: I find it amusing that Oda-sensei often associate animals in One Piece with deep background story, such as Shushu, Laboon and that one big frog in Water Seven (what's his name again? I'm too lazy to check it). And also Luffy's ability to get close to animals easily despite his undying love for meat. One of Luffy's special traits.
Anyway, my question this time is, Which of Luffy's characteristics that makes you love this person so much that you (we all do) get addicted to the series so much it's impossible to let go even after years of no foreshadowing of ending soon. For me, it's his loyalty to the people he cares about. Sometimes his naivete too, and some other time his sudden moment of cuteness. Oh, and don't forget his charming side as well. If it isn't for Sabo being there at the top of the list, I would have Luffy as my ideal type. Tell me yours *wink
07/09/2016
- Mei Evelyn
