Author's Note: You might have missed an update or two. This site seems to get cranky if I upload chapters within a day of each other. I'll pace myself a bit better so this doesn't happen again. There was some confusion as to the meaning behind the Shihou Shihou no Mi. According to the highly reputable source known as the internet, shihou is "justice," particularly its administration. We'll see more of Luffy's powers in a shortly, and if you can spot the catch that keeps it from being wickedly overpowered you will win one internet.
: Yeah. The fruit has no direct combat application… yet. OR DOES IT? (Maybe so, maybe no. Let's read on!)
avatoa: Replied in PM.
chimera629: I aim to surprise. I did feel Garp was a bit too… punch happy in canon. Annabelle discouraged that behavior in that preternaturally creepy way anime (and real) women can do sometimes. Silvers Lara is an original character, as his mother was never named in canon. I subscribe to the theory that the lack of any real education, repeated concussions, and his brain being made of rubber (hindering electrical conductivity and synapse firing) played a big part in Luffy's mental state.
Impassive Purple: As far as the Revolutionary Luffy… Wait and see. You won't have to wait too long. As far as pairings, I have several in mind. While I might go the Harem route, they won't be tripping and falling into his bed upon meeting. Any relationships will grow organically.
Chapter Seven: Enter Shanks!
Foosha Village – 10 Years Ago
It has been a year since Dragon departed following an intense attempt at teaching Luffy control. It has been a year since Luffy's heartfelt apology to Makino for his accidental invasion of her privacy. Those words would be the last any would hear Luffy utter. The pirate Porchemy was never located, following the death of Partin. His specter looming heavily over the small family has kept them in hiding on Mt. Corvo. Rumors tell of a pirate crew hiding in Grey Terminal, ruling over it like a tiny kingdom out of fear. Despite the rumors, every time an attempt is made to find them, they scatter like rats and disappear. In the village, the memory of the tragedy has faded into the background. Party's Bar has been kept open as a favor to Annabelle, and in memory of the amiable young man.
Woop Slap takes a few steps out of the bar, his lunch break over, and finds his knees trembling. A large ship coasts into the dock, its crew milling about in preparation. It is not the existence of visitors that give the mayor pause. No, that honor goes to the black banner flying from the mast. A skull bearing three scratches over one socket. "P.. P… PIRATES!"
Townsfolk peer from their doors and windows at the sight. Woop Slap, drumming up what courage he can find in himself, stomps over to the dock to meet a tall, red haired man wearing a black cloak and straw hat. "I… I will have to ask you to depart. Pirates have taken enough from these good people."
With a good natured sigh, the red haired pirate smiles, "We mean no harm. We are just looking for a place to relax, take a load off, get a decent meal, and drink the day away. We will gladly pay for everything." He reaches back and is handed a sizable bag of money. "See?"
The mayor's eyes narrow as he considers his options. Just as he begins to respond, he hears a howl of outrage from behind him. Spotting a charging Luffy, he attempts to intervene, only to be dodged by the young boy who leaps at the pirate captain. Blinking, the man sidesteps Luffy's reckless charge, then proceeds to weave around the tiny onslaught. Woop Slap begins to object, but he is drowned out by the rapid thunder of a rifle. A pirate on the dock, with YASOPP on his forehead, stands with his rifle pointed into the village. The shattered remnants of arrows falling from the sky. "I'm starting to think we are unwelcome, Shanks," Yasopp laughs.
Shortly, indignant screams can be heard from behind a building, as a tall, tired looking pirate rounds the corner carrying a struggling Makino. He ignores her pleas and curses as he walks up to the dock, examining her bow carefully. He sets her down gently and dodges the well placed kick at his shins. "Nice bow, girlie." He hands it back to her. As she reclaims it with one hand, she dips her hand behind her back and sticks a small knife in the pirate's leg. She scrambles to stand beside Luffy, never losing eye contact with the now wincing pirate.
Shanks tilts his straw hat upwards and starts to laugh. "She got you good, Benn! Like a little tiger!" His laughter is echoed by most of the onlooking crew. Yasopp, however remained silent. He, like Benn, is eyeing the girl closely. "She almost got you too, Cap. Those arrows were aimed to where you were dodging TO, not where you were." The sniper narrows his eyes.
Blinking, Shanks turns back to the tiny duo, noting a look of savage satisfaction on the girl's face that was echoed in her younger companion. "Haki at that age? Who are these kids?" Thinking at the boy's attacks, he starts to realize that he was being herded. "Mental note. This is a quiet island, but I need to keep observation going. I should know better than to blindly think the East Blue is tame. It is where the Captain came from, after all. There's something going on here. The trick will be getting answers from them willingly."
As he was about to remark, a voice emerges from the young boy, sounding almost rusty from disuse. "Go away. Pirates are not welcome here." Makino's head whips around as she hears Luffy speak for the first time since he apologized. "Luffy…"
Raising his hands in an attempt to placate the angry child, Shanks repeats what he told the mayor, "We mean no harm. We are just looking for a place to relax and drink. We have plenty of money to pay for everything." Suddenly, he feels a familiar pressure bearing down on him and his crew. Glancing around, he notices the villagers also looking a bit unsteady. Eyes wide with shock, he looks back down to the boy. "Conqueror's Haki? Here?! WHO THE HECK ARE THESE KIDS?!"
Clearing his throat, he finds himself searching for the words to defuse the volatile situation. Just as he settles on what to say, he hears that same rusty voice… but there's something different about it. "TELL THE TRUTH. WHY ARE YOU HERE?"
Words begin to flow from the amiable captain, "We are here to relax. The New World is an amazing place, but stressful. Even a Yonkou like myself needs some rest and relaxation. We were looking for a calm village, out of the way of everything, to spend some time and cash. We mean no harm, and will go if you truly wish us to do so. We have no intention of forcing ourselves on you fine folk." Shanks clamps his jaws shut through sheer willpower alone. While what he said was true, he did not like being forced. "WHO. THE. HELL. ARE. THESE. KIDS?!"
The pirates and villagers alike are also shocked. How exactly did he do that?
Surprisingly, Luffy and Makino nod and start to leave the dock. "We don't like pirates, but you can stay. As long as those words remain true, you can camp here. Agreed?" An uncompromising look fills Luffy's eyes. Shanks nods without hesitation. "Sure thing, kid." He watches as the two walk off, their eyes not leaving the pirate crew as they go. When they disappear from sight, a collective sigh is released. "Well. That was new. I think it's a good time for a drink!" The pirates cheer as they disembark. An emotionally exhausted Woop Slap points them in the direction of the bar.
About an hour later, the pair reach their cottage. Not a word has been spoken between the two. Despite the arrival of the pirate crew, Makino finds herself in good spirits. "He spoke! I was afraid he wouldn't talk anymore." Her steps falter as she remembers his tear filled apology. Glancing back at the young girl, Luffy looks in confusion. Explaining with a sweet smile, Makino explains, "It's nothing, Luffy. Just happy to hear your voice again."
Grinning sheepishly, Luffy rubs the back of his head, "Sorry about that. I didn't want to risk upsetting you again, so I wanted to get a handle on my powers so I don't accidentally hurt you again. Or anyone else…" He winces at a particularly painful memory. "I… may have accidentally did it to Ace and Sabo too when they interrupted Dad's training."
Makino gasps softly, "That explains why they haven't been around. I know they are jerks… Well, Ace is. Sabo is nice enough." Luffy snorts in agreement. "But they are the closest thing to friends we have. Have you tried to patch things up?" She watches Luffy's face turn gloomy.
He toes the ground absently before replying, "I tried. Ace just tries to throw things at me and they run away. I think Sabo is trying to calm him down, but it isn't working." He blinks as he finds himself suddenly receiving a tight hug from Makino.
"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. No matter what," she whispers, reveling in holding her dearest friend. She suddenly lets Luffy go and takes a step back, a faint blush on her face. "So… yeah. We should let Mama know about Shanks." She hastens her steps and enters the cottage.
Luffy scratches his head. "Makino is weird. At least she isn't mad anymore!" He grins and follows her inside to the sound of a shattering plate. His grin vanishes when he sees the look of terror in Annabelle's eyes. He runs over and hugs her around the waist. "It's ok, Mama Anna. They aren't going to hurt anyone. I asked them!"
Annabelle looks down at Luffy, skepticism and fear in her eyes, "Pirates lie. They lie and steal and kill everyone you love. They ruin everything. You don't understand…" Her terror filled rant interrupted by the sharp voice of Makino. "Luffy does. There's…. there's something we haven't told you. Luffy has… powers. He ate this funny looking fruit and now he can make people tell the truth no matter what." Annabelle looks quickly at Luffy, her fear momentarily forgotten. "Devil Fruit… How did you…" She stops, realization and anger dawning on her face. "Dragon. He did this to you. He cursed his own son!"
Luffy shakes his head, "He gave me a choice, and I did it on purpose. I can use this to protect people… to protect you and Makino. The only down side is the swimming thing, and you know I can't swim!" He grins widely when she smiles softly. "Shanks, the captain, promised they mean no harm to the village, and that they will pay for everything. They even showed the money up front."
The family gathers around a table to have lunch, as the two recount their adventure on the docks.
Party's Bar is packed with the jovial pirate crew, the captain sitting with the mayor. A serious look on their respective faces as they discuss the details of the occupation. "And any damages will be paid promptly, and repaired by your crew." Emboldened by drink, and Luffy's strange interaction with the man, Woop Slap lays out the final condition.
"Agreed," Shanks replies. "I do have several questions for you. You are free to answer or not, it has no bearing on our agreement." He notes the wary look in the mayor's eyes. "It's about the boy, isn't it?" Shanks nods, "He exhibited abilities that I have not encountered outside of the Grand Line, and I am definitely curious. However, I am more concerned with the harshness of our meeting. While I am used to that kind of thing from adults who do not know us, for children to harbor that level of hate… What happened here?"
Woop Slap sighs, "This is Party's Bar. It was named after a polite young man named Partin, who owned it until he was brutally murdered by pirates about four feet from where we sit because he tried to protect his wife, Annabelle. The little girl who tried to shoot you is his daughter, Makino. The boy was raised by them when his own family was… lost. His mother was also killed by pirates, and his father left to seek vengeance. His grandfather left the boy in Partin and Annabelle's care, since his duties would not allow him to stay." He drinks deeply from his tankard, "The ringleader was never caught, though his crew was massacred by the boy's father when he arrived. He was unfortunately too late to save Partin."
Sympathy crossing his face, Shanks replies, "That is tragic. Pirates like that give the rest of us a bad name. Though that raises all new questions. You said the boy's grandfather's duties prevent him from staying? What does he do? Also, who is the pirate in question? I can see if any of my people have information, and if so you can have it free of charge. If they are close enough, maybe we can help bring him in."
Weighing his options, the inebriated mayor opts for truth. "The pirate's name is Porchemy. Any help with that would be greatly appreciated, and would go a long way in healing that poor family's hearts. His grandfather is Vice-Admiral Monkey D. Garp."
Shanks stands quickly, a look of surprise on his face. "GARP?! Then that means… that means…" A look of sorrow crosses his eyes. "Lara?" Seeing Woop Slap nod in surprise, his face falls. "I have to make a call. BENN! ROO! YASOPP! With me. Everyone else, drink up." The crew cheers as the three follow their captain back to their ship.
Sabaody Archipelago – 10 Years Ago
It's been a relatively slow day at Shakky's Rip-Off Bar, the steady flow of pirates tapered off in recent years. Shakky finds herself absently polishing the table, her husband snoring in the corner with a newspaper on his face. She smiles fondly at the sight, "The Dark King on his throne."
Purupurupurupuru… CLICK
"This is Shakky's Rip-Off Bar. If you want a drink, come by. We don't do reservations. If you are looking for a ship coating, our engineer is surprisingly here." She looks to see Rayleigh peeking from under the newspaper with a grin. He stands with wounded dignity, and starts to walk out of the bar with a smile when a familiar voice stops him in his tracks.
"It's been a long time, Miss Shakky. Get that silver headed rapscallion on the line. I have information that he needs… although it may not be what he wants." The sober tones of Red Haired Shanks fill the bar.
With a smile, Rayleigh snatches the receiver, "If it isn't The Emperor Brat! It's been a long time, Shanks!"
The snail smiles, "I wish it was a social call, Rayleigh. It's about Lara."
The air falls still, the Dark King's hand has an uncharacteristic tremble, "You found her? Where is she? Is she alright?!" His search for his sister following the destruction of Ohara had not borne fruit.
"She's gone, sir," Shanks replies, pain in his voice. "Her ship was ambushed by pirates in the East Blue. They made it to Dawn Island, but it was too late. Their doctors couldn't save her."
The receiver clatters to the bar surface after falling from Rayleigh's nerveless fingers. Shakky picks it up and responds, "It's me, Shanks. Thank you for telling us. I wish it could have been better news too."
The snail looks to the side and Shanks begins carefully, "It's… not all bad news. Lara had a son. Your nephew is alive on Dawn Island, sir. He's strong as hell too."
With wide eyes, Rayleigh leans over and yells into the receiver, "What?! What's his name? Who is he staying with? Is he safe?"
Blinking dizzily, the snail starts to wobble. "His name is Luffy. Monkey D. Luffy. He's staying with a young mother on the island. His safety… is questionable. We are intending on using this island as our base for a while, however his hatred of pirates is ingrained. There was an attack here a few years back, and the culprit wasn't caught. You two keep your ears to the ground more than anyone I know. Have you heard of a pirate named Porchemy?"
Shakky shakes her head as Rayleigh grunts, "Nasty piece of work. Works for a pirate named Bluejam. They stay in the East Blue mostly after washing out of the Grand Line. I guess the prospect of easy pickings appealed to them. I haven't heard of them leaving the East Blue, so if he wasn't killed, he has to still be there. Bluejam is noted for establishing underground bases, occasionally literally underground."
The snail nods, "Thanks, sir. I'll do what I can to track him down. He killed the boy's guardian, and I can tell the fact he wasn't dealt with is poisoning the boy inside. Another thing… I think Luffy got ahold of a devil fruit somehow. He compelled the truth out of me, and it wasn't from Conqueror's Haki. Not that he doesn't have it, in spades it seems."
A small wave of pride fills Rayleigh. "He's a Silvers, after all."
The snail emits a laugh, "His little girlfriend is also impressive. I think she's around ten and can already use Observation. I don't know who was teaching them, but they obviously learned their lessons well. I am going to take them under my wing, if we can break down those walls. Do you want me to tell him about you?"
Rayleigh considers this carefully, "Yes… but make sure he knows it is a secret."
The snail nods again, "Sure thing. I have to go for now. Have to keep an eye on the crew, since I promised the boy I would."
With a small smile, Rayleigh responds, "Take care, kid. Keep them safe." Shakky chimes in, "And call more often. We can chat about the good old days."
Giving an awkward bow, the snail says, "As you wish." Click.
Shakky and Rayleigh share a look mixed with sorrow and joy. She pours the two a drink of the finest whiskey available, and places one in front of her husband. "To Lara and Luffy."
They knock back their drinks and sit in silence, remembering days gone by.
