"Pudding-chan! Your eyes are beautiful!" - Speech

'Does everyone like my soba so much?' – Thinking

"Diable Jambe: Bien Cuit – Grill Shot!" – Attacks

Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece, but I sure wish my name had a D in the middle.

Chapter 5

Near Foosha Village, East Blue

"Shishishi, I'm almost there! I can't wait to see Makino-neechan again!" This was what was said by Monkey D. Luffy, who was currently using his Soru and Geppo to get to Foosha Village, where he promised to come back to visit Makino. He had been running for several hours, causing any birds he passed to give him funny looks.

'Man the East Blue is so far from the New World…' he thought, wishing he knew how to teleport. It would certainly save his poor legs a lot of effort. He briefly imagined if the world was made out of continents like the Red Line and people had to walk everywhere instead of sail. What a nightmare!

He sighed, getting back on track. Dawn Island should be around here somewhere…

He looked around…

45°… nope!

90°… nope!

180°… nope!

360°… THERE IT IS!

Wait… wasn't he initially facing that direction? Luffy smacked his forehead. 'Man, I'm still dumb.'

He quickly rushed there, reaching the dock within a minute, almost giving the person fishing there a heart attack.

"Wh-Wh-Who are you?" the person stuttered, still recovering from the man's sudden appearance.

"Shishishi, I'm a pirate, and I'm here to see my nee-chan!" Luffy replied with a big grin, shocking the man to the bone. Had the person not become curious as to who this pirate's nee-chan was, he would've died from a heart failure. As Luffy walked towards the bar, the person followed nervously from a distance.

Luffy was aware that the person was following him, and allowed him. I mean, why wouldn't he? He wasn't bothering him. He could tell without his Kenbunshoku that the person had no ill intentions. Plus, he was much stronger than the person, so ill intentions didn't really matter.

Luffy walked over to the bar and stood in front of it with a nostalgic look in his eyes. "It's been such a long time since I've been here…" He whispered. He wondered if his nee-chan would even recognize him. It was doubtful, but he could always remind her. He opened the door and walked in, the person in pursuit. Luffy proceeded over to a stool, then sat down and waited.

Makino walked over, and asked him what he wanted to drink.

Luffy pouted. He knew that she wouldn't recognize him, but it still stung. "Come on nee-chan… Is it that hard to recognize your otouto?" He asked, still pouting.

Makino's eyes widened. The only person who would call her nee-chan would be…

"Luffy!" She yelled, practically leaping at him as she wrapped him in a hug. The man following Luffy immediately recognized that name. After all, everyone in the village always talked about 'the brat who went to train with pirates', especially after Garp found out what happened to his grandson.

The man rushed outside and ran around the village, yelling "Luffy's back, everyone! He's at the bar with Makino!" This caught everyone's attention, and as a result, everyone rushed to the bar. There, they found Luffy, sitting at the bar, telling Makino stories about all his adventures and the foes he had faced down. She was shocked, but not too surprised. She always knew that her otouto would become stronger and have crazy adventures. However, she didn't quite expect him to become THIS strong.

All of a sudden, all of the villagers came in, surrounding Luffy, with… mugs of beer? Where did they get those? Know what, I'm not gonna ask. Some things are better left unasked.

They all gathered around Luffy, listening to his stories, cheering and applauding at the end of one, then another. They encouraged him to tell more. And so he did. Before anyone knew it, an hour had passed by.

Seeing the time, Luffy decided it would be best to say his farewells. And so he explained to everyone that he had to go become the Pirate King. To do that, he would need to leave. Hearing this, everyone was saddened a bit, but understood Luffy had to achieve his dream. Luffy also brightened their spirits by saying he would return soon.

The Harbor, A few minutes later

Luffy was hugging Makino, patting her back, while saying goodbye. He noticed she was crying. So he whispered sweet and caring words, making her feel better. He kissed her cheek, and stepped away, grinning like an idiot, making her smile.

Luffy had spent the last few minutes saying good-bye to a lot of his friends on the island: the bandits, the animals, the villagers, his grandfather, even the village chief (though most of them had been rapid, as he had been pressed for time). Now that he had said good-bye to Makino, it was time to leave.

He stepped into the boat, and waved at them for the final time, before he set sail. Just as he was casting off, he realized something was wrong. Something was nagging at him, and it wasn't just the feeling of impending doom charging at him-

Wait, what?

"LUUUUUUUUFFYYYYYYY!"

OH SHIT, HIS GRANDPA WAS HERE!

Screaming at the top of his lungs with bugged-out eyes towards the charging Vice Admiral, Luffy snatched up his oars and rowed so fast, they might as well be the engines attached to the Mini-Merry, only much faster. His boat shot out of the harbor like a cork from a bottle, literally running over the Lord of the Coast in its haste to leave the furious Marine in its wake.

Luffy slowed down after about ten minutes of no Garp. Panting heavily from the near-death experience so soon into his adventure, he collapsed on the deck and dozed off, thinking nothing would bother him now.

How wrong he was.

Just a few minutes later, Luffy's eyes opened, only to see the boat heading for a whirlpool. He face palmed, cursing himself for forgetting about the whirlpool and his grandfather for making him forget.

Now Luffy could do two things:

I) He could either jump in a barrel, and travel to Alvida's ship, like last time, OR

II) He could use Soru and Geppo to do the job

Of course, knowing Luffy, he would choose the cooler option. So he clapped his hands together, and prayed for the boat's good afterlife, and with that, he jumped off, and using his Kenbushoku, he sensed the location of the ship. He found it after a few seconds, but as he studied it, his eyes widened. He was also sensing another VERY familiar person: Nami. 'How did I not notice her the last time?' he thought, a little shocked. Then he remembered; he had seen her, just after he and Coby jumped ship in their rowboat, which had crashed right next to hers. Oh well, at least now he wouldn't have to ask for one.

Using the two Rokushuki he had used the most, he ran towards the ship now being attacked by Alvida. He focused on Coby's location rather than Nami's. After all, if he saw her, he wouldn't be able to help himself from hugging her, and that would be a bit awkward, considering she didn't know him yet.

Idly, he wondered if his plan had worked for Arlong. Shanks couldn't stay long enough in the East Blue to protect the island, the Marines wouldn't believe a child, and Luffy had no way of contacting Jinbe. So, left with little options (even with his haki, he couldn't take on an entire crew of Fishmen fresh off the Grand Line; he had only won that fight with Arlong because the Fishman had mostly sat on his ass for the past eight years, and he knew it), Luffy called Genzo, the local sheriff, and warned him of the incoming attack. He hoped it had worked; Genzo had been hesitant to believe him at first, but Luffy had managed to give him enough facts he couldn't possibly know unless he knew for sure Arlong was coming. Luffy just hoped it would be enough.

Lost in thought as he was, he couldn't control his speed, and ended up crashing into the ship. Luffy groaned and stood up, cursing his lack of attention to his surroundings. Shanks and Garp would have smacked him silly for such a blunder. After dusting himself off, he took in his surroundings. He had crash-landed in the middle of what looked like the kitchen on top of 3 pirates. And in front of him, lo and behold, was Coby, looking at him with a face of absolute shock. He amusingly watched Coby take a step back when he looked at the small boy, and then grinned in a reassuring manner.

"Yo, my name is Monkey D Luffy. Do you have some food?" Luffy asked, introducing himself in a semi-formal way. At this, Coby somewhat calmed down. "M-my name is C-coby. A-and yes, we do. I-if you want some, the p-pantry is that way." Coby replied, pointing in the direction of the pantry, still quite shaky.

"Can you show me? I'm really bad with directions." Luffy asked, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. Coby gave him a look that simply screamed, "Are you kidding me?!" Fortunately, this non-threatening behavior from Luffy got him to lower his guard a bit more, as he lost his stutter as he sighed, "Follow me." With that, he led Luffy out of the room to the pantry.

A few minutes later

"Luffy-san, you do realize this is a ship being raided by pirates, right?" Coby asked, remembering that he had not told him.

"Chup chup! (Yup yup!)" Luffy answered, while stuffing his mouth full of food. He remembered at least this much from last time. "Hey Coby, what do you want to be?" He asked, already knowing the answer.

Coby was surprised by the question. "Who, me?" he asked. "I… well, it doesn't matter much anyways. I can't be anything that Lady Alvida doesn't want me to be."

Luffy blew a raspberry with his tongue. "That's stupid," he said. "Why should anybody control your fate and dreams? They're yours, after all."

"B-b-but I can't do anything that risks drawing Alvida's anger!" Coby cried. "Her or her crew's! They'd kill me!"

"...And?" Luffy asked, still not quite getting what the problem was.

Coby's exasperation for this mystery man's cluelessness finally overcame his fear and he screamed, "AND?! What do you mean, and?! I said they'd kill me! I have the fear of death over me 24/7! What else could there be?!"

At this, Lufy's expression darkened. He took off his hat and gazed at it, the flames and the screams and the sound of cannons and breaking timbers echoing in his mind. "There are many things in this world that are much worse than death, Coby," he intoned gravelly. "I've seen them. They're nothing to laugh at."

Coby would have launched further into his tirade if it hadn't been for the look on Luffy's face. It was uncharacteristically stony, as if it had been carved from granite, showing a face of ancient wear and tear. And his eyes… dear Oda, what had died in there? There were whole oceans of misery, despair, self-loathing, and mountains upon mountains of pain. Coby had to wonder what it was Luffy had seen… then looked again at the face and wisely concluded he was better off not knowing.

Needless to say, Coby believed Luffy when he said that some fates were worse than death.

Luffy's grim expression then adopted a cheerful smile as he continued to look at his hat. "Besides, what's so scary about death?" Luffy asked. "I set out to the seas to become the King of the Pirates, so that's what I'm gonna do. And if I die along the way… well, at least I died trying!" With that declaration, he put his hat back on his head and turned for the door.

Coby was flabbergasted. 'Amazing… he's chosen one of the most impossible paths in the world, yet he isn't scared at all!' he thought. 'Not even death seems to faze him! Could… could I be like that?' Coby shook his head from side to side. 'No. No could. Not anymore. I'll decide what I am from now on. I will be like that! No more cowardice! No more weeping! From now on, I'll fight for my dream!'

"Luffy!" Coby suddenly cried. "Didn't you want to hear my dream?"

Luffy turned and gave him a challenging smirk. "I thought you didn't have one that mattered?" he asked.

"Not anymore! I-I-I want to be a marine! One of the greatest! And when I become a marine, I will catch bad people, like Alvida!" he shouted. Luffy grinned. That was the attitude he had expected from Coby. Things would be alright with him, now. All that was left to do was get Nami and skedaddle.

But then, Coby smacked Murphey. "In fact, Alvida is the first one I'm going to catch!" Coby declared.

Then the roof broke, revealing Alvida in all her Murphey-induced wrath. "Who are you going to catch, Coby?" Alvida yelled out, scaring Coby.

Coby collapsed onto his butt, temporary confidence now shattered with the only thought going through his head being along the lines of 'Oh shit.'

Alvida gave Luffy a once-over. "Huh, you look pretty scrawny for a bounty hunter," she said. "Bah, whatever! I'll flatten you in a minute! Coby! Time for a chance for forgiveness. Tell me, who's the most beautiful woman in the world?"

"O-o-of c-c-course i-it's –

"Yo Coby! Who's this whale?" Luffy asked with a smirk, pointing straight at Alvida. Coby had no more doubts. This man was trying to get the two of them killed. However, he remembered their conversation a few minutes ago about death and dreams. Coby then stood by his previous decision and summoned the remnants of his newfound courage.

Coby took a deep breath, pointed right at Alvida, and shouted, "Luffy-san, this is Alvida, the ugliest woman in all the seas!"

Alvida's crew looked on in shock. Luffy burst out laughing. Alvida looked like she was going to explode. Coby just stood there panting, and occasionally trembling instinctually in the face of Alvida's rage. Before Luffy could do anything else, his eyes widened. Nami's aura was getting further away. This meant she was leaving. He needed to hurry up.

Without any warnings, Luffy let out a targeted blast of his Haoshoku, affecting everyone but Alvida and Coby, who felt a chill run through the air, but since it detracted from Alvida's scariness, it allowed Coby to speak his mind.

"I'm leaving, Alvida!" Coby shouted. "I'm quitting your crew forever! And then, I'm gonna join the Marines! After that, I'm coming for you, you… you… you bloated hag!"

Any attempt to figure out what the hell that chill was was promptly ended by Coby's insult. With a scream of rage, she flung her club down at Coby's head… only to have Luffy step in the way of said club and have it shatter against his toughened body.

Alvida and Coby gaped at the pirate while Luffy just grinned. "Word of advice?" he taunted. "Invest in sea stone spikes. Or, you know, sharpen them?"

Then he stretched back his hands and had them rush forward, hitting Alvida right in the chest, with a cry of "Gomu Gomu no Bazooka!" The sheer force of the attack sent Alvida flying into the distance, shrieking like a banshee.

He turned to Coby and grabbed him. "Well done, Coby," he praised. "With guts like that, you'll make a fine Marine." With that, he dashed towards the aura of his one and only navigator and leaped off the side of the ship. Using Geppo to slow the force of the landing, he gently landed in the boat alongside Nami.

She was almost just as he remembered her. The blue shirt and black pants were new, as was the bandana, but she still had that cute, short orange hair that went so well with her deep, chocolate brown orbs. Her face still looked so soft and kind, but carried sharp edges of focus and intelligence that asserted her place on his crew. Although Luffy couldn't see it, he knew she was carrying three batons on her leg, ready to be assembled into a bo staff on a moment's notice. His heart throbbed at the sight of her. He wanted to hug her, but he couldn't, not now. She didn't know him, yet. If he tried, he'd probably get a fist to the face.

Meanwhile, the thief squealed in surprise. She had not expected a man and a boy to land on her stolen boat out of nowhere. She straightened to look at the man and give him a blistering tirade about scaring people and just jumping onto other people's boats, but stopped short. As soon as her eyes fell on him, she was mesmerized. He was so handsome and tall. He exuded strength as if he was a pillar that could not be broken, almost like Arlong. However, where Arlong's presence was vile, oppressive, and inspired fear, this man's was warm, comforting, and inspired a sense of happiness and ease. He was armed, but she hardly noticed that. She couldn't help but feel inspired, even a little in awe.

Such a feeling only increased when the man turned to her and flashed her a smile so big and bright, she almost had to look away.

"Hi! My name is Monkey D Luffy, and this is Coby! Can you take us to Shells Town?" Luffy asked. As soon as he smiled, his mature, confident air turned more sunny, naive, and childish. Although it confused Nami a bit how someone could pull a 180 so quickly in terms of personality, it just seemed to make him more endearing. She chuckled.

"Sure! I was just headed there, anyway! Nice to meet you Luffy and Coby! My name is Nami!"

'I know,' Luffy thought. 'And I promise you, Nami… this time, things are going to be different!'

Author's Note: Heyo! Haven't done one of these in a while, so, please bear with me. (Hey, you in the back! Yeah, I see you with that pitchfork. Put it down, please! Thank you!)

So, Luffy has finally met Nami. And he has tried to save Bellemere. Wonder how well that went. Oh, you wanna know? Too bad! You're gonna have to wait, just like everybody else. (OI! Put! The torches! Down!)

Now, for some long overdue reader responses:

One piecerules100: Thank you! I look forward to continuing this story to where it left off and beyond!

littlerostte: Thank you! I will!

Monxu Aki: Thank you! I hope you'll enjoy where I take this story!

TheGuy: Thank you!

Guest: Fixed. Thank you for reminding me. As for the treasure, Roger found it, so it's his now. He just left it behind for someone else to find and inherit.

mjscev: Well, I hope Chapter 4 answered your question! I hope that was satisfactory for all of you, but I am not killing off Teach anytime soon, if at all. He's just too good a villain not to use.

acetwolf94: Thank you! I'm trying my best!

mekyaku: Well, I kinda rushed the Alvida fight, but I'll try my best not to rush any others! Fight scenes aren't exactly my forte, unfortunately.

Selet: No, Zoro hasn't beaten him yet. They won't cross blades until later. It's not that Mihawk is too lazy, he's just too busy trying to track down Zoro. Given that he's part of the Whitebeard pirates, it's not an easy task.

Dr1zzy: Thank you!