Authors note: the first two chapters are mainly set up but very important to Luffy's mindset and motivation.

I have dyslexia and English is the downside, Imagination is part of the up side.

Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece or any of it's characters.

Thoughts 'example.'

Words "example."

Noise (example)

Action.

[ Nobody's POV ]

Shank was in the middle of traveling through the jungle on the island. All the crew had gone ashore to restock on provisions. The weather was so bad lately they were having to take a longer time to get back to the East Blue. They were on vacation and some of the crew had family and friends there. For some reason the weather got really rough and slowed them down to the point where they needed to restock on supplies.

Shanks being how he was decided everybody had to chip in including him. "Ugh why did I have to say that everyone should chip in." Shanks cried while travelling through the jungle. Then he spotted a bush in a clearing with a weird fruit in it. It was small and looked a little bigger but the same size as a strawberry. It was blue and every dot had a different colour on it. Something else that caught Shanks attention was the fact that it was the only berry on the whole bush.

Now finding a weird fruit in a strange place is not uncommon for this known world. So believing it might be a devil fruit Shanks picked it and carried it back to the ship.

When Shanks got back he checked with all the other Devil fruits that were known in the book of devil fruits. For some odd reason it came up empty. Oddly though shanks was compelled to take it with him. Realising however it was important he stored it with the other devil fruit that he had, the gum gum fruit. Little did Shanks know this fruit would give off a vibe to prevent anybody but a certain kind of soul from eating it. Shanks' soul was close enough to be allowed to find and carry it but not close enough for him to be allowed to eat it. In fact Shanks even forgot altogether the second fruit was even in the box (along with the rest of his crew.)

* Time skip *

Shanks and his crew were now in Makino's bar laughing and drinking heavily. Luffy sits on a stool with a bandage under his eye. "I'll find some way to prove that I am man enough to go with you."

"You sure showed us how good you are with a knife." Yosapp said. The laughing was everywhere.

"Shut up! " cried Luffy.

"Aww. Don't be that way here have some juice. " Shanks said as he slid a glass of juice down the bar.

Luffy took the glass and eagerly started drinking. "Hahahaha hahaha. " Luffy looked confused "What's so funny? "

"I don't know any pirate that drinks juice." Benn Beckman said. "HAHAHAHAHA " they all cheered.

Suddenly the doors of the bar were kicked open and some men came into the bar.

"Excuse us." said the tall man standing in front of the door. At this point, the entire bar was silent while looking at the door. The man who was leading the group of men into the bar was a tall, dark-skinned man with black hair, a black goatee, and an X-shaped scar above his right eye. He wore a long red coat over a white shirt, black trousers, and a golden necklace. "So these are what passes for pirates around these parts. Looks rather sad, to be honest" he said as he walked up to the bar counter and stood next to Shanks.

"Welcome gentlemen, what can I do for you?" asked Makino.

"We're mountain bandits, but we didn't come here to tear your place apart. All we want is some sake. Let's say ten barrels should do." he said to Makino.

"I'm sorry, but actually we are fresh out of sake right now," Makino said.

"Then what are they drinking? " the bandit asked. "They just finished the last of it." Makino said.

"Don't worry you can have this aged rum I have." Shanks said.

Screaming as loud as he can the bandit said " I AM WORTH 8,000,000 BELI YOU THINK ONE BOTTLE WILL NOT SATISFY ME!" breaking the bottle over Shanks head. The bar got deathly quiet. Then Shanks raised his hand and said "Ow I made a mess Makino." The bandits busted out laughing and said it wasn't worth his time and he would be in town a few days so she better get more sake quick and left. When they left the entire bar that consisted of Shanks' crew bust out laughing. Luffy was so furious he was turning red. Next thing you know he started yelling. Why did you let them make a fool of you Shanks?" Luffy asked.

Yasopp spoke up "Luffy he didn't lose that fight he won it."

Luffy "What do you mean? Won it?"

Yasopp "Even if Shanks had fought, sure he would have decimated him but at what cost The bar would have been damaged And possibly Makino could have been hurt in the crossfire even with Shanks protecting her. They left with nobody hurt and no property damaged."

Then Shanks chimed in "Just because you have power doesn't mean you should always use it."

Luffy "I don't like it. They made you look weak"

Shanks "Haha it's OK one day you learn when you're older." Yasopp then got up and went over to help clean up since only the shanks crew were left.

Luffy, still fuming all of a sudden noticed a small decorative chest under Yasopp's chair. Being curious he picks it up and sets it on the bar to open it.

After opening the box he noticed fruits inside. For some reason he could not take his eyes off of the glowing strawberry his lips started to water so much he didn't even care that it was a blue colour. Then as a after thought he saw the other fruit in the box. It was also blue and shaped like a really big pear with darker blue swirls on it.

When we look back at the 1st fruit he made his decision. Since it was smaller than an apple he put the whole thing in his mouth and bit down. 'WOW THIS IS DELICIOUS. If this little thing is that good the bigger one must be extremely good.' Luffy did the same thing again expecting the same results. With his taste buds not catching up to his rashness Luffy swallowed the 2nd fruit.

"Yucky Yucky Yucky " Everyone stared at Luffy with the empty box beside him. Shanks rushes over examining the box screaming at Luffy "Please tell me you didn't eat that!" "Yes I did. It tasted terrible." Luffy said.

Shanks "That was a devil fruit you will never swim again."

"I don't feel so good." Luffy said. Thinking it was the shock of being such a good swimmer and losing the ability. Along with the new changes to him Makino takes him to his room upstairs.

When she comes back down she asks "Is he going to be ok?"

Shanks "Yea probably. Look, since it is so late at night and all. I will come back around lunch tomorrow to check on him."

Makino "Thank you."

* Time skip *

[ Luffy's POV ]

All night long I tossed and turned, never getting any sleep. If I did it was nightmares of yelling and the whole world shaking and shifting?

With the light outside and hearing the noise downstairs I thought that Shanks came to check on me. Forcing myself up I got out of bed and went downstairs.

What I saw was not Shanks. The bandits were there arguing with Makino.

"What do you mean that there isn't any more sake. I told you to get some." The bandit from last night said.

Makino "Luffy is sick and I didn't want to leave him alone."

At that all the bandits laughed and the leader replied. "Probably caught something from those weak pirates."

Having just reached the bottom step and not getting any sleep. I did what any other 8 year old would do when mad they attack. Running up to their leader I bit his thigh as hard as I could.

Bandit "Owwww. You brat." Back handing me across the room. "You drew blood you little shit. Take him we are going to show everyone in this town not to mess with us!"

[ nobody's POV ]

Shanks is leaving the docks with his crew and sees a commotion at the well. Seeing Luffy staring at him with a gash on his lips, blood on him, and a sick looking Shanks asked "What did you do this time Luffy?"

"Stay out of it, this doesn't concern you pirate scum." One of the bandits retorted. "I beg to differ. I can have food or drinks spilled on me. You can even spit on me. I'll laugh it off but … good reason or not… nobody hurts a friend of mine!" Shanks replied.

At hearing a gun cock back a hammer. Shanks looked to his right. The bandit holding the gun said "We said it didn't concern you." Shanks let's his hat shadow his face and answers "Now that you have drawn your gun are you prepared to use it. Because I can tell you one thing, never point a weapon on anyone without being prepared to go that far."

Bandit "what."

( Bam )

The bandit was shot and fell to the floor unmoving. Lucky Roo behind him casually eating a chicken leg like this was nothing out of the ordinary. The bandits were shocked, raging mad and changed. Yasopp stepped in and said "No worries captain, don't get your hands dirty." The sniper then proceeded to mercilessly beat every bandit there with the back of the gun. When it was over the only one standing was the leader holding Luffy. Knowing he was beaten the bandit threw down a smoke bomb and ran away taking Luffy as a hostage.

* Time skip *

[ Luffy's POV ]

A small craft with one adult and one very sick child are in the cove. Bandit replied "They will never expect a mountain bandit to head out to see and since I don't need you anymore as collateral. I get to pay you back for earlier. Hope you can swim back to shore being as sick as you can't stand. HAHAHAHAHA'' After saying this he threw me into the sea. As I was thrashing in the water and starting to sink two things entered his mind. One I saw the resident sea king eat the bandit 'yay'. Two why do I feel better? Before he could think of either of these things. The sea king dived straight at me. Finding myself in a tight embrace I opened my eyes to find shanks holding me and staring at the sea king. With a cold chill running down my spine (coming from Shanks? ) and Shanks saying one word "leave." The sea king swam away as fast as it could go. 'I know that the two were connected but how?' Then I saw the blood and shanks missing his arm. I immediately started balling and crying.

Shanks "What's wrong Luffy are you hurt?"

"You're arm."

Shanks "Don't worry you're way more valuable. You're my friend."

I continue to cry all the way back to his ship. Even going as far as making the ship's doctor pull up an extra bed for me to sleep near Shanks and not leave his side. Which Shanks relented seeing how shaken and traumatized I was.