THE WILL
ARC ONE : EAST BLUE
Chapter One : Monkey What ?
What was that?
Seriously, what was that?
Standing in the middle of a small boat, a boy, not older than seventeen, looked slightly annoyed as the flow was slowly pulling his little craft to a giant whirlpool. His face twisted in a very cute little pout, who certainly had no place in someone that old. But the boy didn't care.
Because that was so not fair it wasn't even funny! It was unfair! Very very very much unfair!
He did everything right! Just like S-nee and Ange had told him! He looked at the map and followed the direction the funny magic little arrow was pointing too! S-nee told him he shouldn't have any problem! He knew they worked so very hard on this! Just for him! He wanted to do it right! For his brand new crew and for his pride as a Pirate Captain! Because Pride was important for a Captain as said in the numerous annoying books S-nee had in her funny chest.
So why!? Why did this stupid thing appeared out of nowhere?!
Did he do something wrong? Did he mistake one of S-nee or Ange's consigns? It wasn't even fair!
He just left this morning for his very first trip to Adventure! To be the Pirate King! To fulfil his promise to Shanks and Ace and S-nee and-
That wasn't fair!
"Stupid Whirlpool! I'll kick your ass!" he raged, punching the water.
Just as his extended arm touched the sea, he remembered. Shit. Devil Fruit. Right... He quickly retracted his arm, a bit too late, so lethargy took him with the contact of water. The strength of his arm pulls him back on his butt.
"AOU! Stupid Whirlpool!"
What should he do now? He had to think fast. He eyed the barrel on one side of his boat. He stuck his food here, but maybe he could also stock himself?
"OOOOOOIIIIII!"
Luffy jumped. Who did that?
To his left, a bit far from him, a large rich looking boat was slowly approaching. Two small silhouettes waved at him from afar. One of them threw something at him. Something long and slim. Hé?
"COME CLOSER! YOU'RE GONNA DIE HERE!"
"COME ON KID! GRAB THE ROPE!"
Luffy didn't wait to obey, not really wanting to die that soon during his fabulous adventure.
Instead of the rope, he extended his arm and grabbed the boat itself.
"GOMU GOMU NOOOOO ROCKET!"
As he landed on the boat's deck, one of his legs smashed one man against the wood. The other only dodge it only by pure luck.
"Aaah, thanks! I really thought I was going to die here!"
The guy still standing looked at him with big eyes, jaw touching the floor.
"Y-y y.. you"
"YOU BASTARD! What was that!?" screamed the second man, suddenly standing up, forehead an angry red.
"Ha? What is it in your forehead? Are you hurt?"
"IT'S YOUR FAULT YOU IDIOT!"
"Ha?"
Luffy blinked in confusion. Why was he screaming at him like that? He didn't even know the guy! How rude.
"Mah. Hungry. Is there something to eat around here?"
"STOP IGNORING ME!"
"Eh?"
Quite annoyed with his two saviours attitude, Luffy shrugged and took the direction of the door leading inside of the boat. As he walked he distractedly pat his pocket, looking for his things.
His things…
His..
"SHIMATA!"
His stuff was still on the ship!
Panicked, the boy ran back to where he dodge, looking around in hope to find his little boat.
He found it just as the thing was eaten by the giant whirlpool.
"YADA! My map! All the stuff S-nee gave me! What should I do!?"
"You lost something?"
"Left it on your boat?"
"Too bad mate. The boat has been eaten."
"Very very much eaten."
"Yup."
Luffy's head fell against his torso, a dark cloud slowly mopping above him. His map…Precious little map...
Unfair! So so so so soooooo unfair!
Remember Luffy, you keep this map as long as you can. Ange spent a lot of time making it understandable for you. It is the only one like that.
But I don't need a map!
Lu-chan, if you want to know where you can find food you need a map.
I'll just go fishing!
Lu-chan, what about water.
I'll drink from the sea then! There's plenty of water!
NO YOU-
Shut up feathers. No Lu-chan you can't drink from the sea. It's salty water, you'll be even more Thirsty if you do that. Do you understand?
Hann...so this is a very important map?
Yes Lu-chan. A very important map. You must not lose it. At least until you'll find your navigator.
Then I'll look for a navigator in second!
Why second?
The first mate first!
He? But S, aren't you the-
Shut up feathers. Lu-chan does what he wants with his crew.
But Luffy… why don't you choose your first mate between the two of us?
Are you stupid ? Ange is the smart guys with the papers! He can't be the first mate!
…. he?
And S-nee is S-nee!
…. but-
Shut up feathers!
He had been so proud to be all grown up and to travel on his own, like Ace. He even felt smart. An occurrence rare enough to be mentioned. Now it was all lost!
Unfair!
Both staff members of the ship looked at each other, not sure of what to do with this suddenly gloomy kid. He was kind of sad to look at. Poor guy. He lost a lot in a single moment… maybe there was something very important in this little boat…
Finally, the first one tentatively opened his mouth.
"Ehm- do- do you still want to eat? We can show you the pantry if you want."
"Really? Yeah! Let's go!" shout the kid, suddenly, like nothing happened.
He vigorously started to make his way to the door, happily inviting both men to take the lead. They sweat dropped. What a kid…
This place was awesome! So much food! Luffy happily stuffed his face with another disproportionated piece of meat, throwing the bare bone behind him, not caring one beat about the pile of trash slowly growing in a corner of the room.
The poor souls who had led him to the room looked paler and paler as Luffy kept eating like an entire army. Good gods what have they done? Bringing the boy here was a terrible mistake. Who ate that much? How Is this even possible?! He was eating more than the entire crew plus guests in one day!
"A monster..." whined one man, his hands desperately grabbing the wall behind him.
"How much can he eat in a day?" asked the second very seriously.
"You really want to know?"
"No, not really..."
"What do we do now?"
"Don't know… we could leave him there?"
"You think?"
Ignoring the conversation behind him, Luffy happily made himself at home in the middle of all the food in the reserve. He certainly looked comfortable enough. And honestly, how couldn't he be? This place was pretty close to heaven if you asked him!
The two men decided against leaving him however, when not a minute after opening another barrel of apples, he throw it away, on the quickly growing pile of trash. Very quickly growing...
"So fast..." moaned the men in desperation.
It felt more and more like a bad idea. No, scratch that, it was a terrible idea.
"Who is this guy?" worried the first one when a fifth box was emptied right in front of them without a single clue that their guest was about to stop.
"More importantly, where in hell does he put all this food?!"
"He? Me?" asked the said walking stomach, his cheeks puffed like on of a very determinate squirrel. " Monkey D. Luffy! Thank you again for saving me!"
"Monkey what?" mumbled the first one.
"Where did I heard that?" wondered the second.
Before either of them could speak again, the ship suddenly shacked violently, throwing the three occupants of the room to the nearest wall in one very painful looking move.
"AOUH!" complained Luffy.
What was it again!? Couldn't he at least eat peacefully?!
The chock was followed by a lot of noises and even more cries of distress. The two men who had accompanied him in this wonderful room so full of food soon left him on his own. Rude! And they didn't even present themselves while Luffy did it!
Han. Ace wouldn't like that. He used to be really annoying with this being polite thingy… Luffy never really gets it. But S-nee and Ange agreed so he thought he could try. S-nee was good at being right.
Ange too. But it was different.
Blinking away the thought of his other nakamas, Luffy turned his attention to this delicious dried meat who seemed to call his name since he saw them.
He was in the middle of his meal when the door opened again, just a little bit. For a second, Luffy hesitated. Should he watch who it was? Things seemed to have taken a wrong turn up there. But then, turning around meant he had to abandon his meal. Years of living with Ace taught him never to do that! Never ever!
"Ha! Someone is here!" squeaked a voice behind him.
Aw, he has been seen… The polite thing to do was to salute the person. Makino-nee-chan he been very nice when she tried to teach them polite stuff. S-nee had said that not doing the stuff would be like being mean to Makino-nee-chan because she taught him too. So Luffy tried to do it often. He loved Makino-nee-chan too much not to do it. Besides, Makino-nee-chan made a very good disappointed face. Scarier than Jii-chan's fist. Cause it made his tummy all wrong every time.
Like a well trained soldier, Luffy turned on his heels, one big piece of dried meat in hand, and waived at the stranger.
"Yo! Who're you?"
It was a boy, very small with weird pink hair on his head and big glasses. Luffy blinked. He looked weak. But then, Luffy knew himself didn't look very strong until he kicked asses. Maybe he was not weak! Besides, his hair was funny.
Luffy wondered. Maybe he could make him his first nakama? Or, well, the first he was able to recruit that was not his sister or her friend.
His very own nakama chose because he was cool and Luffy could convince him!
"Hun… ano… eh… I- Sorry to intrude!" shuttered the boy bowing shakingly.
Luffy pouted. Haan he was not strong! He was shy and boring!
Not fair!
"I- uh-"
"COBY!"
"HIIIIIII I'm sorry!" squeaked the pink guy.
Really not fair! Weak, boring and afraid! Bad bad combination! He didn't even seem to have anything that could be funny!
Two other guys came from the door, pushing the pink one away. They looked ugly. One had a very big tattoo on his arm and the other looked like a balloon. Or his head looked like a balloon. With a beard. And a face on it. A very ugly balloon.
Han. Luffy hadn't known it was possible for a balloon to be ugly. Balloons were fun! Life had a strange way to transform things into other things. Like fun balloons into uglu guys.
"What are you doing here ha, Coby? Hiding in a corner like a coward again?" asked the first one.
"What a waste! You're lucky Alvida-sama likes your whining so much!"
"Ha! If you ask me he'd be more use as bait for the fishes!" laughed another one. Oh? There was someone else? "You waste of a pirate!"
The three of them laughed. Why were they laughing? It didn't really sound funny… What were they, stupid?
Besides, they kind of annoyed him right now. He was in the middle of his meal! Couldn't they leave the room and let him eat alone? How rude!
"Oi, who are you people?" he asked. Again.
Was he ignored? He didn't like being ignored. It was boring and boring was annoying. He didn't like those guys. Maybe he should just punch them and be done with it? That would be easier. And not boring. Which was a good thing!
The four people looked at him, as if they forgot he was there. Again, rude! Those people were mean!
"What? What is this? What do you want, boy?"
"You're annoying. And you're mean. I don't like you." he said bluntly.
One of them laughed. Luffy still didn't get the joke. But from the finger pointed at him, it sounded like it was him the joke. A frown pinched his forehead. He didn't like that.
"What is that! We're mean! You heard that guys! Honestly, what are you, five?"laughed one.
"Who do you think you are, little weakling? Do you even know who you're talking to?!" said another looking more angry.
He liked angry. Angry meant he could kick asses.
"We are pirates kid! From Alvida's crew! We could crush you like the little pest you are!"
"Ha? Kaizoku?" smiled Luffy.
The pink guy was shaking in a corner. Weak. Luffy pouted disappointed. Not fair. He could almost like him if it wasn't for the weak part. He seemed like a good guy.
But the others… They looked like the kind of pirates that swarmed around Grey Terminal. He didn't like them. Bluejam flashed inside his head. Bluejam and the fire that burned the junkyard to ashes. Bluejam and the fire and then-
No. He didn't like them at all.
"LISTEN WHEN I TALK TO YOU STUPID!" roared one of the men, his gun suddenly out of his belt.
The pink boy screamed. The man fired. Luffy smiled. He held a hand, just in time for the bullet to go deeeep in his skin, pushing it faaaar away from the rest of his hand, before stopping and going riiight back to his thrower. The man fell in a cry, holding one of his arms, and Luffy laughed. It was always fun. The two others tried too, but Luffy didn't let them. As fun as it was, he wanted to kick their asses.
"Gomu Gomu nooooo..." he rumbled, pushing his arm as far from him as he could in this tiny space.
"What are you, you freak?!" squeaked the one on the floor.
"His arms..." squeaked the pink one behind the other. "his arm stretches..."
"...PISTOL!"
STUMB.
The pink boy gaped, as his two companions fell one on the other with the strength of that one punch. He jumped out of the way just in time for them to crash loudly on the floor.
"H-h-h-h-hHOW DID YOU DO THAT?!" he squeaked again.
"They were annoying." answered Luffy.
"THAT'S NOT WHAT I ASKED!"
"Shishishishishishishi!" laughed Luffy a wide smile on his face.
He was funny for a coward. Maybe they could be friends after all!
"SO! I was eating before all that! I didn't even end my meal that's rude!" he explained, already seated on his previous post, with the dried meat.
Precious meat.
He could finally eat for a couple of more minutes, until the pink boy talked again.
He may or may not have done so before, but honestly, Luffy couldn't have cared less. He was eating for now. That was what mattered the most.
"Ano… I- are you a passenger of this ship?"
"Ha?"
The boy squished uncomfortably under his gaze, his own eyes quickly travelling on the floor and around him.
"I- you are in the food reserve. So I thought you would be..."
"I almost drown." answered the rubber man scrubbing his head pensively. "there was this very bad whirlpool who ate my ship with all my stuff! I wanted to kick it's ass! But the thing was water you know! And people like me don't like water! It's bad! So I had to find a way! And there was those people in the ship who called me and said they wanted to help so I jumped on their boat and then the whirlpool had eaten my stuff! All of it! Even though Ange and S-nee had spend soooo much time working on the mystery things so I could start my great adventure all on my own! Rude!" he pointed his last sentence with a determined nod of his head.
The boy blinked, not sure to understand everything that just went out of his mouth. This seemed a lot like a pile of impossible crap.
He blinked and waited for the other boy to talk again. He didn't. So the young mousse took his courage in his two trembling hands and talked again.
"Ano… my name is Coby. Thank you for-"
"Thank you?" cut Luffy with surprise. " Why would you thank me? They're your nakama!"
Coby blushed, embarrassed.
" I yes it is right I am a member of Alvida-sama's crew. But- I it was never my intention!"
Luffy blinked and listened as the boy told his story. Damn he was dumb. At the end of his sad little tale, Luffy laughed. He laughed until his stomach actually hurt.
"Oh man you're an idiot!" he laughed a finger pointed in his direction. "that's so stupid!"
The boy shrunk a bit more into himself, like a little thing in his shell. Something eatable. Couldn't remember the name. Mystery eatable thing.
"Y-yes" whined the boy. "it's true… I'm pathetic and useless. I can't even escape a pirate ship I don't want to be in to begin with. But- D-despise it all I- I have this… dream."
Luffy stopped laughing. Dream? Dreams were serious. He would never laugh about dreams.
"You do? Dream are good. Dream and adventures!"
The boy smiled shyly and rocked on his ass to position himself differently. Luffy watched it curiously. He didn't really get why people kept moving while in a certain position. S-nee had said something about muscles and pain, but he never got that. He was rubber.
That said he did move a lot. Maybe that was because of that?
Ha. Too painful to think for long.
"Ne, you never actually told me your name. I mean- I presented myself but-"
Luffy laughed again. He didn't! Makino nee-san would have skinned him for that!
"Ore wa Monkey D. Luffy!" he said joyfully, one hand on his hat. "I'm a pirate too!"
The boy blinked.
"You?"
He nodded vigorously.
"I sailed this morning! To start my very own crew! I already have two nakamas but they're waiting for me to have the real deal! Cause I'm the Captain and I want to do this on my own! It's my adventure and no one else's!"
Coby blinked.
"A pirate? That would explain why you are so strong… And the thing you did with your hands..."
Luffy thought. His hands? What of it?
"What are you talking about?"
"You know… when you punched those guys..."
"So? I punched them. I didn't like them, they were annoying. And they had guns. You should always kick the ass of the person who had a gun in your direction. That's the rule!"
Coby actually sweatdropped at that. What was it with the face? Poor guy. He had no idea. Those kinds of things were essential to understand! He wouldn't have lasted a day in Grey Terminal!
"No I mean… Your arm grew very long."
Luffy blinked and punched his hand in realisation.
"Oh! That!" he smile widely, pulling one of his cheeks in his usual way to show of his powers
"I'm a Rubber man!" he said. "I ate a devil fruit when I was a kid!"
"D-devil fruit? I thought it was a legend..."
"It's not!"
The boy stayed in awe in front of this strange person.
"I took the see to fulfil my dream!" he said pulling off his hat. " and to honour a promise I made a long time ago! I'll become the Pirate King!"
Coby's image cracked. Like a mirror. Luffy blinked. How did he do that with his face?
"P-p-p-p-pPIRATE KING?!" he squeaked floored by a new wave of pure terror. "B-b-b-b-but that's mean you're after the one piece!"
"Yup!"
"Impossible! Impossible, impossible, impossible, completely utterly impossible!" he kept squeaking. "Do you have any idea what you are going to have to face? All the pirate of the entire world are after the One Piece! You have zero chance to reach it! You'll have to fight every pirate and every single person around the entire world! Impossible! Impossible! Impossible! Im-"
SBONK.
"… why did you hit me like that?" he whined holding his head between two hands.
"Felt like it."
Coby started whining again. Honestly at this point Luffy had stopped listening. He was annoying and the kind of person he hated.
" I decided I would become the Pirate King. So I will be the Pirate King. End of the story."
Coby blinked, amazed by the strength behind this gaze. The share determination.
So that was the strength of a real man. No. That was the strength of a real pirate… Impressive.
"You're right… I wish I could do the same."
"Are?"
"I wish I had the courage to stood for my own battles and leave this place and… I wish I could… I could… become a true marine. I wish I could- I could arrest Alvida-sama to the marines like the criminal she is!" he screamed struggling with the strength of his convictions.
"NANI?!"
"HIIIIIIII!"
The wall busted in thousand pieces, annihilated by the mass hanging at the end of some stubby fingers.
"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU WILL ARREST YOU WEAK LITTLE SHRINK?!" roared the rest of the body attached to the fingers.
"HAAAA! ALVIDA-SAMA!"
Luffy almost whistled. That was one heck of a thing! In all his life he hadn't see something that imposing! Not even Lucky Roo had been so big! And Luffy remember him as one big of a fellah!
"SHOW SOME RESPECT COBY!"
"S-S-S-SUMIMASEN!" cried Coby.
"Saa Coby, tell me, who is the most beautiful woman in the entirety of those pathetic oceans?"
"A-ah of of course it- it is-"
"Ma, Coby, who's the fat whale?" he asked because things needed to be said.
Like, names and stuff. How was he supposed to get on with all this ass fucking thing if he didn't even knew Who's ass je was kicking? All those people seemed to take in consideration a lot of complicated and unnecessary things. He wanted to start his adventure!
Although it kind of was funny… how that whale was so big and fat and… whaly. It reminded him of that book S-nee used to threaten him with when he didn't want to listen to her lessons. The book with the whale… so scary.
"What did you say little worm?" groaned the whale.
"Luffy-san! You can't talk like that! This- This is-"
"Say it Coby! Tell this idiot who he is dealing with!" ordered the whale with a very strong voice.
Luffy puffed. He couldn't help it. A woman? That? She looked like a giant piece of jello! Worse, a giant piece of jello not even yummy looking! What a joke!
"This is… THE UGLIEST WHALE IN THE ENTIRE EAST BLUE!"
Luffy laughed harder.
"NANIIII?!"
I'm dead! Thought the pink boy terrified.
"Don't worry Coby!" said Luffy already throwing his arms away. "I'll take care of the whale for you!"
GOMU GOMU NOOOO… BAAAZOOOKAAAAAAAAH!
Coby couldn't close his mouth, with the astonishment, as he watched his worst nightmare fly away from her own boat in a great cry of distress.
"Oi. Give us a boat. Coby has to leave this boat. He want to become marine."
"H-H-Hai!"
Luffy kept laughing, as Alvida's boat became smaller and smaller, swallowed by the line of horizon and the larger silhouette of the Marine boats.
"A- Thank you Luffy-san!" cried Coby. "I will- I will finally be able to be a great Marine!"
"Ma ma, I needed to get away!" he said with a great smile. "where are we anyway?"
"Apparently we are close to an island with a marine base!" he said excitingly. " I heard the people in Alvida's crew talk about it!" he looked very happy. " It's the base leaded by the Captain Morgan! He's very powerful! He even caught the Pirate Hunter! Roronoa Zoro!"
"Roronoa?"
Coby nodded.
"A bloodthirsty pirate hunter! He terrorize everyone around East Blue for months now!"
"Haaa so ka. So he's strong isn't he?"
"Of course! Very strong! Very dangerous! He's a monster!" said Coby.
A monster… isn't it? Luffy smiled. Perfect.
TBC.