Hello everyone! This is my first fanfiction I've ever published. It's a little oneshot about the crew witnessing Luffy's Nika awakening. It takes place a ways after Wano so I included Yamato as part of the crew! I do apologize if the story ends up formatted funny or is maybe too wordy or whatnot. Feel free to send me any advice or help, it's greatly appreciated!

Joy Boy Awakens

The Straw Hat crew stood in huddled collective silence and shock at what they were seeing. The crew was covered from head to toe in blood, cuts, and bruises, some worse off than others. What was most apparent about each member was each of their eyes. They all held a twisted agony with a fresh wetness of agonizing tears that had only finished falling. They all held gaze at a single lifeless form on the ground before them. A bruised and bloodied teen, no older than 19. Nothing stood out about the boy other than an 'X' shaped scar upon his chest and a seemingly unharmed StrawHat with a red ribbon. He lie motionless and silent. No beat or pulse. Dead. His would be killer floated above in the skies. A mythical Azure dragon only thought to exist in legends, but this was very much real. It hovered above the scenes, seemingly impassive.

A voice eventually pierced the air of foreboding silence, a shaky and seemingly strained voice as if choking back tears.

"W-..we should move him. We need to get out of here while we can..back to Sunny…back…home."

Usopp spoke out in shaken breaths. It was clear to see that the long nosed sniper was in physical pain when he spoke. He was held aloft by their resident doctor, Tony Tony Chopper. He himself didn't look much better in terms of injury. Regardless, he held his nakama up in this dire moment. Usopp looked to the crew and let his eyes rest upon their navigator. She cradled their captain's lifeless form in her arms. She had been there before anyone else.

The fiery orange haired navigator of the Straw Hat crew was the first to arrive at the climax of Luffy's battle with the azure dragon. She saw the two opponents face each other in a final hit to seal the match. Nami was certain her captain would emerge victorious, certain he'd declare his dream and sail off once more. He'd always done it before, surely he would this time. Her confident blazing eyes soon shattered into a million fragmented pieces. Her resolve disappeared upon seeing what had occurred. She watched on as her captain was outpaced by his foe, who's attack had struck first. Luffy's body had gone limp upon the impact and he fell to the ground in a sickly rag doll like motion, bouncing once upon impact and finally falling still in place upon the torn battlefield.

Panting with panic upon her chest she willed her legs to rush to her captain. She neared him and let her fear take over as she could no longer contain her voice and yelled out his name.

"LUFFY!!"

She had slid to her knees and quickly grasped her captain. She thrust her head to his chest and listened intently for a heart beat, she found none. She desperately felt for a pulse where one had to be but she was met with more of the same. Nothing. She started shaking her captain and waited with bated breath. She waited as if her captain would jump up and give her that usual boisterous grin. That damned contagious grin. Nothing happened. As the reality of the situation began to set upon her she felt as though she was crumpling under an invisible force. She slowly grabbed her captain's head. She cradled it as if it were the most fragile thing in the world. His soft childlike face strewn with injuries had a soft smile upon his lips. He looked as though he was merely asleep, dreaming of happier times. She shook violently as she pulled his head into the crook of her neck. She placed her cheek upon his forehead and began rocking herself back and forth. She shook violently as she began letting out guttural grunts. It was so unlike her to make such a noise. Grief had such an effect. She remembered back to the death of her mother. She remembered the pain as though someone punched a hole through her chest. This was so much worse. She felt as though some cruel outside force had ripped into her chest and violently removed her heart and dangled it in front of her only to toss it aside as she reached for it. After what felt like an eternity of violently grunting her body finally allowed a small mercy. It finally let her tears flow freely from her eyes. She choked out heart wrenching sobs along with angered screams through gritted teeth. She plunged her face into her captain's neck and let the world darken around her.

She was so cold..

The rest of the crew had made their way to Nami's location after finishing their own respective struggles. They were merely stunned one by one to find the scene before them.

Chopper and Usopp had looks of disbelief at first. Their captain, their best friend, was lying lifeless in the arms of their navigator. It didn't take long before their will shattered. Usopp started to cry out in whimpers despite it hurting to do so. He couldn't stop it. Chopper was much the same. Had he not been supporting Usopp in standing he would have shrunk back to his original form and crumpled. Instead he let his head fall into Usopp's as he too began to sob. It couldn't be the truth.

Robin and Brook stood near one another in silence. They hadn't so much as moved when they arrived. What one might notice most of all about the two though was the stream of tears flowing from their eyes. A deep far off gaze. No noise, just silent agony.

Franky stood further back, large hand covering his disgruntled face. He sobbed horridly in pain as he remembered his own loss from earlier in his life. It was too much to feel again.

Zoro and Sanji stood by one another. Sanji had such a pained look upon his face. It wasn't something anyone had seen before. One couldn't quite tell what he was thinking but his face screamed out in regret. Zoro was much the same. He held his gashed arm and stared down at his captain. The boy had shown him such great strength and resolve in all their adventures. He remembered how his captain would proclaim his dream without hesitation and sought after it with no regrets. This boy, this man, was a man worthy of he title of King. Zoro couldn't have asked for a better man to follow. He felt only searing pain in his chest as the regret took hold. It was debilitating.

Two more crew members stood to the opposite side of their captain. One was crumpled over in pain as he covered his eyes and cried silently. The other had a comforting hand upon the other's back. They themselves weren't in a much better place though.

Yamato was the one hunched over in agony at the sight of his captain. The man whom faced Kaido head on, the man who carried Wano upon his back, the man who broke his chains and told him to sail with him, gone. He couldn't believe this was happening. He recalled back to the pain he'd felt when he saw Ace's Vivre Card burn up and disappear before his eyes. He couldn't save his only friend then, and he'd failed to save his captain now. It felt like an injustice. This was Ace's legacy. With him gone, the legacy of Portgas D. Ace ended here.

A hardened webbed hand gently rubbed Yamato's back. Jinbei was simply lost for words or thought. He fought tooth and nail to save Ace back in Marineford and weeped in remorse at having failed. He saved Ace's brother then after he collected himself and decided then and there that he was never going to let Ace's will falter. He hated himself for having now failed that too. He simply sobbed violently as he looked upon his captain with regret. How could he have let this happen again.

What felt as though a lifetime had passed was only mere moments.

Nami raised her head with red eyes and tear stains. She nodded and looked to both Zoro and Sanji. She started to speak out..

"Can you-"

Before she had time to ask the question the two moved in to help carry their captain back to the Sunny. They both suddenly stopped and had shocked looks on their faces. Nami was now confused as each crew member took on a puzzled to wide eyed look. Nami turned to look at Luffy and saw that his eyes remained hidden but spread across his face was a thin happy grin. The now perplexed navigator half expected him to let loose a laugh but nothing escaped his lips. Nami had moved back as well as the rest of the crew members. Luffy's clothing as well as his hair began pulsating an almost ethereal glowing white. Incredibly pure in its color. Soon he bounced upward as he began to float in the air. His clothing, save for his belt sash had all turned a glowing white! He did a few forward flips seemingly in place before bursting forth with his hands and legs spread wide out in a triumphant pose. His hair had taken on an almost flame like pattern as well with the same glowing white. The crew looked on in amazement what they were seeing! Luffy had mentioned gaining a new Gear, Gear Fifth is what he said but none of them had gotten to bear witness to it, at least none but one.

Yamato looked on in shock but unlike that of his crew members it wasn't first time shock! The last time he had seen this form it unexpectedly made an appearance in the captain's fight with his father, Kaido the Beast. It was unexpected in that Momonoske had said Luffy's voice went silent. Yamato thought the young Straw Hat had died upon the roof of Onigashima but much to his surprise Momonoske later announced he heard Luffy's voice return! This was a turn of events if he'd ever seen one. Could this ability only come out upon death?…

Luffy continued floating in the air as he grinned like a wild loon. He suddenly spoke out in a rather cheery tone:

"I died!.. but I feel like I'm having a blast! AHAHAHAHAHA!!"

Luffy began laughing like a maniac while gripping his gut. He seemed to be absolutely brimming with..joy? The crew was beyond confused but they all looked on and had smiles of varying degrees. It was such an odd and goofy moment, but so very much Luffy's style. He was alive. They needn't more from this moment.

Each member of the crew had their own thoughts on Luffy's newfound form. They all wondered why it showed up when it did. Surely Luffy couldn't have done it, he was dead only moments ago. Regardless it was interesting to them nonetheless.

Jinbei looked upon his positively radiant captain floating before him laughing his joyous butt off. He smiled warmly as the sight seemed to melt his anguish he had previously felt and put him at ease. He wondered to himself, what would Ace think if he could see his baby brother now.

Yamato continued to look on in shock but in his head he replayed what he had seen of this form against Kaido. It was a sight to truly behold. It would've been downright legendary if not so goofy in nature. Though, after spending time with his captain and the crew he soon realized that was just Luffy's style. Though downright goofy, it fit the captain so well. Yamato finally let a fond smile spread over his lips, having let go of his darkness from earlier. It was so bright now. Positively brilliant.

Franky wasn't sure what to think of the form. He'd just saw his captain dead minutes prior and now he was floating around laughing to his hearts content. This form was different from his others. It wasn't so different looking to just his Luffy is. It was him but with neat hair. Having no other thoughts he simply decided that it was SUUUUUPPEEERR and left it at that.

Robin had let her mind wander to a dark corner in her mind but seeing Luffy so jovial and so alive pulled her out of it. She was so happy that his end wasn't in sight yet. He was here and he was happy, very much alive. She hoped to herself she'd never have to see her captain in such a way ever again. With that I'm mind she began pondering about his form.

'How does he fly like that?..'

She smiled to herself and let her mind race with thoughts.

Brook was beyond overjoyed to see his young captain up again. He had feared that for a second time he had lost someone dear to him. It wasn't meant to be. He was elated and couldn't be happier. He was eager to see Luffy win this battle so he could return to the Sunny and serenade the crew with another fine tune.

Zoro gazed upon his captain with a twinge of pride. Not even death could keep Monkey D. Luffy down and of that fact Zoro was proud. The form was silly indeed, it had him think to himself that it didn't seem so impressive. Not u like his Bounce Man or Snake Man forms. Though with a little Observation he soon realized it couldn't be further from the truth. His aura was a raging inferno. He was floating joyfully but he was ready to fight nonetheless. Zoro could feel a grin hit his lips. He was ready to see this fight. Ready to see the future King in action.

Sanji let his grief flow like water and took out a cigarette. He promptly pulled out a golden lighter and lit the tobacco filled stick and took a long heavy drag. He smiled at his laughing captain and thought to himself how impossible it seemed that this was the same boy he met back in Baratie. They had come a long way together. Bloody battle and hopeless situations, they got through it all with him at the forefront. He was happy to know that the adventure wasn't over. It was only just beginning.

Chopper was visibly surprised by this ordeal but soon found his own voice as it burst with laughter right alongside his captain. Whatever sadness he had had disappeared in an instant. He couldn't be happier to see Luffy alive and kicking. He knew the aftermath would be rough. He'd need to be ready for it but he would greet it head on and heal his captain as he always did. He'd be there to witness his ascent and he couldn't be happier at that fact.

Usopp thought much the same as Chopper. He too was surprised but beyond ecstatic to see his captain up and ready yo continue the fight! He felt so happy simply being near his booming captain. It was a wonderful feeling. Usopp thought to himself how Luffy was a true warrior if the sea. He dreamed to one day be counted amongst the same warrior clan. He'd do it and take his captain as his inspiration. His will was raging for the continued adventure!

Nami remained seated upon the ground as she watched her captain float around laughing maniacally. He soon shifted and looked up at his opponent and shot onward with a brimming grin upon his face. She let herself come back to the warmth of her captain. The welcome of his smile. The pull of his aura. Such a strong man. She found herself simply being happy with his return. She only thought of one thing when looking upon her captain's glowing form. She watched him clash with his foe and let the fight renew, she watched on as she though to herself:

'Luffy….he's so beautiful.'

The Straw Hat crew broke out into various support of cheers and battle calls. They watched their captain fight on. They all seemed to hear something faint as they watch the rubber boy face off against his monstrous foe. It was faint but it almost sounded like… drums?

'Doom dut da da! Doom dut da da!'