"Dhahahaha, Makino, you're a doll, another round of sake for me and the boys," asked Shanks, Captain of the Red-Hair Pirates.

"Coming right up, Shanks, you're pretty laid back for a pirate, not that we get many here, but you're nothing like the rumors of pirates who rob and pillage," replied Makino, owner of Partys Bar in a small village on Dawn Island, located in the East Blue.

"Dhahahaha, thanks, I prefer partying, much better for my health," remarked Shanks.

"Oi, Makino, I heard pirates arrived, I hope they aren't giving you any trouble," said a man wearing a straw hat as he strolled in.

Shanks sat at the bar, holding his cup of sake,"Heh. That hat looks familiar, but there's no trouble here. Makino and I are just getting to know each other," said Shanks

"Hey, Lu, there's no trouble, Shanks and his crew are quite fun" added Makino.

"Ah,it's a special hat, we will see, can I get a glass of juice Makino," said Luffy as he settled in next to Shanks

"Dhahaha, a glass of juice, don't you mean sake or wine or ale?" questioned Shanks

"Eh, I don't really like the taste of alcohol all that much, I just drink occasionally," said Luffy.

"Blasphemy, well maybe we can change that by the end of tonight," mischievously smirked Shanks.

"Shishishi, whatever, so, what brings a pirate of your standing to this small village in the East Blue," responded Luffy

"Heh, didn't think I'd be noticed," Shanks said

"Normally you wouldn't but I make it my business to know the pirates around, especially high-count bounties like yours, never know when I'll need the money, Shishishishi" Luffy responded

"Well, you have me disadvantaged as you know my name but I don't know yours?" Shanks said

"My name is Monkey D. Luffy, long-time resident of Foosha Village, at your service, Red-Hair Shanks," Luffy bent down at the waist in a mock bow.

"Dhahaha, the pleasure is all mine, but hmm, your aura seems strong, what's a guy like you still doing around here?" asked Shanks

"Ah, well my brothers headed out two years ago as pirates but I'm not sure what I wanna do. Definitely not a marine though." remarked Luffy

"For someone from the East Blue, you sure do seem well-informed, you wouldn't happen to be related to those Marine superstars, Garp and Dragon, would ya?" questioned Shanks

"Shishishishi, Dragon's my older brother and Garp is my dad" Luffy responded.

"Ehhh, wow, really? So you don't wanna follow in their footsteps and you have two other brothers who became pirates? Is that right?" Shanks asked.

"Yup. I usually just keep the village safe and occasionally head out with my best friend Zoro to collect bounties. Not really sure what I wanna do yet. Zoro will be heading out soon too, he says he learned all he can at the dojo. He's a swordsman, you see. I think I might head out with him. Nothing has really grabbed my attention, my dad mostly paid attention to my older brother, just taking me out for training of course but I guess he just always assumed I would do whatever Dragon did. My brothers became pirates for freedom, we're not related by blood but when Dad and Dragon headed to Marineford I was left here by myself and ended up befriending those two " shrugged Luffy.

"The owner of this hat was a pirate too," Lu said, taking the straw hat off his head, "I think he must have been the freest man in the world, my brother gave me this hat, he inherited it but wanted nothing to do with it, so he gave this hat to me since I appreciated the freedom the person who wore this hat must have felt. Sometimes, I think maybe I should be doing more with my life, my brothers invited me to go with them but it felt wrong, it felt like I was waiting for something but it wasn't here yet" he continued.

"Dhahahaha, looks like you've just been waiting for the right person to invite you out to sea! Maybe you just might meet them soon," winked Shanks.

"Shishishishi, it does seem that way doesn't it. But If I do head to sea, it's gonna be with my best friend Zoro too. He has a dream and I want to help him accomplish it. Maybe along the way, I'll also find a dream.

"Let's drink to dreams, my friend," responded Shanks.

Shanks and his crew stayed for several months. Luffy would meet them everyday at the Bar and they would go off on adventures around the island. Luffy led Shanks through , showing him how to hunt the huge beasts that inhabited the area. Then he took him through Grey Terminal, and into High town. There, they got into all types of mischief, dine & dash, robberies, pranks on the nobles. Luffy even took him to the tree house he and his brothers built. They even pulled a prank on Dandan, it was epic!

Benn, the first mate of the Red-Hair crew remarked, "If I didn't know any better captain, I'd think you were just a child with all the pranks you've been getting up to lately. Don't you think we've lingered here enough. Or is a certain, bright-eyed, straw-hat wearing man, keeping you here?" he teased.

"Oi Benn, cut it out, we've been having tons of fun, Lu is just a friend," Shanks responded

"Oh, it's Lu, now is it?" laughed Benn

"Gahh, whatever," Shanks said, throwing his hands up.

Luffy arrived at the Red Force and yelled, "Oi, is anyone home?"

Yassop shouted, "Hey Luffy, you're early, usually we meet down by the bar?"

"Ah, well my friend Zoro arrived here last night, he was supposed to come last month but got lost, shishishishi. Is Shanks here? I wanna introduce them" responded Luffy

"Ah, no problem, I'll set the plank, come on up!" said Yassop, 'seems like the cap, got some competition,' he murmured

Shanks, having heard the commotion, ran to the deck and glomped Luffy. It was quite the comical sight seeing a grown man jump on another like that.

"Shishishishi, hiya Shanks, meet my best buddy Zoro, soon to be World's Greatest Swordsman," introduced Luffy.

"Heh. So you're the pirate captain Luffy keeps going on and on about, you don't look like much," smirked Zoro

Shanks, by this point had jumped off Luffy, his ears burned at the first remark but he laughed, "Dhahahaha, world's greatest swordsman, I actually know the World's Greatest Swordsman and let me tell you right now, he wouldn't even take Yoru, his prized sword out to fight you," retorted Shanks

Zoro ignoring the insult , "Eh, you know Dracule Mihawk, where is he, where can I find him," asked Zoro, looking around the ship as if he would walk out at any moment.

"Well, know him? I spar regularly with him, we're friends, you see" remarked Shanks pompously.

"So I'd definitely bump into him if I go with you guys, huh," Zoro said

Zoro turned to Luffy, "well, maybe these guys aren't so useless after all, I don't even know how you meet all these different types of people, we're in the East Blue for Enel's sake but I'm not gonna complain now. This is the closest I've come to meeting him."

"Shishishishi, enough said, Oi Shanks, take me with you, Zoro too" shouted Luffy, who was standing right next to Shanks.

"Oi, Lu, I'm right here, no need to shout! But, hmm, I'm not sure, I'd be captain of the ship and you would have to follow my orders" smirked Shanks

"Hahaha, stop playing hard to get captain, you know you wanted to invite Luffy since the beginning," added Lucky Roo.

"Oi, be quiet," blushed Shanks. "As I was saying, I can't have people who are most likely to mutiny, wouldn't be safe," Shanks added.

"Heh, as long as you don't get in my way, we won't have any issues. But my first loyalty will always be towards Luffy. So if it came down to it, I would follow Luffy over you" said Zoro.

"Not a problem, I figured. Luffy, what about you?" Shanks turned to Luffy

"Ehh, well I like you Shanks, you're fun, I don't like being told what to do, but I'd listen if it was you. But I might get tired of that and decide to start my own crew. Not sure how long I can last under someone else's authority, to be completely honest with you. But if you will help get Zoro closer to his dreams, I'd be happy to call you Captain" Lu replied.

Shanks smiled at the first half of Lu's answer but it made him feel slightly uneasy knowing Luffy might eventually want to leave, but no one can stop a man's freedom and Shanks certainly wouldn't. Overall he was quite happy with the outcome. Though he felt that a man like Luffy should have big dreams not follow another's. He hoped Luffy found whatever he was looking for on their journey.

"Dhahaha, then it's settled, we'll leave for the Grand Line in a couple days after we restock. Welcome aboard the Red Force, Luffy and Zoro! Let's have a party to welcome our new crewmates," merrily shouted Shanks.

A/N: The other supernovas will be around too. As you can see from the story, Dragon will be a marine like their dad Garp in the beginning but at some point during Luffy's journey will defect and start building the Revolutionary army. Luffy may or may not break off to form his own crew, reuniting the straw hats. Let me know if you like the premise and would want to see more :) or it may just stay a oneshot. Also i might add a LuffyxShanks romance element but tbd or no romance, for now they will be good friends. The focus wouldn't be romance anyways. Do you have a preference?

If you're reading my other AU "Luffy 'Lucky' D. Hawk" don't worry, the next chapter is coming soon.