Lambo laid casually across Luffy's small ship's deck, being the most relaxed he has ever been in several years, staring off into space as he lazily watched the sky slowly roll by above them.

Well, he was relaxed, until he received a hard wack on top of his head.

"Ow!", he shouts, clutching the top of his head as he sat up from his spot on the deck.

"What the heck Nami?", Lambo grumbles irritably as he was rubbing his sore head where Nami hit him.

The girl in question stood on the deck of the Buggy ship she stole, arms crossed, looking unremorseful for what she did.

"You still owe us answers after that stunt you pulled.", Nami states firmly.

Lambo thinks over everything that had happen at the island they left behind, before realizing what she was talking about... almost at least.

"The green lightning or the little me?", Lambo asks to double check.

"Both!", Nami shouts with sharp teeth.

Luffy giggles before asking innocently, "What's the big deal anyway?"

"Neither is natural! That's the big deal!", Nami shouts at Luffy this time.

"I have been curious about the lightning.", Zoro comments lightly as he stretches on the side of the boat, "Especially since you said it wasn't from a Devil Fruit."

"IT'S NOT FROM A DEVIL FRUIT!? WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU!?", Nami screeches.

Lambo sighs scratching the side of his cheek, unsure on where to start.

"Which one do you want to talk about first?", he asks cautiously, unsure on how to go forth with this.

They aren't part of Vongola like the others, yet on the other hand, neither is he anymore.

"Which one is shorter?", Zoro asks, Nami mumbling to herself in the background.

"Shishishi, I wanna hear about the kid!", Luffy exclaimed excitedly from his spot on top of the barrel.

Lambo shrugs indifferently, "The kid is the shorter explanation, but it's also more unbelievable."

"We have a rubber man for a captain that has a black hole for a stomach and a mind of a five-year-old who has beaten a strong pirate captain that is dressed as a clown, I'm a swordsman that uses the three-sword style and is known as an infamous pirate hunter, and a greedy thief of a Navigator that steals pirate's treasure.", Zoro states bluntly, "So far, what part of this crew is normal?"

"I'm not part of this crew!", Nami shouts in protest, but is ignored.

". . . good point."

Lambo sighs, adverting his eyes for a moment, "Yare yare, this is going to be a pain."

Thinking over his next words carefully, Lambo sighs heavily once more before beginning his first explanation of the day.

"That kid you saw, you may not have believed it or thought it a coincidence when he introduced himself, but he was me ten years in the past."

"Woah...", Luffy said in awe with a big open-mouthed smile.

Nami gawked at him in shock, "How is that even possible?"

Zoro said nothing, waiting for Lambo to explain further.

Lambo chuckled humorlessly, "Believe it or not, it gets even more unbelievable."

He pauses, letting the trio prepare themselves in their own ways before continuing.

"When I was younger, I would always carry around this giant bazooka in my hair. That weapon happens to be very special and unique. One of a kind, you'll never find any other like it. It's called the ten-year bazooka, much as the name insinuates, if your hit by the bazooka you are switched out with yourself from ten years in the future for over the span of five minutes before being switched back. It's why I wasn't gone that long.

I was five when I had it and carried it everywhere I went, shooting myself every time I was upset, which was a lot trust me. It wasn't until just under a year later when the Boss took it from me.", Lambo looks to the others, trying to gauge their reactions before continuing, "It just started appearing a couple weeks ago. So, I'm, well, we I guess, are going to have to deal with this for a while. I'm sorry for any trouble that I may cause."

Nami waved him away, "It's fine, once I figured he could easily be calmed down with a sucker I had on me, and as long as I held him, he was like a little angel."

Luffy giggled, "That's right, and when he found out I was a rubber man he really liked to stretch out my fingers and play with them."

Lambo raised a disbelieving brow, "Are you sure that we're talking about the same me from ten years ago? Because I'm pretty sure I was a brat that Boss himself could barely handle me, not to mention I was a coward, threw tantrums left and right, and had an ego as big as the moon."

Nami held her chin between her pointer finger and thumb, nodding along.

"That's true, when young Lambo first introduced himself, he told us to bow as his subordinates.", Nami states matter-of-factly.

Lambo slumped over; a depressing aura surrounded him as he sulked in shame over how he was in the past.

"Said he was the strongest person in the world.", Zoro adds.

Luffy nodded along as well, "He also sang this weird song about himself too."

With each word that came from his crewmates and Nami's mouth threw Lambo into a deeper depressive state in regret and embarrassment over his past self.

"You said you were five?", Nami asks, breaking Lambo from his small sulking session.

"Yeah, so...?", he waited for her to explain herself, unsure to where she is going with this.

"So... that's okay. It may make you a little extra hard to handle and take care of, but that's normal for a kid. Even the acting like a 'coward' as you recalled it. You were five, you weren't ready to face the world head on by yourself.", Nami states confidently, no mischief or falsehoods hidden, only the truth and sincerity in what she believed in.

Zoro laughs fondly as he seemed to think back on a certain memory, "And that ego the kid had, well it wasn't any better than when I first started my journey as a swordsman. I came upon a dojo and challenged their strongest fighter, stating I'd beat them no sweat, that I was going to be the strongest swordsman. That's how I met Kuina, and she kicked my ass in one strike."

Zoro removes the white katana that hung from his hip, showing it to the others, staring at it fondly and wistfully, "We were rivals, yet we became friends as well. One night, after a duel, we promised each other that one of us would become the world's greatest swordsman, this sword represents the promise I made, it was once hers."

"...where is she?", Lambo asks hesitantly.

"Gone.", Zoro states, replacing the weapon back in its proper spot on his hip with the other two swords.

Oh.

"...There was this pirate and his crew that stayed at my island for a year as a temporary base, leaving a lot of the time to go off on all sorts of adventures. I followed him everywhere as a kid, begging to be able to go with him and his crew on their adventures.", Luffy tells a tale of his own, he pointed to the scar underneath his eye, "Shishishi, I actually gave this to myself trying to prove to them how strong I was."

"How'd you do that?", Nami asked curiously.

"I stabbed myself with a knife.", Luffy said nonchalantly with a wide closed eye smile.

"YOU'RE AN IDIOT!", the trio shouted with sharp teeth.

Luffy was unbothered.

"How old even were you when that happened?", Lambo asked.

Luffy shrugged, "Pretty sure I was four."

Zoro shook his head at his captain.

"He saved my life."

"Huh?", Nami asked shocked, as if never comprehending the idea that a pirate would save some kid.

"I was being held hostage by a mountain bandit that was passing through my village, he was using me in order to escape from Shanks and his crew. The bandit ended up being eaten by a sea monster while I was drowning in the water that he tossed me into. I already ate a Devil Fruit by then, accidently stealing it from Shanks much to his horror.", Luff giggled again before going somber, "I was desperately trying to stay afloat while the sea monster was heading my way, about to eat me next. But Shanks saved me, losing his arm in the process."

Luffy paused, going through the memories with a frown before a smile grew on his face, "The very next day he and his crew prepared to leave for good. It was the same day I promised I would become the King of the Pirates, to become more stronger than Shanks and gather a stronger crew than his. He gave me his hat, told me to give it back to him in good condition once I achieve my dream."

Luffy held his hat fondly, before placing it back on its rightful spot on his head.

"I intend to do just that.", Luffy states determinedly, a wide smile on his face, "The only thing that will stop me is death itself."

Lambo's hand strayed to the pendant hanging on his neck, wanting to share just as his crewmates did. Bearing themselves vulnerable while sharing their dreams.

He wanted to do the same.

So he did.

"My name is Bovino Lambo.", Lambo states softly, "I was born in the Bovino Famiglia, a big-name mafia family. But I was thrown out at the age of five, became a hitman and found Boss by trying to kill his tutor, who was the greatest hitman in the world, stating he was my rival. Not too long later, Boss calmed me down and practically adopted me, took me in and acted like a big brother to me, despite my short comings."

Lambo breathed in a shuttering breath, gripping tightly to his cow-horn pendant for reassurance.

"Boss was only a teen, but he was being trained by his tutor to become the next boss of the mafia family I was with before joining up with you guys.", a small smile appeared on Lambo's features as he remised, "Boss and his friends never truly believed I would change, at least not until I was an adult. They forbade me from training, and never expected me to try and change, to better myself. I matured quickly at eight years old, trying to turn myself, and my life around, but my teachers were the only ones that noticed. Much less helped.

One of them, Ms. Motina, she always stayed with me after school and helped me better myself, whether it's for real life examples and changes or my studying for school in order to better my grades. She supported me; told me I was the strongest person she knew."

Lambo paused, swallowing thickly.

"What happened?", Zoro questioned, a knowing look on his features, he could predict what probably happened, not how though.

"She had an incurable disease, a fatal one that was slow and painful as it reached its end.", Lambo carefully removed the necklace from around his neck handing it too Luffy.

Luffy and Zoro stared at it, studying it carefully before Luffy handed it to Nami who looked at it in deep thought before returning it to the two boys, who both continued to stare at it as Lambo continued on with his story.

"She was in the hospital when she gave me that pendant under the guise of an award for my high grades at the end of the year, when really she gave it to me, knowing she was going to die soon. Making me promise to find someone else that would believe. Believe me to be strong and to help me along in my goals as I would theirs. A companion."

Luffy gave Lambo his necklace back, who placed it back on, sighing at the return of the familiar weight that hung from his neck.

"A nakama.", Luffy states seriously, before reverting back to his cheerful self, "So that's what you meant when you said you had a promise to keep!"

Lambo nods with a smile, "That's right."

"So, you were part of the mafia.", Zoro states matter of fact.

Lambo smiles nervously, rubbing the back of his head nervously.

"Y-yeah."

He gathered himself before talking again, "That actually leads to the explanation to the lightning. My famiglia have a special technique called Dying Will Flames, as does a lot of the worlds biggest and/or most powerful mafia groups. it's where our determination, or more specifically accurate, our 'Dying Will' is physically formed for combat. Our Deathperation if you will. My lightning is just one of seven, and not everyone in our mafia family has it. Mostly just the higher ranks, the top top- ranks. Only their Black Ops. Group, called the Varia, and the Boss's advisor, his tutor when he was younger, are the only other set of people that have the flames in my Famiglia."

"Wait, if only the higher ranks have it, then where are you ranked in the mafia?", Nami asked curiously, face scrunched up in thought.

"Oh, uh...", Lambo scratched his cheek, "It'll make sense when I describe the top-ranking system with my famiglia. So, at the top, is Boss, with Reborn, his old tutor now advisor. I pray for whatever poor soul decides to disobeys him, much less get on his bad side. Next is all of Boss's guardians, sworn to be by his side, fight with him, follow him, and to care for them, as he does the same. The Boss and his Guardians are pretty close, tight-nit, if they're not friends then they're family."

"You're one of the Guardians, aren't you.", everyone turned to Luffy who had an unreadable expression on his face while he explained to the two confused crewmates, "After he defeated Cosmo, he asked Lambo what he was. Lambo said he was a Guardian."

"W-what... how? Your only sixteen! Two years younger than me!", Nami exclaims in shock and horror."

"I'm actually fifteen, that would make me three years younger than you.", Lambo comments softly, hunching in on himself.

"THAT'S EVEN WORST!", Nami screeched horrified.

"How old were you when you became a guardian?", Zoro asks.

Lambo twitched nervously; this was becoming harder than he thought it was going to be.

"When the Boss became head or when he was still in training?", Lambo tried to ask casually.

"You mean to say you and the other's became guardians before the current head even became the big boss of the mafia family?", Nami asked incredulously.

"Yeah."

"I've been meaning to ask about that too.", Zoro interjects before Lambo could even state his age, "You've said how your Boss took you in and was like an older brother, why do you not refer to him in some familiar way, or at the very least his name?"

Lambo stared off to space, his eyes glazing over.

"Let's just say we've been growing apart these last several years.", he snorts humorlessly, "Just think, he and the others all think I'm exactly the same as my five-year-old self. Weak, egotistical, and selfish. They never saw the change much less notice it."

"That sounds awful.", Nami says softly, "I think I would've gone into a depressive state if I was in that situation. I'm not sure if I could handle it."

Lambo looks away, before sighing deeply. He was probably going to regret this.

He turned to the others, pushing up his sleeves to his elbows then moving the leather bracelet wrapped around his arm, just barely moving it to reveal multiple old scars overlapping one and another across his wrist. He moved the bracelet back in its rightful place and moved the one on his opposite arm to reveal a similar sight.

"Who said I didn't?", Lambo smiled ruefully before placing the bracelet back in its spot and pushed his sleeves back down.

The two boats were quiet for several minutes before Nami spoke up again.

"Do you-?"

Lambo shook his head, not needing her to finish her question.

"I did that during a very bad time in my life. Sometimes I would have urges, but I've never followed through after I stopped."

Nami looked away, biting her lip, thinking back to her life. She forgot that others had problems of their own. At least, problems as bad as hers. Nami forgot that she's not the only one with a bad life or past.

"But you know?"

Everyone turned back to Lambo who smiled back happily, it's the brightest most genuine smile they have ever seen on Lambo's face.

"Ever since I've met you guys, even though it's been, at most, a day, I haven't had any urges, my confidence has grown, not that much but its something, and I haven't felt this happy and relaxed in years. Not even my time with Ms. Motina can compare.", his smile widened, "I think she would really like you guys. She'd be proud that I left for a better, happier life."

Luffy laughs, "That's great to hear. It'll be cool to have a Guardian on my crew. The future King of the Pirates would have no less but the strongest and most unique crew."

"With you as captain I don't doubt it.", Lambo deadpans.

Luffy laughs while Zoro shakes his head good naturally.

"We'll get stronger together."

"Shishishi, you bet!"

"I have no doubts."

…...

Reborn entered the town, adjusted his hat and tie, eyes staring stoically at the sight before him.

People were working together to slowly rebuild several decimated buildings, setting aside reusable rubble, that wasn't much, and cleaning up the rest of the rubble in wagons, bucket, etc. Anything that could carry the wood and stones to a different area to dump for the time being.

"Careful, careful!", shouted a voice nearby above the citizens work, "We don't want anyone hurt now!"

Reborn followed the sound of the voice to find a tall man with a yellow shirt, shorts, sandals, circular classes, and long curly hair. He was instructing several men that held on to some ropes and just carefully removed a beam from a destroy home, the beam was mostly intact, but it was also in the way of cleaning up the building's remains.

With an appraising gaze, Reborn studied the man for several moments before concluding that he was the mayor or, if not, a highly respected man in the community.

"That's it! Good Job Boys!", the man exclaimed proudly, "Go take a break!"

"Are you the mayor?"

The man turned to see Reborn staring at him, his face, mostly the area around his eyes, are incased in shadow, making him look dangerous and intimidating.

The mayor doesn't let it bother him.

"Yes I am. You're not from around here, do you need something?", the mayor asked politely, clapping his hands together to get rid of the dust that coated them.

"Actually yes, I'm looking for someone.", Reborn told him, taking something out of his suit jacket, it was a piece of paper with a picture on it.

A picture of a familiar young man that the mayor met just the other day.

"Why you looking for him?", the mayor questioned hiding his skepticism and suspicion.

The boy seemed bored, no that's not the right way to describe him. He seemed done with the world at first, never seemed to care about anything that was going on around him. When that young girl told him that the boy had no connections to her or the other pirates, until he decided to join the crew in the end, but still ended up saving her and helping them escape their first encounter with Buggy. Yet as time went on, the mayor realized it was all a façade and would catch moments were there were cracks behind the mask he wore.

The mayor expressed his gratitude and bid the group farewell, he could see, gone was the mask. He could tell that the boy was no longer pretending.

Those youngsters helped give him the courage to be himself.

"I need to bring him back home. His famiglia is worried for him, as well as the fact that he needs his famiglia's help.", Reborn said.

The mayor frowned in disbelief, "Actually seemed happier when he left with the trio his age then when he came here alone."

"He made friends?", Reborn said, surprised with raised brows, he didn't really believe when Lambo's letter stated that he found people he called friends.

Who would want to be friends with the stupid cow?

The mayor raised an eyebrow, "Why so surprised? He's a good boy, saved a lot of people while he was here, that group and me included."

"This... doesn't sound like our stupid cow.", Reborn mumbled, becoming confused.

The stupid cow saved people? He helped save this town from a pirate? The stupid cow was smart and right about something?

'The herbivore has gone quiet.', Hibari states, 'Never speaks to anyone unless spoken too. Never protests when we tell him to do something. He's weaker compared to how he was ten years ago. You can't fight if you and/or others don't have confidence in your skills.'

He never did, did he?

"Why'd you call him stupid cow?", the mayor questions.

"It's what his famiglia call him, it's his nickname.", Reborn answered not seeing the harm.

"His family calls him stupid cow?"

Reborn paused. He can kind of see that growing up, that would actually hurt every time to hear, especially from one's family.

"He and his friends sailed inward, heading towards the Grand Line. Your friend joined a newly made crew of three, including him. Maybe a fourth if Straw Hat convinces that girl to finally join as well. I assume they are gathering more people to join the Straw Hat's crew, knowing him it won't be that many despite how dangerous their goal and destination is, they'll most likely try and find a proper ship too before heading out to the Grand Line.", the mayor states, back facing Reborn, "The young'un looked genuinely happy when he left on his adventure with the crew he joined. I wouldn't have told you if it weren't for the fact, I feel that you and that boy's family need to have words before he leaves because there's a chance he wouldn't be able to come back even if he wished to.

Be warned, I have a feeling if you just take the boy, the crew will come after you, and I may not know much on strength and pirates, but I do know that that young man's crew is something else."

Reborn nodded, tipping his hat in gratitude.

"Thank you"

Then he left the island a couple minutes later. He's a day behind, but if he sails continuously, and with shorter breaks then this 'pirate crew' that the stu- Lambo has joined, then it shouldn't be long before he catches up.

Despite what the mayor had told him, and the small seeds of doubt and concern that planted themselves within Reborn's head, Reborn was still determined to complete the task Decimo sent him. Knowing Lambo, he won't go quietly, his 'crew' probably won't allow it either.

He may humor them with a short conversation, but it won't be long before Reborn would efficiently drag Lambo back home to the Vongola. There aren't many navigators that know where Vongola's Island is, much less navigate there.

There would be no need to worry about this small novice pirate crew.

Besides if they have Lambo and think him to be strong, they aren't any strong either.

After all...

Lambo is just a stupid cow.

Authors Note:

Okay, in a lot of fanfictions I read, many of the characters would reveal their pasts to the OC or crossover character but, beside Nami and and a little bit of Sanji's, with Zeff, they don't really tell each other much of their pasts. I think that's kinda cool and shows how amazing the amount of trust they share with one another without having to share these kinds of things. But I wanted Lambo to know that he wasn't the only one with scars that can't be seen and that, like him, they are also rising above the pain and becoming stronger because of it. Inspiring him even more to rise above his own. But I also didn't want it to be like other fanfictions where they just confess to Lambo, so I wrote a little heart to heart for the crew. I think I did really well and I'm proud with how it turned out. With Reborn, I gave him some doubt, but Reborn is as stubborn as he is sly, not to mention he believes himself to be right, so he was quick to shake those doubts away. I hope you enjoyed this chapter; next up Captain Ussop! Be your best you! Bye!