A/N: Looking at the first chapter, I want to say Thank You! For giving this story over 100 views in less than 24 hours! Thank you all for giving this story attention. So without further ado here's the second Chapter
Another thing I forgot to mention in the first chapter is that it takes place 8 years before the story begins. At that time Gian is 15 years old. Gian will be 23 years old by the time he meets Luffy.
And to end this long intro: Godzilla and One Piece is owned by Toho Co. LTD and Eiichiro Oda respectively. KP360 claims no ownership saves for any OCs, powers, and locations.
Fire blazed the coast around the great beast. Its charcoal black scales were glowing in the light of the crackling flames. Around it laid the bodies of a dozen men, all with torn body parts, those intact were burned beyond recognition. The beast's tail swung once, cracking the flimsy ship into dozens of pieces.
Another roar ripped across the night sky. The monster's back shone blue for a split second before encasing the island in a blue light of destruction.
"Hah!" Gian woke from his trance in a jolt.
He was wearing the same beat up brown shirt and pants that he'd changed into on the marine ship before it was destroyed. Riddo never bother giving him any new clothes during his enslavement so it had remained with him. The shirt was now drenched in sweat. He looked around and saw that he was lying in a small bed, one that was much more comfortable than the one slept in before. "How did I end up in another ship's cabin?" Gian wondered as he looked around in bewilderment. The cabin was a lot cleaner than Riddo's ship; that had pretty much the entire crew crammed into it and even with him cleaning it every day the mess never went away. Looking back on that time Gian had to wonder how they even manage to set sail in the first place.
The room was lit by a few candles and it gave off a peaceful environment. Gian let out a breath and allowed his mind to settle, thinking about what is going on.
Then the door to the room opened and 3 people stepped in.
Gian's eyes widened as the trio's faces lit up as they saw he was up. One man was a rather rotund fellow wearing a green cap with white stripes and a matching shirt. He was carrying a stick of meat with a bite out of it. His eyes were covered by a pair of red goggles. The second man had dirty brown hair in curls wearing a black shirt, shorts and a large belt. The third man, one that was marching straight to him, was a man in his late 20s. His hair was orange colored in the style of a Mohawk. He was wearing a tight mesh suit with wetsuit pants. In his hand was a golden three-pronged spear which he laid against the wall as he noticed Gian. (A/N this is an O.C I'm adding to the crew, he'll be quite important for this chapter of the story.) Gian suddenly felt a feeling of dread creep up within him. He had a bad feeling about who these people are.
"Hey he's up!" The plump man said jovially. "Are you hungry? Here have some of this." He offered some of the meat to Gian but he only stiffened.
"Roo you're scaring the kid, go get Benn and the Captain, we'll look after him." The curly haired man addressed the fat man named Roo. As he left, he turned back towards Gian. "How are you feeling?"
"W-where am I? Who are you people?" too many questions he needed answers to.
"Guess we forgot introductions, haven't we? My name is Yassop, the guy who just left the room was Lucky Roo, and this guy with the punk-ass hair is Triton." Yassop said, gesturing to the door as well as the man with the Mohawk.
"Watch your language around kids Yas." Triton chuckled "we found you on the island after we saw it burning in the distance. You were the only one that was still breathin'. You know what happened?"
Gian wanted to say something, but he was hesitant to. Something told him that these people weren't your average ship's crew. Tentatively he squeaked out "W-where am I?"
"You're on the Red Force, the vessel of the Red Haired Pirates. We're still deciding what to do with you right now so just sit tight for a while and I shouldn't have said that should I? Triton caught himself as he saw the boy's eyes widen with fear.
"So you are pirates!" Gian whispered fearfully. The idea of just getting out of one pirate crew only to be caught by another terrified him. He shrank further into the bed, hoping to disappear while the two men frantically tried to justify themselves.
"You and your big mouth!" Yassop snapped at the Mohawk man "Look kid, we're not trying to hurt you! We just can't have a kid on our ship in the New World! It's not safe!" His voice fell on deaf ears as the boy refused to listen.
"Stay away! I will not be held captive by another person ever again!" Gian was starting to get angry. Each time when he thinks he's tasted freedom he is bound once again. He raised his fist; he was preparing to go down fighting this time. No more being a coward.
"Hey relax! We really don't want to hurt you! Here I'll show you a few tricks!" Yassop tried to reason with him. He figured that doing a bit of sharpshooting would calm him down and let him be awed by his sniper skills, after all Luffy and his son loved it lots! Unfortunately he forgot what context they were in and Gian's fear only escalated as he saw the curly haired man pull out a gun. Yassop was forced to duck under a multitude of objects.
"Why the hell would you pull a gun on the kid?! Now you made him even more terrified!" Triton snapped at the sniper.
"That wasn't what I had in mind! Also this happened because of you, you know that?" Yassop shouted back.
"Use for head for once, Scope-eyes! We're in a fucking cabin! What the hell are you going to shoot, my hair?!"
"You know, that actually sounds like a fantastic idea right about now sailhead! Watch this kid! I'll shoot that mast of his from all the way across the ship!"
And so the scene of a whimpering child huddled on a bed while two men argued was what Benn Beckman came across when he and the captain finally reach the room.
After a bit Gian had calmed down significantly, though he still had distrust very visibly plastered to his face. He studied the two newcomers. The one they called Benn Beckman is a middle aged man with long grey hair and an X-shaped scar across the left side of his face. He wore a simple black shirt and carried a serious expression on his face. Gian concluded that he must be the first mate of the ship.
But none of those people could give off anything close to what the red headed captain currently standing in front of the cot. Dressing in a black coat covering a white shirt, the man stared compassionately towards the shivering boy. His signature red hair easily stood out in the dimly lit room. Upon closer inspection, Gian could see that the man's left eye had 3 scars across it. Only his right arm was revealed; where his left arm should be was covered by his black cloak.
"Must be to deceive people into thinking he only had one arm" Gian thought.
"I'd like to apologize for the behavior of my crew here, normally they're more dignified" The red head spoke at last, ignoring the exaggerated pouts of his two crewmembers. He had a surprisingly smooth voice for a pirate, and Gian couldn't help but feel a bit more comfortable. "My name is Shanks, I'm a pirate. It's not every day we find a boy passed out on a burnt down beach, so we brought you here."
"And how much is Caesar Clown paying you?"
Shanks raised an eyebrow at that "Caesar Clown? Who is Caesar Clown?"
"Don't play around," Gian sneered "you're just like everyone else on these seas! The minute someone trusts you, then you'll stab em in the back!" His voice rose at that. "There's no way that gas bastard would let me go this easily, so just tell me how much he offered you to deliver me back to him?! 65 million? 70? 100?!"
Realization hit Shanks as he realized the boy isn't just some castaway "How much have you been through?" he whispered.
"DON'T THROW ANY PITY AT ME! YOU'RE JUST LIKE THE LAST DAMN PIRATE WHO SAID HE'LL LET ME GO SOON!" tears began falling down Gian's face again; he was reliving all of his bad memories, from his imprisonment on Punk Hazard to servitude under Riddo, all of it came crashing back. "I just want to be left alone…" he croaked, curling up against the covers of the bed.
An arm wrapped around his shoulders and began to comfort him. Gian tried to inch away but instead found himself sobbing into the owner's chest. He can hear Shank's voice speaking as he cried out all of his pain. "I assure you, I am not under the service of anybody. You don't have to worry about that anymore, I am not going to harm you. No one will ever harm you while you're here."
A few days later
Gian was on the deck of the Red Force, leaning against the mast and reading a book about the Grand Line. Benn had given it to him, saying that when they weren't having parties it can get a bit boring. Shanks had told him that he'd contacted an acquaintance of his who owned a trading ship that was going to East Blue and said that it would take him there, claiming that the New World was too dangerous for a kid like him. It would take around a week and a half to get to the rendezvous point and now he was passing the time.
Gian thought back on the last few days; it had certainly been a new experience. Shanks was not your average pirate captain after all. While Riddo had no qualms about asserting his dominance over his crew, he did it quite often in fact, Shanks from the start had treated the rest of the crew as his equals. Everybody here got along well with each other and there was always an abundance of merriment coming around.
Shanks was also really laid back in everything he does and was rarely very serious. He would frequently hold parties, and almost always he would be wasted by the end of the night. Gian had been involved in a number of these events, and at one point was almost offered some sake were it not for the intervention of Benn Beckman. However, Gian knew that under this laid back personality laid a fighter that would put his life on the line to protect those he cared about. It had only been a day earlier that he discovered that Shanks was a Yonko, one of the four emperors of the sea, and a legendary figure in the world of pirates.
He had also gotten well acquainted with the crew. Benn Beckman was the responsible first mate and a very intelligent person, Lucky Roo was the happy chef of the crew and often made special dishes for their little guest. Yassop was the sniper, who would often entertain everybody with his sharpshooting skills (in the end Gian did see them, and he was absolutely amazed) and would always tell of how proud he was of his son. He even stayed in the same cabin with Rockstar, a fairly new crewmember who joined only a few days before they found him. Everybody in the crew enjoyed Gian's company a lot and treated him as one of their own.
Most importantly however was Triton. Gian smiled as he recalled the meeting they had the day after the Red Hair Pirates found him.
Flashback
"So you told me that you've been locked away for a very long time?" the Mohawked pirate told Gian as they sat near the dragon-like figurehead of the ship.
"Yup, was an absolutely terrible time of my life. Every week the mad scientist would drag me to this testing chamber and pump me full of shit I have no idea of. I swear I could be crushed under a rock and it would've been less painful!"
"All because of the power you have?"
"Apparently! Just looking back at it makes me angry…" Gian's fists clenched slightly as he remembered all the horrible things he's suffered under Caesar Clown. "Just because I'm slightly different he used me as a Guinea pig!"
"It's because of your devil fruit. If you eat one of those you are granted powers that normal people could only imagine at the cost of being unable to swim. And you have a very special one indeed."
"I hate it! It's made my life absolute hell thus far!"
Triton smiled at that "Do not be so quick to judge, your powers could be used to help those who are special to you. Soon you might even use it without your knowledge!"
"But why does it have to be me? Why am I the only one that has one of these things? That damn Gasman didn't even see me as a person because of it!" Gian protested.
"That happens sometimes, but who said you were the only one that had one of these?"
"I'm not?"
"Of course not, many people on these seas possess a devil fruit power. In fact you are looking at one right now!" Gian's eyes widened at that.
"You're a devil fruit user?"
"Aye, in fact the two of us share more in common than you think. Now, do you remember anything before you blacked out on the beach the other day?"
"What does that had to do with anything?" Gian questioned. Then he remembered "I was getting beaten up, then there was a big explosion and suddenly I heard screams all around me. All I saw was red for a bit there. Then everything just went dark and when I woke up I was on this ship."
Triton nodded "you see, there is 3 types of devil fruits that exist. The paramecia type modifies the user's body, the logia type turns the user into a certain element, and the zoan type that allows the user to transform into animals. You and I are both in this third class, or more specifically a special kind of this third class, we are Kaiju-Zoan users."
"Kaiju-Zoan?"
"You see, Zoan fruits are separated into different types. Regular Zoan fruits just turn you into any regular old animal, but there are also ancient zoans that turn you into prehistoric animals. Then there are the mythical zoan fruits that allow you to transform into beasts of legend, and those are the rarest of them. We both ate Kaiju-Zoan fruits, any guess on what those do?"
"It turns us into monsters?"
"That is does!" Triton beamed "All big, scary and full of teeth! Kaiju-Zoan fruits also have unique properties that effect the user as well, since you ate the Goji-Goji no Mi in addition to your monster form you are also granted the ability to use radiation."
"So that's why I can heal so fast…"
"And me with my Titan-Titan no Mi allows me to detect sonar, it's why I'm the navigator here".
Triton stood up with a more serious expression on his face. "Now do you remember what you felt when you transformed?"
Gian stiffened at this. "I remember there was a growing feeling of anger; I didn't want to accept that my life could end just then." he let out a ragged gasp "I still can't believe it...! That entire island, everyone on it... how could they just be gone with...!"
Triton patted him on the back "It was not your fault, what has happened, happened. There is little we could do about it now." Gian gave him a hopeful look at that; the mohawked man gave a warm nod before straightening himself up " But yes, that's the reasons that Kaiju-zoan users differ slightly than other zoan users. Your power first have to be unlocked, usually done through an event that brings out strong emotions, anger, sorrow, love, all that kind of sappy shit" Triton then closed his eyes slightly, his posture looked slightly down trodden. As soon as it had appeared, it disappeared and he had a bright smile again. "After that though you can then transform!"
As soon as he said that, Triton's body began to change. His skin began to turn red and many bumps grew out of it. His face elongated and resembled a lizard's with a large fin on top, his hands and feet grew claws. A tail grew out of his pants, it ending with a fan shaped sail.
Gian was wide-eyed as he saw the transformation took place. Where Triton once stood there was now a reptilian beast. "This here is the Partial Transformation, it turns you into a smaller version of the monster you represent. You'll get strength and speed many times greater than any normal person." Triton explained. Upon closer inspection, Gian could see that he still had some human features, and that he was still wearing his clothes.
"But I remembered being absolutely gigantic, why are you so small?"
"I'm getting to that, what you went through is what I like to call a Full Transformation, it will turn you into the full manifesto of the beast within. In that form you are pretty much a battering ram, a force of nature if you will. I'm not gonna show it to you right now, mostly because the guys would kill me if I sank the ship but also we are still devil fruit users so I'd rather not get us drowned."
"But you have fins?"
"Still doesn't change the order of things unfortunately, somehow there was a major oversight there. Not to mention that after transforming you'd become extremely exhausted due to Full Transformations requiring all your stamina to do. After turning back, you won't be able to move or use any haki for around 20 minutes."
"What's haki?"
"Alright now you're just asking too many questions, don't worry about it it's not something you need to know just yet, maybe someday. Now I want you to practice a Partial Transformation." Triton said before Gian could ask another question. "Just concentrate and it'll come naturally."
Gian took a deep breath and imagined himself as a smaller version of the beast he transformed into days before. He could feel his bones begin to harden and muscles grow denser. When he opened his eyes he was staring at the reflection of a monster with charcoal black scales, muscular tail, maple leaf shaped dorsal fins and a dinosaur like head. He stayed in that form for a few more seconds before he turned back into normal. "I did it...! It feels as if all my energy has been drained from me, but I transformed for a moment!"
"Yeah it can feel like that in the beginning, but you'll get used to it, by the time you do you'll feel like a lion whenever you transform!" Triton smiled, before turning serious.
"Be wary however,the ability to Transform into Beast of Ancient Pasts may bring you incredible power, but unleash it the wrong way will result in death, yours or others. It can easily be your greatest weapon, or the the blade that ultimately pierces your heart. If you use it unchecked, then-"
Gian only gulped at that; now that he's fully aware of what had transpired, he knew exactly what he could do. And the thought of potentially repeating that horrified him.
Triton gave a reassuring smile at that "You recognize it, how power poses a threat as well. Whereas some individuals out there will openly embrace that fact, you are at least knowledgeable of its dangers. Don't worry, we'll be doing a series of exercises that will at least let you become accustomed to your powers, if you keep up with those you can Transform without the same state happening again.
The rest of the day Gian practiced his transformations. If he didn't want a repeat of the incident, then he'd better get used to what he has.
Flashback ends
Gian smiled as he reminisced about that day, since then the two had developed a sort of teacher-student relationship with each other. Triton had begun teaching him a few fighting moves, saying that sometimes you need to let action do the talking." So far, Gian has been making a decent amount of progress.
"The sea is peaceful today isn't it?" a voice broke him out of his memories. Gian turned to see Shanks leaning against the mast with a smile.
"Yeah, usually that means it's gonna turn bad later on."
"Don't worry about it, we should still get to our destination in time."
"That eager to get rid of me Captain-san?" Gian joked
"Dahahahaha, well considering you and Lucky pretty much ate a month's worth of food in the last few days I got to take some precautions." Shanks laughed. "Everyone's gonna miss you Gian, we really do like having you travel with us."
"I do as well, I kind of don't want to leave right now."
"Who knows? Maybe when you're older you will set out to sea like anyone else,"
"I'm 15."
"You can wait a few more years then."
At this moment the wind picked up and Shank's cloak was lifted up. Gian let out a gasp as he saw Shank's left arm, or lack thereof. Where his left arm should be was only an empty sleeve flapping in the wind.
"Getting windy there" Shanks responded nonchalantly, not even bothering to hide it.
"Wh-What happened to your arm?"
"Oh this? I traded it for a good friend of mine. He was a good kid, just like you." Shanks responded, not bothered in the least by his missing appendage.
"But doesn't it bother you? It'll be so hard to do certain things now!"
"Well I do have a difficult time scratching parts I can't reach now, but aside from that it's no big deal. A friend of mine is worth more than any part of me." Shanks smiled at the memory.
"You may have been alone for most of your life, but your life is just beginning. One day, you too will finds nakama that you will cherish, and would do anything for."
Gian couldn't help but smile at that statement. All that just made him respect the red haired captain even more. Being used as a test subject his whole life, he never had any experience with comradeship until now. It was a good feeling indeed.
"My own nakama one day, I would very much like that!"
A few days later
The Red Hair pirates finally made it to the rendezvous point, and it was time to drop Gian off. Gian had really gotten acquainted with the crew during this time, he really didn't want to leave them now. Even some members of the crew had to hold tears in as they went to see him off.
"Do I really have to go? I can be really useful! I'll help Lucky-san around with food, help Triton-senpai with his log poses, I'll clean Yassop-san's guns. I really want to stay with you guys! " Gian pleaded one last time. The week and a half he spent with the Red Haired Pirates were the best days he ever had, he doesn't want to lose it all!
"We like you here Gian, we really do. But it is way too dangerous for you to be out here in the New World right now." Shanks said sadly. "I know you like to sail the seas, keep dreaming that dream! One day I know we will meet on the seas again!"
Gian nodded fiercely. "You can count on it! When I'm older I'll come back and personally thank you for this! I don't know if I want to become a pirate yet, but we will see each other again!"
The merchant ship that was to be transporting Gian to East Blue motioned to them to hurry it up. Gian leapt onboard and waved back. "I will think of you all! I'll never forget this kindness. Especially Triton-Senpai!" The mohawked man beamed back "Thank you for giving me all those lessons! Before I used to think my powers were a curse, but you showed me otherwise! I promise you we will meet again some day!"
Triton raised his trident at that "I will be looking forward to that moment, young one!"
With that the merchant ship sailed off, Gian sighed and looked towards the direction of East Blue. He would be starting a new life by himself soon, and although he will miss the Red Haired Pirates dearly, he was excited to see what his new life held for him.
That night:
For once, the seas of the New World was unnaturally calm; there were nary a storm or crashing waves, or heavy rain and snow.
"That's good, perhaps" thought Triton "To think that the seas here actually gave me some room to think..."
Gian has been gone for hours now, almost a day. His absence has brought a blend of emotions for the mohawked navigator. It wasn't so much that he missed the kid, though his presence has certainly been refreshing and something he will treasure, he was far too used to people not sticking around for long out here. While he did genuinely develop some affection for the boy, considering him as a kindred spirit in what they contained within them, it was more his own actions that led him to his musings tonight.
Tapping on the wooden deck alerted the ocean-going man. Most of the crew had gone to sleep by this time, the events of the day draining even them. Just moments ago Shanks had held yet another party, a party where many toasts were given out to pray for their young ward's safe passage to his new home. Triton himself has had more than a few drinks, and had left the party a bit earlier once the musing in his head caught up to him.
"Sencho, you're actually not drunk." Triton noted. Shanks smiled as he sat down next to him, the two men gazing out to sea.
"Even the Devil's Liquid can't overcome me tonight, not when my old friend seems to be troubled."
"What gave you reason to think that?" the navigator cocked an eyebrow.
"You don't just bail on parties, Tri." Shanks said "What has my precious navigator been wondering about tonight?"
"Ok fine, I do have a few things on my mind."
"Beri for your thoughts?" Shanks suggested.
"Only if you won't get bored listening." Triton gave a small chuckle before letting out a sigh "Do you think we've made the right choice to let him go?"
Shanks gave a reassuring grip to his shoulder with his remaining arm "You mentioned yourself that it was the necessary thing to do. That he needs a place that won't force his powers to react wildly for it to become safe enough for him. He's a 15 year old kid, and until a few days ago he probably never even attempted to tap into the vast power that wells within him. It's best to ease him into it, after all we both know how dangerous something like that can be."
"If it were any other case, that'd be the end of it." Triton sighed "But the monster Gian has within him isn't like mine. It's that one."
That was when Shanks' demeanour turned a lot more serious "Yeah... I've only heard of it once briefly from my former captain, but from what you've told me that sounds exactly like it." the red haired captain's gaze went out to sea once more "What's more, I doubt the kid even knows anything about it's history."
"We barely know anything about it's history, let alone some 15 year old." Triton added "Perhaps if we'd let him stay with us, I could've taught him more about it, let him understand even a little of what really is inside of him."
The mohawked man gave a short laugh "Then again, what good would that do? I'd just be denying some child a chance of a peaceful childhood."
Shanks patted the man on the arm "You've spent most of your life looking for the truth to your own secret, Triton, and that was long before we've met. After all that you've said, it was definitely the right choice to send him away to East Blue. He doesn't need to know anything about it, at least not right now. I'm sure everyone else would agree, if they knew more about it too."
Triton gave a small smile "Maybe you're right. Hopefully when he grows up he'll know what to do by then." the two men said nothing for a few moments, before the navigator gave a stretch.
"So... East Blue huh?" Triton remarked "Kind of like some other little boy we know."
"Heh, now that you mention it, he does make me think of Luffy." Shank grinned "Well, Gian so far hasn't screamed about wanting to be a pirate yet, so we'll have to wait until he grows into that first."
"It's kinda something to think about isn't it? How wayward kids just keep popping up into our life?"
"Dahahaha, now that's probably just a coincidence." Shanks laughed "The world is changing, Triton, those wide-eyed kids today will be the ones holding their generations up in the future."
"You think those two will meet up someday?" Triton mused "Luffy does bear those initials after all."
"Who knows where the wind will pick up?" Shanks only smiled "When it does, all we can do is be prepared."
A/N: And Chapter 2 is done! Again thank you all who have given this story attention by viewing it or giving it a favorite! They give me a good idea on what I should do later on! The real adventure will finally begin next chapter which I think should be done sometimes next week should nothing happen. Finals are coming up soon though, so after next week I'll mostly have to focus on that, but all in all I should still have time!
Gian: Well good to see you aren't torturing me this chapter. What were you even going with that shit? Making torture porn or something?
KP: Oh be quiet, you're a big boy you can take it. Plus you're just getting started.
Gian *sigh
Review please!