Chapter 0 - Prologue
Luffy frowned as he moved his rook to protect the king. It was a hopeless move, he knew, but it was better than doing nothing.
His opponent seemed to have been expecting him to play that move, because he immediately captured the remaining rook with a knight.
Luffy sighed. He knew he had lost. It was only a matter of time before his opponent would say "checkmate", ending the game. He moved his queen to protect the king although it was a useless strategy.
"Check", his opponent moved his remaining bishop. Luffy considered capturing that bishop. Why not? He was going to lose anyway, so he chose to capture as many enemy pieces as he could before being checkmated. Who knew? Maybe he could even make a comeback.
He captured the bishop with a pawn. That was better than risking his last power-house.
His opponent was ready for that move, as usual. He moved a knight. "Check", his opponent drawled, his voice laced with humoring ridicule. Luffy cursed to himself. He could have as well just said "checkmate".
There was only one move left to play. A move that once played signaled the end of the game.
He clenched his teeth as he reluctantly played the move that signed his defeat.
His king was surrounded on all sides. His opponent didn't even have to move a piece before he declared the end of the game with the word Luffy dreaded to hear the most- unless, of course, if it was him who administered them.
"Checkmate."
Luffy finally looked up from the board to stare at his opponent's face for the first time since the game started.
He groaned.
He could pretend he didn't hear the pride in his opponent's voice when his gaze was stuck to the board. But now, that he saw the gloat-infested face of his opponent, he felt like punching him in the jaw.
But being angry would be the same as hypocrisy. He was sure his face would be ten times worse, if it was him who had won.
The thing was, he wasn't angry that he lost, he was angry at the manner in which he lost.
16 moves!
Sabo had beaten him in sixteen fucking moves!
And although it was a major upgrade from him being beaten in four moves, he still felt that the gap between them hadn't closed at all. It even felt like the gap was growing wider.
He stood up, grumbling to himself about stupid blondes as he left the room.
Sabo's bark of laughter at what he called a petulant child's whining only served to tick him off more.
He hissed under his breath and continued stumping along the corridor as he seethed. He rounded a corner and bumped into Ace.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Ace quickly apologized, ever the gentleman.
Luffy nodded, deciding to let Ace take all the blame for the little incident.
He didn't take the initiative to render his own apology. Other people would have started fuming over his insolence and arrogance, but Ace didn't even seem to notice. Instead, he continued talking.
"Isn't it a little early for you to be getting snacks in a game? You only just challenged Sabo three minutes ago."
"I lost," Luffy mumbled, his face growing warm from embarrassment.
Shit! It wasn't enough that Sabo beat him with only sixteen moves, he had to do it in three minutes too.
Ace, forever good natured, didn't seem to notice- or rather, pretended not to notice- Luffy's awkwardness as he gave a cheerful smile.
"Well then, since you're finished early, we could go grab a bite together." Ace half asked, half stated.
Luffy just chose to nod again. He could use some food. As long as it was Ace who was paying.
"You paying right?" he asked, just to clarify.
"Of course. My treat." Ace smiled.
Luffy smiled back, although his was much more devious than Ace's good natured one.
He really did like to eat, especially after losing a game.
He hoped Ace's wallet could handle it.
Usopp took in a deep breath as he inhaled the early morning's salty breeze. The sun had not awoken yet, but his clock told him it was already 6:20 am.
He wasn't surprised that the big flaming ball of gas hadn't risen yet. After all, it was that time of the year when days were shorter and nights longer.
He looked down from the cliff he was standing on, at the path that led from the sea to the village. Just a few days ago, he had faced an entire pirate crew on that path. The cut on his chest, which Kuro had dealt him, flared with a phantom pain as he remembered the battle. He shook his head to clear his mind of the thoughts.
He gradually looked back to the sea and at the rocky outcrop that was hidden from the villagers' sight by the cliffs. There, he saw her, the Going Merry. The ship Kaya had gifted him to sail the oceans. He smiled at her, and felt she was smiling back at him.
He picked up his suitcase and slung his backpack over his shoulder, crouched, and leapt from his perch on the cliff. He landed on the ground with an umph, surrounded on all sides by rocks, a cliff, and the open sea.
Kaya would have killed him with her own hands if she had seen the stunt he just pulled. His body was still recovering from injuries after all.
He sighed. She would still have killed him if he had waited for the sun to come up before telling them what he planned on doing. That was the exact reason he was walking towards the Going Merry now. He planned on setting out to sea as soon as possible. But Kaya and the boys wouldn't have let him that was why he was going to sail away before anyone could even wake up. By the time the sun was up, he would have been long gone.
It was also a more comfortable way to depart. He wouldn't have to watch emotional, teary-eyed characters shout their farewells as they saw him off.
He wasn't a heartless barbarian though. He had left a relatively long and sensational letter on his center table in his house. They would find it, he was certain. And when they did, they would understand that he just couldn't resist the endless calling of the sea, especially now that he had a vessel.
He threw his belongings on board, before hauling himself unto the deck. He raised the anchor, and unfurled the sails, securing them.
In a few minutes, he and the Going Merry were a reasonable distance away from Syrup Village. He looked back to see his homeland one last time.
He would return. After he had sailed and adventured the rough sea, he would come back here. His village would still be standing by the time he would be back, because the boys would protect it with all they had, just like he had taught them to.
And when he came back home, he would never leave again.
With these thoughts, he turned his back on the island and faced the glorious sea; that was giving off a silver glow as it reflected the full moon's light.
He smiled as a wild breeze tussled his chin-length hair. The ocean was welcoming its newest sailor.
He fondly patted the head of his Merry as he asked. "Ne, Merry, where do you think we should head to first?"
She gave no reply for her lips could not move. But Usopp was pretty sure he understood what she was trying to say.
Anywhere!
He laughed and patted Merry's head again.
That's right. Anywhere was fine. He grinned.
Watch out world, the Great Usopp-sama was coming for you!
He never noticed a blonde girl crying him goodbye.
A/N:
Heya everyone, Vine here. Thanks for reading One Piece? X.
So this is an idea I've been musing over for quite some time now. It's an AU where the Strawhat crew was never formed and as a result, different characters make different actions that may or may not change the entire timeline. I do intend for this story to diverge MAJORLY from canon at some point in time, but that may come sooner or later depending on what characters say and do.
There will be a good amount of OCs and get ready for some major/minor personality changes ( serious Luffy, brave Usopp, etc.)
Also, as this is my first ever fic, I would really appreciate it if constructive criticism is offered. (Just don't be too harsh, eh? I'm an emotional coward.)
With that out of the way. Please favorite, follow, and review. Thanks!