Chapter 16: River VS. Garp
It was a warm sunny afternoon on Dawn Island. In his tree house Luffy was taking a nap.
"Luffy!" called out a voice.
Luffy woke up.
He looked out the tree house and he was surprised.
"River!" cheered Luffy jumping down from the tree house.
The two hugged.
"What are you doing here?" asked Luffy
"Well I thought I could visit you since…" said King River how then sighed, "Okay… I can't lie to you…"
"What happened?" asked Luffy.
"Moon banished me from the castle." Sighed King River, "I was hoping I could stay for a day or two."
"Of course." Laughed Luffy, "We can go hunting together."
King River smile.
"I need help with my luggage." Said King River.
Luffy smiled and helped him with luggage getting it into the tree house.
"All right!" said Luffy.
"So what do you want to do first?" asked King River.
Luffy's stomach rumbled.
"So up for hunting?" asked King River.
"Of course!" laughed Luffy.
"You know they say that that cooks of the palace can now sense when your hungry." Laughed King River.
Luffy laughed at this.
Meanwhile in the kitchen of Butterfly Castle.
The cooks all stopped.
"Luffy… hungers…." Said one of the cooks.
"He isn't in the castle." Pointed another of them.
"He hasn't been here in months." Pointed out another.
"Oh yeah…" said the cook that said that.
Then they all went back to work.
Back on Dawn Island…
"All right let me get my spear." Said King River, "And changed!"
King River got changed to his loincloth and the two left the tree house to go hunting.
However they didn't get far, when someone approached Luffy from behind and punched him hard.
"Ow!" yelled Luffy then he realized only one person could hit him with a punch.
Of course that was Garp.
However Garp and King River saw each other.
And the two started glaring at each other.
"River…" muttered Garp.
"Garp…" muttered King River.
Nearby a portal was cut open.
And of it was Star and Marco who were bickering about something Star did.
"Look Luffy's going to take my side." Said Marco.
"He won't." said Star, "Besides you're only saying that because he can't swim…"
"Well that's one reason." Said Marco.
"He can use a inner tube, does it all the time." Said Star.
That was when they saw King River and Garp glaring at each other and Luffy not moving unsure what to do.
Garp was cracking his knuckles while King River who was holding a spear for the hunt was getting it ready to fight.
"Oh no…" muttered Star, "Not again."
She grabbed her wand and created a spray bottle.
She ran over and handled the situation… but which it meant she started to yell "No! No! Bad! Bad!" as she spayed the two of them with the spray bottle.
"Star!" said King River.
"Dad! You know that Garp is much stronger than you." Said Star.
King River sighed while Garp had a gloating expression.
"So… you two have met…" said Marco somewhat awkwardly.
"Of course! We have…" muttered King River.
"I don't need to take advice from some pompous king to raise my grandchildren." Muttered Garp.
"Well maybe if someone took in account their grandchildren's feelings they wouldn't be terrified of them!" yelled King River.
Star began to spray the two again.
"Wait a second…" said Marco, "I saw you in the South Blue a few days ago… how are you here?"
"Marine ships are just that awesome!" bragged Garp, "Speaking of which… Marco was it… have you considered ever becoming one?"
Star began to spray him again.
"No! Bad! Bad! Stop trying to recruit people who don't want to join…" said Star.
"Stop that!" yelled Garp.
"No…" muttered Star.
She then sprayed him a couple more times.
"Look I don't know what's going on…" said Marco.
"It's obvious we hate each other." Said King River.
"Yeah." Said Luffy.
"You don't need to act like that's not what's going on." Said Star.
"Fine! But it seems like you two need to get along…" said Marco.
"Marco no offence but that is the stupidest thing you have ever said." Said Star.
"ME get along with this nut!" yelled King River.
"You're a bigger nut that I am!" yelled Garp.
"Okay! Okay! Both of you calm down." Said Marco.
He knew it was serious… and serious meant he had to really serious.
"All right! It's time!" said Marco and so he transformed! "Glasses! Paper! Clothes! Book!"
Everyone but stared at the fact that he was now wearing glasses and a sweater.
"Marco! PHD!" said Marco.
"What is he doing?" aced Luffy.
"He's using psychology to help them." Sid Star.
"How do you know?" asked Luffy.
"Oh he tried using it on me when I had that sleep spell issue." Said Star, "Turned out it wasn't psychological but it just another Princess trying to steal my face to get me sent to Saint O's and I was defending myself in my sleep."
"Okay." Said Luffy.
"Let's just humor him." muttered Garp.
"Hey! He's trying to help us! Now that it will work but unlike you I'm willing to try!" said King River.
"Oh really?" asked Garp.
"Hey! Hey! Both of you calm down." Said Marco, "Let's try some things for you two to get along."
"Like what?" muttered Garp.
"I'm sure you have something in common." Said Marco.
"We already know what the thing in common is!" yelled King River.
"We both want to beat up Outlook." Said Garp, "But it can' happen because I'll lose my job."
"And because I'm not recognized as king I'll get arrested." Said King River.
"And to be fair… EVERYONE wants to beat him up." Said Star.
"He's probably beat you up back!" said Garp.
"What!" yelled King River.
"Not to mention that beating him up would get you in trouble with you wife." Said Garp.
"You know nothing about my Moon Pie!" yelled King River.
(Flashback)
King River was eating lunch that was when Queen Moon came into the room and seemed to be crying.
"Moon Pie… what's wrong?" asked King River.
"I was in the library talking to Sabo…" said Queen Moon using a handkerchief to wipe away her tears, "River…"
"Yes…" said King River.
"If you ever meet Sabo's parents… GIVE THEM A PIECE OF YOUR MIND…" said Queen Moon.
(End of Flashback)
"All right then…." Said Marco.
"It's proven, unless you're a Goa Kingdom noble you hate Outlook and his wife…" said Garp.
"True…" said King River nodding, "I hate them more!"
"You've never even met him!" yelled Garp.
"So what!" yelled kKng River.
As the two bickered.
"All right! Maybe we can get to the root of the problem by talking about how you first met." Said Marco.
"Well it was the first time I brought him here…" said Star.
(Flashback)
Star, Sabo and King River arrived at the tree house out of a portal.
King River was also giving Star as a piggyback ride, which she was happy about as it allowed her to hug him.
"Thank you so much!" she practically squeed.
"I wanted to join you." Laughed King River.
It was not too long after he had found out the truth of the boys. Of course he wanted to visit their home island and explore it with them (maybe even go hunting).
"Hey!" called out Sabo when they got to the tree house.
"Where are they?" asked Star.
"Let go!" they heard Luffy yell.
"They looked at each other and ran towards where the yelling was coming from.
They found Garp holding Ace, Luffy and a bunch of balloons.
"Oh no! Not again!" yelled Star.
King River helped Star down before ruining to Garp.
"What do you think you're doing with those boys?" asked King River.
"What?" asked Garp.
"Run River!" yelled Luffy.
"It's not worth fighting him!" yelled Ace.
"You know him?" asked Garp.
Then he noticed how he was dressed the clothing was very similar to Star's princess dress plus his crown.
"I thought Star would have gotten in trouble if her parents found out." Laughed Garp.
"That's not important…" muttered King River.
The two men glared at each other.
Garp bandaged to shift his cargo so that he was holding both boys and the balloons in one arm.
He faced King River and socked him in the face sending him flying.
"Dad!" cried Star as she and Sabo ran toward King River.
All of them of them watched as Garp tied balloons to the two boys and they floated off to the sky.
Luffy screamed while Ace was resigned to his fate.
(End of Flashback)
Luffy was shaking at the memory, Star and King River were glaring Garp who looked like he did nothing wrong.
Marco just stood there blinking and took of his glasses .
"Yeah… there's no way you two could ever become friends." Said Marco.
"We told you." Said everyone else.
"There is just something wrong with Garp." Said Marco.
"Hey!" yelled Garp.
"People don't tie up children to balloons and have them float into the sky as a form of training…" said Marco, "You're beyond help."
"I didn't' ask for your help." Muttered Garp.
"We know that." Said King River.
"Oh I have an idea! Let's all get a drink!" yelled Star.
"What seriously?" asked Marco.
"We need to make sure they don't fight." Said Star.
"Good idea!" said Luffy.
"All right if we're going to get a drink I'm getting dressed then!" said King River.
"Why are you even in a lion cloth anyway?" asked Garp.
"That's none of your business!" yelled King River.
Later they were all at Party's Bar, the air was tense as Garp and King River were just glaring at each other the entire time.
"So River… what brings you here?" asked Makino as nothing fazed her.
"Oh just wanted to visit Luffy!" said King River in a tone that said he was lying.
"Dad what did you do?" asked Star staring at her dad.
"All I did was leave some clothes around the bedchamber…" said King River.
"What?" asked Star.
Garp started laughing, "Sounds like you got kicked out!"
"Maybe you should go home and talk to mom!" said Star.
"It's probably a good idea." Said Makino, "It sounds like it's one of those problems that if you talk it out it will be resolved right away."
"I'm not leaving! Not while he's here!" yelled King River glaring at Garp.
"Well I'm not leaving until you leave!" yelled Garp.
The two continued to glare at each other.
Both of them stood up.
Then they left the bar.
"Oh man…" said Star.
"You tried." Said Makino.
"They're going to fight aren't they?" asked Marco.
"They are." Said Star.
"You can stop them now!" said Luffy realizing something.
"You're right! I can!" said Star.
They got outside… however they found the two had yet to start fighting… why?
Because they were being scolded by the mayor.
"You two aren't going to fight in town are you?" he scolded the two.
"No Mayor Woop Slap…" the two said as if they were little kids.
"You better not." Muttered Mayor Woop Slap.
They headed to just outside of town.
Both of them were ready to fight, they both got ready to fight. They both ran towards.
"Stop this now!" yelled Star casing the two float in air, "I've already said today! Dad! YOU! WILL! LOSE!"
"But!" said King River.
"No buts!" yelled Star, "You've never won against him… and despite being super old…"
"Hey!" yelled Garp.
"He's still super strong." Said Star.
"Gramps! You know I hate it when you beat up River." Said Luffy pouting a little.
Garp gritted his teeth.
"I'm going to put you down now and you two will behave as best you can!" said Star.
She put them down.
However that was when Garp punched him in the face.
"Narwhal Blast!" yelled Star hitting Garp with the Narwhal.
"Come on! Let's get your stuff!" said Marco.
Luffy glared at him Grandpa for the cheap shot.
They left to help King River get his stuff to get home.
Garp got up from under the narwhal.
"Someone's jealous!" said the Narwhal.
"I'm no jealous." Said Garp.
"Look admit you're jealous." Said the Narwhal, "I mean come, it's so obvious."
"What would I have jealous about?" asked Garp.
"Because Luffy likes him and he's terrified of you." Said the narwhal.
"What he's not terrified of me!" denied Garp, "What does he have to be terrified of me."
"Do you actually the list or do you want to live in denial?" asked the Narwhal.
Garp just glared at the Narwhal.
"Look your side stems from your jealously how your grandchildren see River… and yes I'm including Star in that because I know that's how you feel." Said Narwhal.
"I'm not jealous of him! And why am I talking to you?" asked Garp.
"Because I'm bored." Said the Narwhal, "And trying to fix your impossible problem is better than boredom."
Garp glared at the Narwhal, got up and practically stomped away.
"If you remain in denial nothing will get fixed!" called out the Narwhal before poofing away.
Back in the Tree house, King River got his stuff.
"Sorry we couldn't spend more time." Sighed King River to Luffy.
"It's fine!" said Luffy, "Gramps will always be gramps. "
King River hugged both Luffy and Star before going back home to talk to Moon into letting him back home.
Star and Luffy sighed.
"So what should we do to get our mind off that." Said Star.
"Maybe ask Luffy what we wee going to ask him…" said Marco.
And so they told Luffy about his argument (which stemmed from Star turning the living room into a swimming pool) and Luffy ended up taking Star's side.
Thankfully this got Garp and King River's feud off their minds…
Well or the time being… after all the feud stemming from a mixture or jealously and being a Papa Wolf would not end anytime soon… if ever. And only time will tell what would happen from there…
And who knew… maybe one day in the future no matter how unlikely the two might learn to get along… very unlikely… but maybe…
Next Time: It's Pony Head's Birthday! But she's trapped at Saint Olga's! Star wants to break her out with Luffy and Marco's help. However things are worse than Star ever predicted, now that Pony Head has been brainwashed to be being the perfect Princess... what would happen? Find out next time!
A/N: The flashback in the chapter is actually one I conceived of after another flashback I came up for in an upcoming chapter. I was worried I would never a good place to put this Flashback (the other one has a set chapter)... and ironically I realized that this chapter would be the perfect spot... So yeah, you will find out what pushed Moon into telling River that in the future. But there's still a couple more chapters until then...