Foosha Village East Blue
After the debacle that was Luffy and his devil fruit Shanks and the rest of the red hair pirates left Foosha village claiming that they needed to visit a nearby island and would be gone for a few days.
It was three days after their departure that Luffy was sat once again in Party's bar happily munching on some of Makino's delicious food. As Luffy sat there eating the doors to the bar suddenly crashed open and in stepped Higuma.
"So those sorry excuse for pirates fled did they? Good, it doesn't stink as much in here now." Higuma said as he made his way to wards the bar. Hearing this Luffy grit his teeth in anger but kept his temper. "Bring us some sake over here wench."
"Of course, one moment" responded Makino with her best fake smile, as she said this she shot Luffy a quick look pleading with him to keep quiet. Seeing this Luffy gave a short nod before going back to his food.
The bandits began drinking the sake that Makino had brought to them and the more they drank the roudier they became. It wasn't long before they're talk turned to how they had humiliated the pirates that had been here when they were last in the bar. The longer they spoke ill of Shanks and the others the harder it became for Luffy to hold onto his rapidly fraying temper. However it was when Higuma called Shanks a coward that he snapped. "Shut up!" he screamed at the leader of the bandits.
"What did you just say to me brat" growled Higuma in a low and dangerous voice.
"I said shut up! Don't call Shanks a coward! And at least he's a pirate and not a smelly bandit like you."
Hearing this Higuma immediately stood up and made to move to grab Luffy by the scruff of thr neck only for Makino to put herself between them and plead "he's just a boy, he doesn't mean it. Please don't hurt him."
Higuma responded to this by slapping Makino across the face causing her to tumble to the ground before barking at her "stay out of this woman."
Luffy upon seeing Makino, a woman he genuinely loved like a sister, being hit like that finally lost whatever hold he had on his temper and launched himself at Higuma with the intention of beating him to within an inch of his life. Unfortunately for Luffy his intention and reality are two completely different things. Therefore immediately after landing a punch to Higuma's stomach that, to the surprise of the other mountain bandits, caused Higuma to let out a grunt he was swatted painfully to one side and he flew straight through the bar doors.
Now outside the bar Luffy attempted to get to his feet despite the pain he was now in however before he could get to his feet he was kicked by Higuma which caused him to tumble further down the road near the village centre. Once again he started to get to his feet and as he did so he noticed Higuma getting closer to him and with a guttural roar he launched himself at Higuma striking him in the stomach once again. However to surprise of everyone when the blow landed electricity quickly cover the bandit leader shocking him briefly.
Luffy was now panting from the energy it took to land the second blow and and use his devil fruit power. So when Higuma retaliated by backhanding him to the floor and restraing him with his boot to his chest Luffy could do little more than struggle feebly on the ground. Seeing the young boy struggling to get free and in obvious pain the other bandits started laughing at Luffy's plight.
It was at that moment however that Makino and the mayor of Foosha village ran up to the group. "Please don't hurt the boy, we'll pay you whatever you want just please let him go" the mayor begged.
"No, the brat disrespected me then attacked me! I'm gunna kill him!" Hearing this Makino gasped as her eyes began to fill with tears.
Higuma unsheathed his sword and raised it in preparation for ending Luffy's life. However just before he could begin to bring it down a voice called out from behind the group, "I was wondering why there was nobody at the docks to greet us."
Every member of the group turned and Shanks with his crew stood behind him. Shanks looked down at luffy and chuckled before saying "so much for your punches being as strong as a pistol."
"Get out of here pirate this doesn't concern you." Higuma growled at Shanks.
"I think you'll find it does, you see that's my friend you've got there." Shanks responded in a seemingly light and conversational tone.
"This brat disrespected me."
"Hahaha aren't you a mountain bandit with a bounty of 8,000,000?" Shanks replied.
Seeing that the pirates weren't about to leave one of the bandits approached Shanks and stuck a pistol in his face and screamed for them to leave or die. As soon as this happened Shanks' whole demeanor changed and he suddenly grew more serious than Luffy had ever seen him. "Bet your life on it." Seeing that the bandit didn't understand he continued "now that you've drawn your pistol are you ready to bet your life. After all pistols are meant for action not threats." As soon as he uttered the last word Lucky Roo appeared, in the blink of an eye, at the side of the bandit that had been threatening his captain and shot him in the head.
"Damn pirates that was a dirty trick" shouted one of the bandits.
Hearing this Every pirate present started laughing heartily before Shanks responded mirth still evident in his voice. "What? Did you think we were saints or something? The men in front of you are pirates."
The anger at seeing one of his men killed like that caused Higuma to order his men to attack.
"Don't worry captain, I've got this," said Benn right before what Luffy could only describe as a humiliating and one sided beat down. Benn wasted no time whatsoever as he lept at the bandits while wielding his rifle like a club. It only took mere moments for Benn to take down the majority of the bandits, dropping two or sometimes even three bandits with a single swing of his rifle.
Seeing his men being taken down rapidly Higuma began to panic and was about to flee taking Luffy with him as a hostage. However as he bent down to grab his hostage Luffy began to struggle once again before screaming at the top of his voice "GO AWAY!" As luffy screamed this command a massive bolt of lightning descended from the sky and struck Higuma throwing him off Luffy. When Luffy got up he looked over to where the bandit leader had been thrown and was nearly sick when he saw the charred remains.
Seeing Luffy's distress Shanks quickly approached and scooped the boy up into his arms and began walking back to the bar. Seeking to take the young boys mind of the fact that he has just ended the life of another human being, even if it was just a bandit, he calmly spoke "I want to thank you Luffy. You defended me against that bandit."
Luffy was currently sniffling and attempting to fight back the tears currently forming in his eyes. Noticing this Shanks added "It's OK to cry Luffy. Men don't cry because they're weak but because they've tried to be strong for too long." Upon hearing this Luffy immediately started sobbing his heart out.
It took about an hour for Luffy to calm down and then another hour before he was back to his usual self, soon after this it was almost like the whole event with Higuma and his bandits never happened as Luffy and the pirates continued their banter.
"Hahaha you want to be a pirate but you don't know anything about life on the sea." Shanks said as he roared with laughter.
"Shut up you stupid tomato hair, I don't need to know that stuff. I'm going to be the captain so my crew can take care of all that stuff."
Ever the voice of reason Benn chimed in from his seat beside Luffy. "You know the captain has a point Luffy. Even if you're the captain you still need to know stuff like navigation, nutrition, carpentry and various other skills. After all its the captains job to not just lead his crew but to help where its needed." Seeing the thoughtful look on Luffy's face he continued. "Think of it like this, the captain has to be the jack of all trades on a ship. They need to be able to navigate but not as well as an actual navigator, they need to be able to cook but not necessarily as well as the ship's chef."
"Oh yeah! Well where am I gunna learn all that eh!" Luffy fired back at Benn.
Benn just chuckled "don't worry about it, you just leave it to me."
The next day the red hair pirates once again left on a short trip to a nearby island to gather Intel on the various marine bases nearby they can raid when they finally leave to return to the grand line. While they were gone Luffy was sat in Party's bar pondering what Benn had said him. Eventually he came to a decision, one he was sure would help him achieve his dream. Now all he head to do was wait for tomato hair to get back.
Timeskip - 6 days of later
It was six days after Luffy came to his decision that Shanks returned and as soon as he got through the door Luffy appeared in front of him as if summoned by magic. "Shanks, teach me. I want to be a great pirate and I need you to teach me."
"Hahaha, finally recognising how awesome I am eh Luffy?" Recognising growth in maturity that Luffy had just shown in asking for help Shanks refrained from any further teasing. "Sure thing Luffy."
Hearing this Luffy flashed a huge face splitting grin. Unknown to Luffy even though Shanks was going to teach him things he was still planning on messing with him mercilessly.
"In fact time for your first lesson, come let's sit down. Now Luffy what's a man's most dangerous weapon?" asked a smirking Shanks.
"His fists!" shouted an energetic Luffy, a small shake of Shanks' head told Luffy his guess was incorrect. "His sword" and again a shake of Shanks' head told him his guess was wrong so trying again he shouted "his pistols." Yet again a shake of Shanks' head told him wrong, so confused and starting to loose his temper with the red haired pirate he screamed "well then what is it?"
Luffy's ire seemed only to fuel the smirk on Shanks face. "His charm of course." Hearing the scoff from Luffy he continued. "It's true, with charm you can talk your way out of almost any problem before it even becomes a problem. A mans charm is what helps him to lead his crew throughout the tough challenges they face." Seeing that Luffy was now paying attention his smirk grew even more and he added "it's also essential to get yourself a few lady friends."
"Ewww im not interested in that you dirty old man, i just want to be a pirate" retorted Luffy angrily.
"Hahaha, Luffy you said it yourself that I'm a great pirate and I've had lots of lady friends. Therefore to be as great as me so do you." Seeing the sudden look of contemplation on Luffy's face Shanks then went in for the kill. "Now here's everything you need to know about the fairer sex."
The conversation that took place over the following few hours Luffy would later describe as perhaps the most embarrassing and uncomfortable of his life as Shanks told him everything he need to know about women as well as what he called the birds and the bees.
The red hair pirates continued to stay around Dawn island for thr next four weeks, occasionally disappearing every now and then for reconnaissance. It was over the time they were at Dawn island that Luffy learned everything he could from them, little nuggets of information that would serve him well when he set off on his own adventure, soaking up as much information as he could like sponge.
However the red hair pirates could not stay in the east blue forever and had to return to the grand line. On the day of their departure as they were loading the last of their supplies that Benn approached Luffy with a small duffel bag in hand.
"Yo Benn! What's in the bag? Is it meat?" At just the very thought of meat Luffy began to drool.
Smiling Benn looked down at him "In the bag is few books put together by me and the rest of the crew, we all contributed towards them."
Groaning in disappointment Luffy just mumbled that books were boring and he'd rather have some meat.
Benn just chuckled at this. "In those books are everything you need to know about life at sea. The books won't make you a master navigator or a doctor or anything but they will teach you the skills you'll need at sea." Benn set the duffel bag down at Luffy's feet before opening the bag to show Luffy that it was indeed crammed full of books and not meat. "In fact the captain even jotted down a lot of stuff for you, stuff like training exercises...exercises that will be important if you wanna make a name for yourself on the Grand Line someday."
Hearing this Luffy's face morphed into his trademark grin and he rushed forwards and hugged Benn.
"You know Luffy you should see the captain before we set sail i know he's going to miss you."
Nodding at this Luffy set off to the docks where Shanks was. He was about to say goodbye when Shanks spoke unable to resist one last oppertunity to tease the young boy. "What not going to beg me to take you with us?"
Never able to resist being baited Luffy immediatly snapped back "why would i want to sail with you."
Smirking Shanks replied "good 'cause I'd never sail with a little anchor like you." Then proceeded to do the most mature thing possible and stick his tongue out at the young boy.
"Just you wait, I'm gunna set sail myself, and im going to gather my own crew and there going to be a million times better than yours. Then I'm going to find the one piece and I'll be king of the pirates!" shouted luffy.
His emotions starting to get the better of him he looked down so his idol wouldnt see his tears.
"Is that so, well in that case youre going to need this," said Shanks as he put his iconic straw hat onto Luffy's head. "Take care of this hat for me Luffy, it's very important to me. And when you're a great pirate one day you can give it back. That hat symbolises our promise that we'll meet again."
Luffy just pulled the further down so as to better hide his face as his tears flowed more freely. Seeing this Shanks turned away and walked onto his ship. Once the ship had moved away from the pier Luffy looked up and shouted "BYE SHANKS!" as he waved goodbye at the retreating ship.
a.n. ive changed a few things from cannon again such as shanks not losing his arm and luffy attempting to learn what he can about being a pirate from his idol.