Hi everyone!
I present to you a new chapter full of cute and sad moments. As you see, the events of last the five years did something to everyone's health. They're scarred either mentally or there are some physical damages, you'll see more in this chapter. But what about Luffy? Now he looks just fine to me. He's smiling, laughing... Let's find out then, what's wrong.
P. S. As I said before, there will be no romance, so don't mistake fluffy moments for anything more than bonding.(At least not in the main story. I was thinking about bonus chapters, if someone requests some moment in story to be developed into a romantic one, or if I just feel like it, I'll do a bonus chapter with said pairing)
Read and enjoy!
Chapter four: New hope
After the delicious dinner, Luffy, Law and Nekomamushi went to lay near the lit rustic fireplace.
"Greow-nya zzzzz nyan nyan-zzz" Nekomamushi exhaled calmly, bathing in the wamth of the fire while curled into a ball.
Law couldn't resist anymore.
Without a single word, he leaned againist his thick fluffed-out fur and closed his eyes.
It wasn't like Bepo, but it still felt safe.
...
Well, not entirely.
There was something missing...Someone...missing.
Someone crucial.
.
.
.
As he was about to fall asleep, he felt as someone positioned themselves between his legs and leaned their warm back against his chest.
"Hey Traffy."
"Hmm? What?" Law groaned out as he slowly opened his sleepy eyes to look at the boy in his arms.
He expected a bright smile to blind him, but his stare was met only with a big frown.
Law's eyebrows knitted together in confusion and he was about to ask him what was going on, but then Luffy reached out with his finger to Law's face.
He started to gently stroke the soft skin under his right eye.
Law let him do it, curious about Luffy's intentions.
Then it hit him.
"Ah. Wait Luff-"
The boy brought his finger back and looked at it. There was a some kind of powder on it.
"Why?"
His frown deepened as he asked panicked surgeon in a low voice.
"It doesn't concern you." Law tried to dodge the question, but he knew Strawhat wasn't going to give up that easily.
"Quit it with that bullshit and just tell me the truth, stupid."
Law hesitated at first, but then he looked at the boy.
Luffy's eyes bore right into his soul. He just couldn't lie to him.
"Haaa" Law sighed in resignation as he covered his face with his cold hand.
'It's no use. He won't let me be until I tell him.'
"Well?" Luffy urged on.
Surgeon looked back at the annoyingly cute rubber-man and heavily exhaled. As if what he was about to say was going to kill him once he revealed it.
"I just didn't want to worry you. You know how it is with me, when I'm trying to sleep and you're not here with me."
Luffy seemed to think about something for a minute and then he pouted.
"So you put the foundation under your eyes as to conceal those horrible black circles just so I wouldn't worry..." Luffy repeated in disbelief "...and you thought I wouldn't find out eventually? That I wouldn't be mad once I did?"
"Um...I..."
"It's okay, but don't do this again. Otherwise I will have to splash your face with water everytime I see you, and you wouldn't want that now, would you?" Luffy warned.
Law put his chin down on his head, unruly hair tickled his nose.
"Okay, I promise I won't." Law smiled.
"Good" Luffy huffed and stretch his mouth into satisfied grin.
Gray-eyed man hummed in content as he smelled the fresh salty scent of freedom and wrapped his hands around the Luffy's torso.
"I'm cold"
Luffy giggled and also closed his eyes.
Now it was perfect.
"Nghhh... Hah...Hah..Hah... No... Please..."
He woke up to a painful moaning. Not an unusual occurrence, really. It happened on daily basis.
He found himself tucked carefully in his bed. Rayleigh probably carried him there. He cares about everyone so much. But so does everyone else.
He looked to his right just to see Vivi violently wiggling and crying silent tears.
Oh no. She has another of those nightmares.
They haunted everyone, but Vivi was one of few in the group that had the worst ones.
Maybe only Luffy had worse than her.
"Vivi…" he whispered and poked her cheek.
"Wake up…it's only dream…I'm here with you"
*GASP
Vivi woke up with her eyes wide open and blood-shot. She looked all over the room with her glassy gaze.
Luffy firmly squeezed her shoulders.
.
.
.
"Luffy?"
.
.
"Yeah?"
"..."
"Can we go to roof as always?"
"..."
"Of course."
Luffy hugged her and petted the top of her head soothingly.
He took her by the hand and the blue blanket. They climbed up to the rooftop and sat down. The stars were playfully twinkling in the night sky as if they were already waiting for the pair to arrive.
Luffy wrapped them in the warm blanket.
"Look today's meteor shower!" he pointed excitedly at the falling objects far in the sky and squeezed their intertwined hands.
Vivi didn't shiver anymore and hummed in agreement, leaned more into Luffy's side and slowly began to fall asleep.
.
.
.
After a while, Luffy stood up and gently lifted Vivi under her knees and rest her body on his chest. He brought her back into the room and lay her down.
When he was about to go, something tugged him back.
She was still holding his hand in hers.
He smiled softly and kissed it, wishing her nice dreams.
She also smiled at the light touch and let his hand go.
'Well, I guess it's time I go see them again. I bet they missed me'
He stood on a peak of the hill. Surrounded by them. His loved ones that he couldn't protect.
The grip around the bouquet of hand-picked flowers tightened.
If it wasn't for them, he would be dead a long time ago...
It happened years ago already, but it still hurt.
The pain will never go away. Just face it already!
Don't be a kid.
Don't be a crybaby.
You are a captain.
No.
He was a captain, but not anymore.
He knew that and yet...
Why didn't the pain even dulled?!
It was still a fresh, sharp, heart-clenching type of pain.
He picked the lighter from his pocket and a couple of candles.
He started from the left.
.
.
.
First candle was lit.
Nami
The navigator of the strawhat pirates. The one that made his dream possible. Who gave him a direction to follow. A woman with big dreams as his own, a strong heart filled with love… and not only for money.
Her last words will be forever engraved into his memory.
Luffy bit down on his lip as he intently looked at her grave and felt up the beri in his pocket.
He went down on his knee and put a dwarf sunflower before her grave
"Adoration"
"Hi Nami, how are you?..."
...
"Are you swimming through millions and millions of berries?"
...
"I hope you do... Are you happy there?"
...
"Are you... mad at me?"
The light of the candle violently flickered.
"Haha, okay okay. When we will meet again you get the first hit on me, okay?"
.
.
.
Second candle was lit.
Sanji
"Hey Sanji. It looks like you really decided to follow a bad captain. Crazy, huh?"
...
"I miss your cooking. Rona and Vivi are really good too, but no one does it better than you."
...
"I am hungry all the time. No one can sate my hunger besides you. That is my punishment for not being able to protect you. But I still feel like it's not enough."
...
"I'll never forgive myself for what happened to you... To Zeff... To the whole crew... Never..." Luffy said as he put down a yelow tulip "sunshine in your smile", a flower worthy of Sanji Vinsmoke.
.
.
.
Third candle was lit.
Ussop
The sniper of the strawhat pirates. Liar amongs liars. Sniper king. God. Or just simply a really good friend. The one that became the bravest of all of them.
"Let's just get out of here! I'm s-sure Nami and Jimbei told me they are coming back to us in a minute, s-so let's wait for them on Sunny!"
That was his last lie, that didn't even have the chance to become true.
Honestly, liar to the bitter end. Or just a naive dreamer?
Cp-0 didn't show any mercy. The document in the navy headquarters they retrieved said that it took 16 hours of gruesome torture just to get a weak "stop" from him, but he still didn't say a thing about his friends. Only after another three days, when he was already on brink of death he talked.
"You can't stop him. H-he will find it. He will be the next king of the pirates and he will save me. He'll come here and kick all of your asses."
His faith in Luffy didn't waver even in the end. He believed in him. And Luffy failed him miserably.
"I'm sorry Usopp... It seems I can't face you yet... How ironic. You've became brave and your captain became the coward... Hahaha"
He was awareded an edelweiss by Luffy.
"Bravest flower for the bravest warrior of sea" Luffy whispered into wind.
.
.
.
Fourth candle was lit.
Jimbei
The helmsman of the strawhat pirates and also the fishman that reminded him in his darkest moment the most important thing. That he still has a family. That he isn't alone he still has something worth fighting for. Someone worth fighting for. Laughing, crying, suffereing and dying for.
Luffy laid down bellflower expressing his deep gratitude and admiration towards the strong kind friend.
"Evening Jinbe" his greetings was met with silence, but he continued with reminiscent smile on his face "Just today I dreamed about the kingdom on the floor of the sea. But it was empty, destroyed, deserted…It wasn't that once beautiful kingdom illuminated by sunlight tree eve, swarming with peaceful merfolk and fishman, astonishing everyone who set their foot in. It was painful to watch the dark streets with only rotting corpses floating around. Walking across blood stained pavement and listen to the horrifying story from the lonely dying survivor…" Luffy's frown deepened "It must've been a dream right?" he croaked out sniffling already.
"No it was not. The prophecy became true. Someone's actions led the fishman island to the destuction. Someone with a strawhat."
Cold wind send shivers down his spine and stinged his damp cheeks. The bitter tears still flowed.
"Yeah that's right. It was my fault they massacred and enslaved them. The peace was never achieved. Because we... I was weakend from the first war, I couldn't protect them. No. Because I wasn't strong enough, I couldn't protect my territory and broke my promise to them."
"They just grabbed Shirahoshi and killed or captured everyone. They fought until the end. But they were still defeated." Luffy's voice cracked and looked above, to the starry sky. He wiped his eyes with his arm and blinked several times before moving onto next one.
"The guilt... It's too heavy... I want to... destroy them... same as they did with my precious things..."
.
.
.
Fifth candle was lit.
Zoro
The first mate of the strawhat pirates, that aspired to be the best swordsman in the world. He was so close…his undying loyality to the captain and the crew brought him on the death's doorstep. He cherished them too much. So much that he gave up his ambition for them and his life.
"Yo captain! As much as I want to be by your side when you achieve your dream, I can't just let them slaughter us one by one. I'll be breaking my promise to you, so please give me my last order so I can go."
Luffy stared at him with glassy eyes and ordered "Go take care of them Zoro"
"Aye aye captain" Zoro smirked and took off.
Luffy's knees buckled under him. He wasn't worth it. Why did they have to die when he has to live?
"Zoro you... bastard..." Luffy cried
The candle's Flame flickered as if saying "Isn't it a first mate's job to take care of his captain?"
".. But it's captain's job to protect his crew... including the first mate..."
...
"Yosh" Luffy stood up a pulled another flower from his arms.
"This one will do." he said, gifting Zoro a Violet "Loyalty, devotion, faithfulness"
.
.
.
Sixth candle was lit.
Brook
The musician of strawhat pirates. A funny skeleton with passion for harrasing ladies. Luffy misses his late night melodies floating across the deck and lulling him to the sleep.
"I won't let anyone hurt my crew again. I don't want to listen to agonizing screaming of my friends again, my ears are for music only. Ah even though I don't have any ears. So let me welcome my friend death a second time with bonecrushing handshake! Yohoho get it? It's a skull jo-"
*Crunch
The sickening sound of crushing bones echoed throught the room.
Luff winced at rememberIng the sound.
"Oi, Brook! Do yo want to hear a song?"
...
candle's light danced excitedly.
"Okay! Ehm ehm.. Yohoho~..."
...
Flower decorating the grave was Zinnia "Thoughts of absent friends"
"Fitting flower for the best skeleton musician out there."
.
.
.
Seventh candle was lit.
Franky
"All of you, run! There will be suuuuper big explosion and it is too awesome for your eyes, so run! Or you will be blinded by awesomnes of this pervert! Luffy and everyone, take care of yourselves and Sunny for me will ya? She can't lose anymore crewmembers or she will be sad. Ou! Supeer self destruction!"
Luffy doesn't like thinking about this particular death... It's too painful.
"This the most super flower I could find Franky" Luffy said as he put down a robotic Iris "Friends"
.
.
.
Eight candle was lit.
Chopper
The doctor of the strawhat pirates. The kindest creature of all. His dream was to find the cure to all illness, so he could help everyone if needed.
"I won't let you touch them! I am doctor of this ship and my obligation is to treat them! I may have a face of a monster, but at least I don't have a mind of one as you have! Monster point"
"Oh,.. Chopper... I am sorry for those" Luffy whispered as he showed the grave his bandaged arms.
"But I feel cold... So so cold... If I had a fur like you, maybe I wouldn't have to..."
Luffy shook his head to get himself continue.
"Here." Luffy uttered silently as he placed anthurium down.
"Kindness, hospitality"
.
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Ninth candle was lit.
Robin
The archaelogist of the strawhat pirates. A woman who was on the run her whole life.
"You blamed yourself to the end."
...
"You should've blamed me!"
...
"I gave you all the hope and then took it away!"
...
Luffy screamed with tears at the silent stone.
...
He gently put down a Lisianthus.
"Everlasting bond"
"That's right. We never really parted and you and I and everyone will always be a nakama."
.
.
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Tenth candle was lit
Ace
"It seems you didn't miss anything. I won't become a king of the pirates. I won't become the most free man in the world."
...
"Why you ask?"
...
"I am already too burdened by heavy chains of guilt, pain and sorrow."
...
"There's still a small hope, but... We're already looking for five years..."
... A wind picked up and nearly extinguished the candle's Flame.
"No! I am not giving up yet... It just that... It's hard y'know."
"Ace... It all began with you..."
"If I ever have the chance to..."
"... There is something wrong with me"
"I want to make them suffer for what they did."
"All. Of. Them."
...
"Here, brother. I couldn't think of a better flower than this." he smiled sadly as he leaned a red camilia against the grave.
"You're a flame in my heart"
.
.
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Twelfth candle was lit.
Edward Newgate
"I bet you're gurararing somewhere right now. Still didn't become a pirate king, yeah I know.. But I don't need that title right now, I need to protect this village, you village... It's really nice here by the way.. And the people that live here.."
...
"Thank you for all that you've done for Marco and Ace. I don't know what I would've done without them."
...
"Instead of a boring flower I have something else for you. Shishishi"
"Do you like West-blue saké?"
...
.
.
.
Thirteenth candle was lit.
Sabo
"Y'know... Koala was right about you...you truly were the idiot of all idiots."
...
"Like really... Who dies twice? Only idiots do, ne.. Sabo?"
"This suits you more than magnolia would, right?" Luffy rasped as he presented a primrose to the grave.
"I can't live without you and be free."
.
.
.
...
"But don't worry everyone." Luffy forced a smile on his face even though his tears still didn't stop.
"I have a people around me that care deeply for me. I am glad that they are here. They are like…a third family to me…"
...
"But I am afraid... Afraid of losing the family for the third time. We are group survivors, that lost everything and watched their home and loved ones disappear"
The Black-haired boy bowed his head down and opened a locket that hanged around his neck.
He let local jeweler make it. A golden locket with four photos in it. Him and his crew. Him with ace and him with sabo. Also the group photo of survivors.
There was also a strange symbols on the medailon.
"My treasure" is what would Robin translated it to. It was written in ancient language.
He held it closer to his chest.
He was cold again...
...
"I knew you would be here..." a blond man emerged from the shadows.
"Haha, am I that predictable?"
"You are everytime that you feel lonely and you weren't in your bed so... Kinda-yoi"
"Shishishi Marco you're so blunt."
"Yeah whatevs, Giggles. More importantly..." Marco transformed in his half-zoan form. "Care for a late night flight?"
"Always." Luffy smiled and pair of white wings sprouted out of his back.
"First one to touch the clouds is the winner!" Luffy cheered and jumped into the air.
"You cheater!" Marco laughed and went after him.
...
"Luff…I wanted to wait until morning to tell everyone, because we need clear heads for this, but…" Marco grinned and reached behind his back into a black sack on his shoulder. He took out something shiny.
Luffy's eyes bulged out in surprise.
"Guess what I have-yoi"
"No way…" Luffy whispered and hope filled his heart again. "I though that –"
Luffy started to cry again but now with tears of happiness as he hugged Marco.
"Now now, Giggles. You are supposed to laugh, not cry. Or do you want to call you a crybaby?"
"*Sniff-,no.. you jerk…You're the best you know"
"Oh, I know-yoi" as he ruffled his hair "Who else could get their hands on this baby?"
"It has nice golden color, huh? But I bet it tastes awful."
"You bet it does! After all, this is devil fruit! The time time fruit!"
Next time is the stuff you've been all waiting for (And me). The plan is set and the revenge will be sweet for our heroes...
Also hello to all czech readers! (snad se vám zatím tenhle příběh líbí, i když je build up o něco pomalejší :))