Luffy stared at the straw hat in his hands. He remembered when Shanks gave it to him, and all the adventures he'd had since. He remembered Makino, and the rest of the villagers. He remembered the promise he'd made two years ago. Closing his eyes, he brought the hat to his chest and thought of those who'd perished two years ago. "I've trained every day for the past year. I got stronger. I'm not sure if I'm strong enough yet, but I'll keep training every day and getting stronger." Opening his eyes again, he turned to look at the sea. "I'm going to leave here. I'm going to find a crew and keep my promise to Shanks." Slowly putting the straw hat onto his head, he kept his head down so the brim shadowed his eyes. "I'm going to find the bastard who destroyed this place. I'm going to find him and make him pay for what he did." He raised his head, eyes determined. "I promise."

He strode forward, making his way to the small boat waiting at the dock. He'd stocked it with everything he could need yesterday. Rayleigh was waiting for him just before the dock. For a brief moment Luffy allowed himself to imagine Makino, the Mayor, Dadan and her Bandits, and the rest of the villagers standing with the older man. Taking a deep breath, he let the image fade before facing the silver haired man.

"Thank you." Luffy bowed. He would never be able to repay Rayleigh for everything he'd done. From saving him to teaching him to fight, to Haki, and even the basics of fighting with a bo staff. Luffy had originally asked to be trained with a pipe, like he and Ace and Sabo had used when they were kids, but Rayleigh had mentioned a sectioned staff would be easier to carry around and conceal rather than a full-length pipe. He could also get one made of a harder material than a typical pipe, and it would be easier to wield. In the end, Luffy had agreed.

Rayleigh laughed. "Finally leaving this place?" Luffy nodded. "Well then, take this." The man held out a wrapped package. Luffy opened it and found a new three sectioned staff along with a holder for it. The staff was made out of a heavy material – heavier than the staff he'd been practicing with the past two years. "Maybe you won't break this one." Luffy grinned, thinking of Rayleigh's constant annoyance at having to find a new suitable staff each time he broke his. The silver haired man put a hand on Luffy's shoulder. "We'll meet again one day on the Grand Line. Don't go getting killed before then."

Luffy fastened his new staff holder around his waist, slotting the segments into their spots, before smiling. "I'm not gonna die before I become the King of the Pirates." Rayleigh laughed and let go of his shoulder. Luffy undid the rope holding his boat to the dock before jumping in. He pushed himself out towards sea and stared at the island he'd grown up on as he slowly sailed further. He waved to Rayleigh and the image of everyone he'd lost.

His boat nearly capsized as the sea monster that lived off the coast of the island surfaced, forcing him out of the memories he'd been savoring. Glaring at the monster, he forewent the easy route of using haki and pulled out his new staff. He needed to get used to the weight, and he owed the monster a good beating for trying to eat him and taking Shank's arm all those years ago. He swiftly connected the staff's segments, his movements fast and precise after two years of doing the same thing every day. Jumping from his little boat – and making sure he didn't accidently capsize it himself – he gripped the staff in both hands and swung it as hard as he could, the end digging into the monster's cheek and sending him flying. He glanced down and landed back in the boat, shifting his weight to help stabilize it.

Luffy twirled his new staff experimentally, catching it after the unexpected weight made him drop it, and nodded. He had a lot of work to do before he'd be back to his previous skill level. Turning back to see his island growing steadily small, he waved one last time before letting his hand rest on his hat. "Stronger, stronger, and even stronger," He muttered, "Until I can protect everyone I care about. I promise."

Luffy didn't want to stay on this island longer than he had to. Just being near a Marine Base had his blood boiling. He would never forgive the marines for protecting those inhuman monsters and killing almost everyone he cared about. All he wanted to do was restock on food and then sail to another island. Currently, he and Colby were at a restaurant. Luffy wanted some freshly cooked meat and Colby wanted to ask about the Marines and who he should talk to in order to join. While he didn't like the marines, Luffy wouldn't mock another's dream.

He was only partly paying attention to what Colby and the woman who owned the place were talking about. It was only when a little girl shouted, "That's not true!" that he fully tuned into what was being said. He glanced back and saw the little girl glaring up at Colby, carefully holding something against her chest. "Zoro's not a monster!"

"He's a ferocious pirate hunter! The marines probably had a good reason for locking him up!"

"They only locked him up because he helped us! That stupid Helmeppo was destroying our restaurant! Everyone lets him get away with it because his dad is the marine captain!" She didn't wait to hear was Colby would say next, simply running out of the restaurant.

The pink haired boy turned to the woman behind the bar. "Is that true?"

The woman sighed sadly. "I'm afraid it is." She looked pleadingly at Colby, then to him. "Would you two mind going after her? She's probably going to see Zoro, and I'm afraid she'll get into trouble." Luffy didn't want to, as that meant going to the base he wanted to avoid, but he'd be damned if he let a little girl get hurt while he sat around and did nothing. He'd watched the marines kill enough innocent people in his life. He wasn't about to let them kill one more.

Standing, he thanked the woman for the meal and casually strode out of the building. Colby was behind him, fretting about the little girl and wondering aloud if they'd really hurt her. He didn't bother to answer the pink haired boy, knowing full well that there were marines who didn't bat an eye at killing children like her. From the little he'd heard about this base and their captain, he didn't doubt the man would kill her.

It didn't take them long to reach the marine base. Luffy spotted a ladder against the wall and could sense two presences on the other side – one that was likely the girl's, and another that was weak. Probably a prisoners. He'd wager a guess it was this 'Zoro' person the girl's mother had said her daughter was going to see.

Scaling the ladder, Luffy watched as the girl offered rice balls to a green haired man tied to a pole. Colby came up beside him and gasped. Luffy grasped the back of his shirt before the boy could fall. "T-T-T-That's him! Roronoa Zoro! The legendary pirate hunter!"

Luffy grinned a little as he watched the legendary pirate hunter try and get the little girl to go back before she got into trouble. He could hear the green haired man's stomach growling from over here. He barely spared a glance to the new presences heading closer. They were weak. Even this Zoro was stronger than them, and he was starved and exhausted.

"Roronoa Zoro! Don't pick on little kids!" Luffy scowled. This guy's voice grated on his ears. It was high pitched and annoying, reminding him of those assholes in high town. Colby sighed in relief, muttering something about marines keeping the girl safe. He wondered if the pink haired boy even heard what he'd been told about the marine assholes.

Zoro clicked his tongue in annoyance. "If it isn't the lieutenant's bastard son."

"Bastard? Don't get cocky! My dad is a marine lieutenant!" Turning his attention to the little girl, he snatched one of her rice balls. "These rice balls look pretty tasty."

"Stop it! Those aren't for you!" The bastard ignored the girl and took a bite, his face screwing up in disgust before spitting it out.

"You put in sugar! You're supposed to put salt in them!"

"B-But I thought…they'd taste better if they were sweet."

The bastard threw the rest of the rice ball he'd taken to the ground, knocking the others the girl had out of her hands before stomping them into the dirt. "How could someone eat something like this?!"

Colby was shaking next to him. "T-That's so cruel! That girl worked so hard to make them!"

Luffy watched in silence as the little girl started crying. The asshole huffed in annoyance. "It's your fault. See this sign? 'Anyone who helps a prisoner will be charged with the same crime. Marine lieutenant Morgan.' You know how scary my dad can be, right? You would've gotten the death penalty if you're a grown up!" He turned to the marine with him. "Throw the brat out." When the man hesitated, the bastard grabbed the front of his uniform. "I said throw her out! Are you going to disobey me?! I'll tell my dad!"

Luffy had seen enough. Jumping onto the top of the wall, he pushed off hard enough to leave a crack. He landed on top of the marine about to grab the little girl, plowing him into the ground. The bastard who'd ordered her to be thrown over shrieked, falling onto his ass. Luffy glared at him before he could open his mouth. He supposed the asshole had some sense of self preservation, since his mouth snapped closed.

Turning to the girl, he pointed towards where Colby was still on the ladder. "Go on. Your mother's worried about you."

"B-B-But my rice balls."

He grinned and picked the ball of mud that used to be the rice balls off the ground. He didn't hesitate to stuff it all in his mouth, swallowing it even as the girl's eyes went wide and she protested. "Thank you for the food!" He crouched down so he was in front of her and laughed. "Since I ate these, you'll have to make new ones for this guy." He pointed towards Zoro. "If you do, I'll bring them myself so you won't get into trouble again. Okay?"

The girl looked close to crying. "R-Really?"

He nodded. "I promise." He waited until the girl nodded and ran off towards Colby before he stood up and turned towards Zoro. He grinned and laughed at the dumbstruck look on the man's face. "I'm looking for people to join my pirate crew."

That seemed to snap the green haired male out of it. He scowled. "Pirate? So you just gave up on life and became a pirate?"

Luffy frowned. "It's my dream! There's nothing wrong with being a pirate!"

Zoro snorted but didn't say anything. He jerked his chin toward the asshole still cowering on the ground. "I made a deal with that guy. If I can survive for a month, he promised to let me go. I have one week left."

"And after that you'll join me?"

Zoro grinned. "No. I have something I need to take care of. I'm going to do everything I can to stay alive and fulfill my dreams! Go find someone else to join you!"

Luffy grinned. He liked this man. Turning, he waved as he headed back towards the wall. "I'll be back later with those rice balls." He looked back with a grin. "You'd better eat them all."

Okay, so a couple things.

1) Originally, I wasn't planning on having Luffy use a weapon of any kind. But I read a story where he used a bo staff and it must have stuck in my mind because Luffy demanded one. I tried to have him use haki for the sea king, but Luffy refused. He didn't want to take the easy way out. He wanted to punch the thing because it took Shank's arm.

2) I'm trying to keep it fairly close to canon, but Luffy didn't want to wait as Rika was tossed over the wall. It didn't matter if he could have caught her. As for him eating the rice balls...idk. I wasn't going to, but Luffy just ate them. He's a little nicer here (not that he wasn't in canon). So yeah, Luffy's running this story and doesn't care what I think or want to happen.

3) I'm going to try and make it so Luffy isn't overpowered, but he will be for the East Blue. There's no way around that. Hopefully it'll get better as we get into the Grand Line, but we'll see. I'm trying to keep him as normal as I can, but he also watched basically everyone he cared about die, so he's gonna be at least a little different.

4) Someone asked for Garp's POV. I am planning on doing it, but not until later.

So, there's the new chapter. I was going to make it longer, but Luffy was done for this chapter. Again, the little shit does what he wants to. Let me know what you thought!

And I also have another idea for a OP story, so you amy or may not see one popping up here at some point. I'm going to try and get a little further in this story before I start on it. For those wondering about Lost Pirates, I am still working on it, but currently my motivation is with this story. Thanks to a review I got, I now have an idea for what I want to do in the next chapter of LP, so you can (hopefully) see a new chapter for that before the end of the year (hopefully).

Thanks for reading!